Football preview: Riverbank aims to continue momentum; MC goes independent

You can argue that no football program benefited from Sac-Joaquin Section realignment more than Riverbank.

After years in the Trans-Valley League, the Bruins played an independent schedule in 2023. That year, they won three games and ended what was at the time the second-longest losing streak in section history, behind Bella Vista’s 48-game skid from 2015 to 2021.

“I really don’t know how to describe it,” head coach Joe Pirillo told The Bee in 2023. “I mean, eventually it was going to come. Now we’re just trying to focus on getting to the next one. And not letting something like this happen again.”

So far, mission accomplished. Not only have the Bruins avoided another winless season, they improved on their 2023 success last year when they were realigned from the TVL to the Mother Lode League.

They finished 6-4 overall and won two Mother Lode League games. Their 14-0 league victory over Bret Harte was the school’s first football win as part of a league since beating Ripon Christian 21-20 in a 2007 TVL contest.

The revitalization of the football team and recent success of the girls basketball program have sent a jolt through the Riverbank campus. People care about athletics again and the football program has seen an increase in numbers.

There were highs and lows in 2024. The Bruins’ first four on-field wins were shutouts of San Juan, Burton, Gustine and Bret Harte. They won their season finale 34-8 over River Islands and won their season opener by forfeit. But they also gave up games of 55, 49, 42 and 77 points to playoff teams during league play. Two sides of the same coin that come with growing a program.

In 2025, they’re looking to build and improve on their first time finishing over .500 since 2004 (6-5) with 20 returners.

No Riverbank football player will have more experience than senior Diego Gomez, who’s entering his fourth year and started on both sides of the ball his sophomore and junior seasons. An offensive and defensive lineman, Gomez is a leader and the program’s best up front.

Junior Gabriel Sandoval played fullback last season and produced 631 yards on 105 carries. The Bruins could easily double his workload this year, giving him more opportunities to have a 1,000-yard rushing year.

Julien Chavarin played on the defensive line last season as a sophomore, recording 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. He’ll shift positions on the line but could still bring the same production.

Newcomers Jackson Hammond, a sophomore switching from tight end to fullback, and Robert Jimenez, a sophomore lineman fighting for a starting tackle spot, could also have a hand in helping the Bruins have another successful season.

MC playing independent schedule

After agreeing to leave the TVL for an independent schedule this season, Modesto Christian looks to continue its rebuild with a strong freshman class. After not scoring a point in a winless eight-game 2024 season, the Crusaders return 13 players including sophomore Jameel Harrison, sophomore Joe Ewina, Christin Gonzales and junior Noah Williams. Freshmen Tamaseaula Mahafutau, Tevita Sagga Tuakalau, Joseph Reveira and senior Adyan Johnson could also all make an immediate impact on the Crusaders as they chase their first win since Sept. 9, 2023.

MaxPreps as of Thursday shows a nine-game slate for the about 23-player Crusaders, starting with Friday’s matchup against Denair. The next week is their home opener against Stone Ridge Christian before taking on River Islands, a team in its second season with varsity football that will have seniors for the first time this year, in the first game of a four-game road stretch. The next three home games are against Millennium, Armijo, a playoff team from last year, and Mariposa County. The first Friday of October, Modesto Christian hosts Central of Fresno before traveling to Berean Christian and hosting Redwood Christian on Oct. 31.

More Football Notes

Big Valley Christian got back into the postseason last season, winning eight overall games and finishing fourth in the Mother Lode League.

The Lions scored 49 points in a first-round playoff win over Valley Christian and 55 points in the quarterfinals win over Waterford.

Travis Lema returns for his junior season at quarterback after completing 78 passes for 1,458 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore.

All three of Big Valley’s leading rushers were juniors last season. They combined for 309 carries, 2,065 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Jeremie Jourdan was the Lions’ leading rusher with 143 carries, 917 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Last season’s leading receiver and tackler, Titus Beers, transferred to Hughson after tallying over 600 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns and 99 tackles with 21 tackles for loss.

Denair is coming off its first postseason appearance in five years.

Derek Potter returns at quarterback after throwing for 752 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Last year’s leading rusher, Degan Butler is back for Denair. He rushed for 1,140 yards and 13 touchdowns on 160 carries as a junior.

Waterford is coming off a trip to the Division VII playoffs in 2024.

The Wildcats went 5-6 last season, securing their most wins since 2021.

Last year’s starting quarterback, Bryan Martinez, was just a sophomore. He completed 119 passes for 1,338 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Last season’s leading rusher Alex Wolfe returns for his senior season. As a junior, he rushed for 908 yards and nine touchdowns on 151 carries.

Quinton Hamilton

The Modesto Bee

Quinton Hamilton covers high school sports for The Modesto Bee. He is a Southern California native and received his bachelor’s degree from Pacific Union College and a master’s in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Quinton has worked at the Record-Journal in Meriden and helped on projects at Hearst Connecticut.