(Oakland) A big matchup in Class A, District 9 will play out Friday in Oakland. KSOM will have the broadcast between 5-1 Riverside and 6-1 SW Valley.
The Bulldogs and the Timberwolves appear to be very evenly matched and both teams bring some momentum into this one. Here’s Riverside coach Darrell Frain, “Right now we are playing with the most confidence I’ve seen since I’ve been here. They believe they have a chance to win every game and they practice like they have a chance to win every game. It’s exciting for the whole team and the community and the school district. We are enjoying it and hopefully we can keep a run going.”
On paper this matchup is as close as it gets. They’ve each had similar scores against common opponents and their stats are very comparable up and down the list. “It’s definitely going to be a four quarter game. They are playing really well right now. They play really fast on defense which scares me a lot. The matchups are going to be good. Their strengths are our strengths. It’s going to be an exciting game.”
Both teams are especially strong at the line of scrimmage. “That’s where it’s going to come down to, who can win up front. I’d like to think we have a chance to get it done, but I know they are thinking the same thing. It’ll be an exciting battle for both the offensive and defensive linemen.”
Riverside has given up a total of just 20 points last two weeks. In their last three games they’ve given up only one score in the second half. “Eddie Vlcek has done awesome. We expected him to be awesome. He dominates the defensive line all the time. In the middle Caden Manzer as a linebacker has come up big for us. Brogan Allensworth has done great, Drake Woods has done great. I could go right down the list. Are we where we need to be to be a state champion or a final four team? Maybe not yet, but we keep getting better every week and that’s all I can ask out of them.”
Coach Frain believes a win this Friday night could give his team a home game or two in the payoffs, but that’s not for sure yet. Austin Kremkoski continues to be a dual threat for the Bulldogs with 887 passing yards and 296 rushing yards. Rhett Bentley lead the ground attack with 636 yards. Brogan Allensworth has been a reliable target on the outside with 15 catches for 307 yards and five touchdowns.
Riverside beat Davis County 35-14 last week, outscoring the Mustangs 14-0 in the 2nd half. “We did really well. It was a competitive first half and we were up seven. I was concerned walking to the huddle, but the kids said ‘We’ve got these guys, they’re so tired.’ We just ran them out of gas. I just loved hearing the kids have the confidence at halftime.”
Riverside has won the last two meeting between these squads in convincing fashion including a 45-0 win last season.
