Rams football proves it can win multiple ways

Every week, it will be someone new. 

That's how the Riverview High football team (3-1) is looking at things. In order to win, a different unit — and different players within that unit — will need to lead the charge. Through four weeks, it appears the team is capable of handling that challenge. 

Against Cardinal Mooney High (3-1) on Sept. 14, it was the defense that got the job done. While the Rams' offense struggled for the first two-and-a-half quarters, the defense never flinched, allowing zero points to the Cougars' offense. In fact, Mooney got their only points on the game's first play from scrimmage — which came on defense. A scoop-and-score fumble recovery by senior Zy'marion Lang put Mooney on the board, but the Cougars could do nothing against Riverview's sticky secondary and stout front seven. The game was tied 7-7 at halftime, but the Rams ultimately walked away with a 35-7 victory. 

The win came one week after a decidedly looser defensive performance in a 52-42 win over Palmetto High (2-1). Riverview High Head Coach Josh Smithers credited his defensive assistants, as well as Rams strength coach Mark Cristiani, with getting his defense ready to go one week after surrendering all those points. Was it a drastic scheme change that caused the improvement? No, Smithers said. It was a mentality change. 

"We do it the old-fashioned way," Smithers said. "Our guys are hard-nosed and blue-collar. You can’t buy success and toughness. You’ve got to work for that. I loved the way the guys approached it (this week). They were resilient and I love it. I felt like we were more physical the whole game.

"Last week we had a hard time getting off the field. We told these guys: Sometimes offensive has got to win it; sometimes defense has got to win it. Tonight it was the defense’s time."

Photo by Ryan Kohn

Rams junior Landon Marsters (14 tackles, two tackles for loss) and senior Chase Caldwell (13 tackles) led the charge, but it was a collective effort, with big games also coming from senior Henry Fioriglio (eight tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack), senior Jack Folvig (eight tackles, one tackle for loss) and senior Luke Haskins (six tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks). The secondary's success is harder to measure with defensive stats, but Mooney senior quarterback Michael Valentino completed seven of 13 passes for 91 yards. Valentino did not play in the second half because of an injury; his replacement, junior Devin Mignery, completed nine of 22 passes for 117 yards. 

Mooney entered the contest averaging 44 points per game in their first three games. The Cougars' offense did get close to scoring once, while tied 7-7 in the third quarter, and the ensuing sequence changed the game. A touchdown run by senior Carson Beach was called back on a holding penalty. After failing to score again, the Cougars would have to settle for a 32-yard field goal — but a false start penalty actually made the kick 37 yards. The five-yard difference mattered: the kick hit the crossbar and bounced back into play, no good. On the next snap, Riverview junior DJ Johnson took a carry 80 yards for a touchdown. 

Photo by Ryan Kohn

Johnson's run opened up things for the Rams' offense, which would add three more scoring drives in the fourth quarter. On that side of the ball, it was all rushing: Johnson finished with 214 yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore Isaiah Belt had 111 yards and two touchdowns. Running behind linemen like senior Julius Edwards, junior CJ McCutcheon, senior Weston Gruttadauria, junior Aljonon Oliver and senior Malik Byrd, plus senior tight end Christian Leetzow, Johnson and Belt had plenty of room to maneuver. 

Senior quarterback Braxton Thomas also added a rushing touchdown. Thomas did not have his best night throwing the ball — he completed three of eight passes for 39 yards — but he also was not asked to do much. Like the offense/defense divide, Smithers said, the offense itself will need different players to step up each week. The Mooney game was not Thomas' time to have a big game, but eventually the team will need him, and Smithers is confident that he'll respond. 

"He's done some great things for us," Smithers said of Thomas, who transferred to Riverview from Desert Vista High in Phoenix this offseason. "He's kept drives alive with his arm and his legs. There are a lot of little things he does that are good. (The Mooney game) was just the offensive line and the running game's time to shine, so that's what we leaned on and it worked." 

The work is not done. The Rams next have a bye week before playing rival Venice High (1-2) at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 on the road. Smithers made sure to emphasize that point to his team following the Mooney game: it is a bye week, not an off week. Riverview may not have a game in week five, but the program can still use the practice time. 

"I don't want them to not practice hard or for things to be silly," Smithers said. "We have a chance to get better. I think it is important to phrase it that way so that is how they are thinking."