(Oakland) Despite being among the district leaders in several stat categories last year the Riverside Bulldogs posted just two wins. This year they’ve found ways to win the close ones and are enjoying a four game winning streak as the playoffs arrive.
The Bulldogs have outscored their last three opponents on average 33-7. Now they’ll face an AHSTW opponent that hasn’t played since Week 4. Riverside coach Darrell Frain believes that’s an advantage for his team. “When you lose that intensity level of practicing hard everyday and having competition each week I think you do lose a little bit. There’s a lot of different ways to look at it. Some people like the weeks off, but I like to compete as hard as you can every week and it will make you advance and be better players as you go.”
At the same time, there are some concerns about playing a hungry, rested foe. “It really kind of scares me a little bit. The coaches have had time off and I know when I get too much time off I start getting ideas of things to try. Some of the unknown that they might present to us kind of scares me. The fact that they’ll be rested kind of worries me a little bit.”
The Vikings have the potential to be a dynamic offense. “They want to run the ball first, but they have great guys on the outside that can stretch the field. They have a really good running back in (Denver) Pauley, a really good quarterback in (Blake) Holst, and a receiver that can go up and get it in (Raydden) Grobe. All of those guys worry me so we have a lot to prepare for.”
Coach Frain has revived Riverside’s football program. The Bulldogs haven’t won this many games since 2004. It took three years with Frain at the helm to get back to their winning ways. “In my own mind I thought it should have happened right away and it didn’t. I had a lot to learn myself on the process and the mental part of football. I’m happy with where we are right now, but we still have a long ways to go to get to where we really want to be.”
Riverside’s last postseason appearance was in 2013 when they lost in the first round. They enter the game with a 6-1 record. AHSTW is 2-2. Friday’s game will air on 96.5 FM KSOM.
