The Bruin football program hosted a round-robin style scrimmage on the Riverbank High School campus on Friday, Aug. 16.
Teams suited up for the action and met here in the Angelo Novi Stadium. Most teams were playing in their practice jerseys, so roster information was not available, with teams from three high schools coming to play here alongside the host Bruins.
JV teams played first, then about 7 p.m., the varsity teams started work. All four teams worked out at the same time, with two running offensive and defensive plays in each half of the field, north and south.
They played nine-minute periods, switching from offense to defense, but no scores were kept.
Football plays next at Western Sierra Collegiate Academy in Rocklin in a preseason game. They’ll play their first home game on Sept. 13, hosting Florin High from Sacramento, in another non-league game.
Their first league game will come at home the next week, on Sept. 20, as the Bruins host the Calaveras Red Hawks from San Andreas.
Girls Flag Football
“It may have only been a scrimmage but it’s history,” Coach Jeff Borden commented after Riverbank’s first-ever flag football team played in its first scrimmage of the 2024 season.
“The Lady Bruins hit the turf for the very first time for a round robin scrimmage with Enochs and Bear Creek at Johansen High School in Modesto. As RHS athletes do, they showed up and showed out,” Borden said.
The coach said seeing other teams and going with live action as opposed to running drills and working against each other on the gridiron was a valuable experience, providing game situations for both the offense and the defense.
“They are so ready to build on the hard work they have already put in with what we learned,” he said.
Girls flag football next will scrimmage Davis High on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 3:30 p.m. on the Riverbank field.
Their first tournament will be on Saturday, Aug. 24 at Orestimba High School in Newman.
Coach Borden gave special recognition to a couple of his players.
“Congrats to slot back Naomi Jimenez on scoring the first ever RHS girls flag football touchdown on a 60-yard pass and run from QB Briana Guel,” he noted.
Co-Ed Cross Country
Also this past week, Bruin and Lady Bruin runners participated in a time trials run here in Jacob Myers Park.
They’re scheduled to be in Angels Camp to participate in the Bret Harte High School scrimmage on Aug. 21. This weekend, on Saturday, Aug. 24, they’ll compete in Atwater, in the Screamin’ Scott Showdown.
Lady Bruin Volleyball
The girls volleyball teams were scheduled to get in some preseason scrimmage work on Aug. 16, but were thwarted when the invited team found it was double booked and couldn’t come.
They were scheduled to scrimmage again on Monday this week. Tuesday, Aug. 20, they were set to play a Foundation Game match at Gustine.
The varsity team is also to play in the Orestimba Tournament in Newman on Saturday, Aug. 24. Then they’ll play at home on Monday, Aug. 26, hosting Delhi.
