Rebels open at home Saturday

Riverside Rebel football fans won’t have to wait as long for their first game this year as they have in the past.   Instead of attending a week zero jamboree, the Rebels will play an actual game, hosting Dubois — the team that ended their season last year — at noon Saturday, Aug. 30.

After four years as an assistant on Jason Mitchell’s staff, Matthew Jensen led his first practice as head coach Monday, Aug. 18. His assistants are Toby Wood and Cash Duncan, both of whom were gridiron standouts for the Rebels.

The Rebels finished 5-4 last year, losing to Rams in the opening round of the Class 1A six-man playoffs. They return two starters on defense in Corbyn Godfrey and Zack Kuntz who played linebacker/defensive end, and two starters on offense in wide receivers Gavyn Cervantes and Paul Stone.

Jensen likes what he’s seen thus far in practice, describing the Rebels as a “hard-working” and “dedicated” team.  Eleven attended a team camp this summer in Butte, Mont.

“They have a want to prove they can play football at a higher level,” he said.

Looking ahead to the season, Jensen said the first thing that stands out is the schedule.  The Rebels have dates with five of the top six teams in the preseason poll, which lists Little Snake River first, Burlington second, Encampment third, Meeteetse fourth and Hulett and Farson-Eden in a tie for fifth.

“We have a young varsity group of players ready to step up and prove themselves every game,” said Jensen. “We’ll need to play physical, disciplined, team-oriented football to succeed this season.”

Jensen said it’s too soon to tell how good the Rebels can be. “We’re focused on continuous improvement, using weekly challenges to push ourselves,” he said. “We just need to be playing our best football by the end of the season and work to get in the playoffs. 

“Hopefully we can put ourselves into the position to be playing meaningful football in late October and early November.”

While the high schoolers get to play at home, Riverside’s middle schoolers will attend a jamboree in Shoshoni.