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Fall season practices underway for Bruin athletes
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Varsity and JV football players work out on the Riverbank High School practice field on Thursday, Aug. 1. Helmets, pads and practice jerseys were issued on Monday that week, and practice shifted from cooler temperatures of morning sessions to afternoons, in preparation for the resumption of school classes. The first scrimmage for football is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 16. Ric McGinnis/The News

Football began getting serious this past week, as official practices began after the required ‘dead’ period instigated by state regulations for the first two weeks of July.

Following two weeks of workouts the second half of July, equipment was issued to players on Monday, July 29, with helmet and shoulder pad non-contact practices moving from cooler morning sessions to 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. last week, as well. Drills include offense and defense, with blocking but no tackling, and pass routes and coverage work in small groups.

A varsity/JV scrimmage has been set for the football Bruins on Friday, Aug.16. The first non-league varsity game is set to be at Rocklin, against Western Sierra Collegiate Academy, on Aug. 23. The JV will play against Stagg in Stockton the day before.

Riverbank varsity will travel to Burton High School in San Francisco on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. The JV will play at 6 p.m. at Gustine on Thursday that week. Friday, Sept. 6 is set as a bye week. Another pre-league game is set for Sept. 13 at Florin High School in Sacramento.

This year, Riverbank High begins play in the Mother Lode League, with a first game scheduled at home, against Calaveras High School from San Andreas, on Friday, Sept. 20. The next week, they play at Summerville in Tuolumne County, on Sept. 27.

They host Millenium from Tracy for Homecoming on Oct. 4, and on Oct. 11, they travel to Big Valley Christian in Modesto. On Oct. 18, the Bruins host Linden High’s Lions. On Oct. 25, they travel to Bret Harte in Angels Camp.

Bruin Senior Night is set for Friday, Nov. 1, as they host the new River Islands High School from Lathrop to close out the 2024 season.

New to the Riverbank schedule this year is girls flag football. A game schedule has not been announced yet, but practices were slated from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday this week, then move to after school when classes begin.

Girls volleyball league play will begin on Sept. 19, with the Lady Bruins hosting Summerville. The co-ed cross country team gets into action on Sept. 18, at Linden, and Lady Bruin golf league play starts on Thursday, Sept. 5 at Calaveras.

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Riverbank High School football players began practicing with helmets, shoulder pads and cleats this week. They also got some instruction from coaches as they prepare for the fall season ahead; the Bruins will have league games in the Mother Lode League. Ric McGinnis/The News