Rebels Football season ends with heart and determination

Riverside brought relentless heart and determination to the field against Encampment in the first round of the playoffs … battling through to the final whistle of a 12-44 finish. 

While early penalties, turnovers, and special team’s miscues created tough obstacles early on, our team never stopped fighting. Corbyn Godfrey and Elias Jensen highlighted our offensive effort with two touchdown receptions.

Even though the outcome last Friday was disappointing for our team, what we as coaches wanted our players to understand is that it doesn’t change the amazing things we did throughout the season. Our goal, as coaches, is to give our players the tools to be better people. I love football because it mirrors real life, it is full of both good times and times that challenge you. It’s not always about the outcomes, but how we handle those times.

A special thank you goes out to our seniors for everything they have given to this program over the past four years. Their commitment, leadership, and work ethic set the standard for our younger players. The foundation they laid will impact Riverside football for years to come. They led by example both on and off the field. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and grit through every practice and  game this season.

We can say that our kids grew so much, and we are so proud of what they were able to do this season. They mentored young girls and boys this summer at our youth skills camp, rallied a community this year with the opening up the new Jim Gibbs Field, and recognized veterans in our Military Appreciation Game. They always worked tremendously hard and represented their families, school, and community well. Thank you to everyone who helped support us this year. Our families in this community showed nothing but love, and that is greatly appreciated.

As we turn the page on this chapter, we do so with high heads and full hearts. This season was defined by grit, growth, and a community that stood behind us every single step of the way. The lessons learned, memories made, and bonds forged on and off this field will carry our young players far beyond our weekly games. It has been an honor to coach this group, and while this season comes to a close, the strength and pride of Rebel football remain stronger than ever. Go Rebels!