Football 2014: Riverside Military budding with speed, skill

GAINESVILLE -- There's a different air to a team coming off a 5-5 season as opposed to a 1-9 season, just ask Riverside Military Academy coach Gary Downs.<br /> <br /> "The kids are excited about it because they see the potential and the possibility," said Downs, whose team made a four-game improvement in 2013 -- and came close to even more wins. "We know the games that got away from us last year and how close we were. We were one game away from the playoffs last year.<br /> <br /> "They know what it takes now, what it looks like and they want it."<br /> <br /> <iframe width="280" height="210" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gvwY2DG0KVk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /> <br /> Wanting it isn't enough, however, you have to have the pieces in place to turn fantasy into reality and, according to Downs, this year's Riverside team does.<br /> <br /> "We've got some talent in, we've got some beef up front and we've got skill guys that can really go, so the boys are really excited," Downs said.<br /> <br /> Included in the "talent in" category is former Rabun County quarterback Hunter Sims