Malaki Sparks, left, runs a drill Tuesday during practice at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. Sparks, a junior, has switched from offensive line to running back this season. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Lewiston and Oxford Hills needed more athleticism and strength in their backfields this season.

Both football teams found someone who met that criteria on their offensive lines. Joe Dube moved from tight end to fullback for the Blue Devils, and Malaki Sparks from the Vikings’ offensive line to running back.

“We needed a running back, and, you know, with Malaki’s athleticism and his build, and he’s very fast and explosive,” Oxford Hills coach Nathan Danforth said. “So … we were just playing with it this summer. He came every day this summer, very dedicated this summer. We played around with him there, and he really did a good job.

“He’s always wanted to run the ball, which is good, but all linemen do.”

Lewiston coach Jason Versey wanted a way to get the ball in Dube’s hands more often.

“You want to put your best kids in the best position to be successful,” Versey said. “He is just a special kind of athlete. He’s been an all-state player since his freshman year. He came on and played varsity his freshman year before I even got here. So he’s a special athlete. Clearly, we could use him on the offensive line, but his athleticism and talent (are) better used at that position.”

Lewiston opened the season with a 27-18 victory over Bonny Eagle and has a bye this week. Oxford Hills lost to Portland in Week 1 and this week faces Bonny Eagle.

Neither Dube nor Sparks had a lot of prior experience at their new position, though both did take snaps in the backfield in youth football.

Joseph Dube, a senior at Lewiston High School, has moved from tight end to running back this season. Earlier in his career, he played offensive line for the Blue Devils. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Dube, a senior, began his career as an offensive linemen, then moved to tight end last year. The transition to running back has been mostly seamless.

“Uh, it’s been pretty easy. I mean, the coaches have done a good job in practice, like helping me through things I have questions on,” Dube said. “Just natural athleticism has really helped out.”

The Lewiston coaches told Dube in the offseason about the position change, but Dube said he had a feeling that he’d be moving to fullback.

Sparks, a junior, found out about the switch this summer and embraced the change.

“Coach kind of tells you just like, what you got to do,” Sparks, a junior, said. “You just kind of got to bear down and do it, even if you don’t want to.”

Sparks, however, said he likes running the ball and wants to be a go-to option for the Vikings this season and next season.

He was an undersized lineman last year, at 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, but has added weight.

“Yeah, 180, 190-ish this year,” Sparks said. “So, I put on, like, 20, 30 pounds, just trying to gain weight. So that I can be faster and better at running back.”

The added weight came from protein shakes, eating more, and his work in the weight room. From that came extra strength, which Oxford Hills is using to its advantage.

Malaki Sparks, center, listens to a coach during practice Tuesday at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. Sparks, a junior, has switched from offensive line to running back this season. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

“We use him to lead block, and he gets the ball in short-yardage situations,” Danforth said. “We used him last year a few times in the backfield as a lineman, but he is a blocking back for us. So he just fits the bill, and we were looking for a guy.”

The 6-foot-2 Dube has hovered around the same weight, 230-235 pounds, throughout high school football career. This summer, he focused on cardio to increase his stamina.

“Just a lot more conditioning, like being able to run the ball in the fourth quarter, not getting tired or anything,” Dube said.

Dube ran 100-yard sprints and 10-yard shuttles to keep his heart rate up. Versey said Dube also spent a lot of time in the gym.

“He’s very strong and, you know, his work ethic is second to none in the weight room,” Versey said. “There’s a core of guys that work out in the weight room, and he’s among those guys. He knows that he couldn’t get it done without being physical, physically strong in the weight room. And so his dedication has been absolutely on point.”

Being a former lineman helps Dube find holes to run through, but there was still an adjustment period to his new position.

“Just knowing, like, the blocking schemes,” Dube said. “Like, you know what the line’s trying to do because you were trying to do that a couple of years ago. So it’s easier to read blocks and just find holes.”

Sparks said his early challenge was finding where the holes will open up.

The Vikings have an entirely new offensive line this season, but Danforth said that Sparks is needed more at running back.

“We have quite a few linemen this year, that are young and inexperienced, but we figured it was worth the gamble to get those guys caught up to speed,” Danforth said.

HAPPY FOR OLD PALS

As Danforth said, all offensive linemen want to run the ball. Dube and Sparks said moving to running back hasn’t caused any jealousy or animosity with their former linemates.

“I mean, they like it just because it gives the team a good chance,” Dube said. “But, I mean, we’re still a family, and we really don’t see it as just moving away from each other. We just work together and work hard.”

Gage Parent, one of Lewiston’s linemen, said he just wants to give Dube holes to run through.

“It’s definitely a big responsibility,” Parent said. “I got a lot of things I got to focus on, but it’s really enjoyable. I like opening the gaps … and (letting him) do his job and get the touchdown.”

Sparks said the Oxford Hills linemen understand why he was needed in the backfield.

“I think they like it a little bit more because we need more running backs,” Sparks said.

In fact, Parent said he’s excited to hear about Dube’s position switch and helped him prepare during the offseason.

“Oh, yeah, I was ecstatic. I was really happy to hear that he was going to get the running back spot,” Parent said. “I’ve just been working with him in the weight room all winter long, and he’s put in that work. He definitely deserves it.”