GAINESVILLE — Riverside Military football coach Nick Garrett knows his Eagles rarely garner much preseason hype.
Frankly, he could not care less, as the second-year coach says his entire focus is on making the most of a short but intense preseason training camp designed to get his players -- many of whom have been off campus for two months -- playing together, not talking about which publication or prognosticator they'd love to emabarrass.
That said, maybe area high school fans should afford a little preseason love for the 2018 Eagles. After all, they return a plethora of talented veterans from a team that was three touchdowns removed from a 5-5 record in 2017 (a mark which may have been enough to catapult them into the postseason). That includes the kind of players college scouts drool over -- like 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver/safety Khalid Duke and 6-3 dual threat QB Isaac Teasley.
Garrett and his staff also spent much of the summer traveling in wide arcs around Gainesville, ensuring kids reached camps and workouts, staying focused on football during the long break from school.
With 15 of 22 starters returning, in fact, you can feel the excitement pouring from Garrett's staff, as they look at a roster that -- for the first time in years -- is not full of brand new faces, looking to mesh with relative strangers.
"We've been working on changing the environment and culture, and it doesn't happen overnight, but subtle things make a big difference," said Garrett, whose program enters 2018 in search of its first winning mark and playoff appearance since 2008. "We cannot wait tio get this season going."
RIVERSIDE: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Eagles
- TEAM COLORS: Blue and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-A
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Nick Garrett, second season, 2-8
- 2017 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2-8
- KEY LOSSES: WR/DB Charles Dimnawobi, LB Victor Pittman
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread -- The Eagles will go no-huddle in a run-pass-otion attack, looking to make the most of their athletes in the backfield and on the perimeter. And they have plenty of them, including more returning starters than at any time in recent history. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, receiver/safety Khalid Duke (a state champ in the triple jump) is a top-level collegiate player in the making, while QB Isaac Teasley is a gifted dual threat, dilligent worker and leader.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 8 returning starters -- Sr. QB Isaac Teasley (All-Region in 2017), Sr. WR Khalid Duke, Sr. OL Wookdong Kim, Sr. RB Stephen Aleandre, Sr. OL Mason Anthony, Jr. RB Dylan Parr
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 4-2-5 -- Riverside will look to be multiple, dialing up pressure based on the opponent and occasion while also forcing teams to drive the field against its base defense. There are leaders on each level of the defense and the kind of athleticism to keep opposing coordinators up late.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 7 returning starters -- Sr. Saf Khalid Duke, Sr. LB Wookdong Kim (All-Region in 2017), Sr. DE Anthony Mason, Sr. CB Stephen Aleandre, Jr. LB Dylan Parr
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Jr. PK Sean Whitley, Sr. P Isaac Teasley
- STRENGTH: Seniority/leadership -- Garrett compared the returning roster of the Eagles to a unicorn -- "they just don't happen around here," he chuckled. With 15 starters back of a possible 22, Riverside should be better equipped to handle the problems that can beset a boarding school, as players both know schemes and each other. Plus, coaches spent much of the summer driving the state to make sure players were able to attend camps in order to keep them involved in the game over a two-month break.
- QUESTION: Placekicking -- The Eagles dropped three games by three points apiece in 2017, a strong kicking game could make the difference between a losing record and reaching the playoffs; remember six Region 8-A teams made the postseason last year, including then 5-5 Towns County. The strength of the region means that a few key wins can make all the difference.
- KEY GAMES: Riverside came right out of the gates in 2017 with a showdown versus eventual state semifinalist Prince Avenue Christian (a 56-13 loss). The subdivision of Region 8-A means the Eagles actually get to open this campaign with three straight non-region contests. And while all three opponents have talent and ability it will be huge for Riverside to know that they have a chance to fine tune before jumping into region play on Sept. 21 against Prince Avenue in Gainesville. The Eagles follow that with what could be a telling contest against a Towns team also returning a number of standouts from last year's historic playoff berth.
- TRENDING: There is plenty of optimism surrounding the Eagles this preseason, and with the size, experience and athleticism on hand its easy to see why. Coach Nick Garrett enters his second season at Riverside with some momentum after winning two of his last three contests last season. However, the Eagles also know they must work extremely hard to turn around a streak of nine straight campaigns without a winning record.
2018 SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 at Christian Heritage
Aug. 24 vs. King's Ridge
Sept. 7 vs. Johnson
Sept. 21 vs. Prince Avenue Christian*
Sept. 28 vs. Towns County*
Oct. 5 at Providence Christian*
Oct. 12 at Lakeview Academy*
Oct. 19 vs. Hebron Christian Academy*
Oct. 26 at Commerce*
Nov. 2 vs. Region Crossover
*- Indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
