Riverbank High football players will get most of July off from practice, during a state-wide imposed dead period, but will change leagues both this coming fall, and again in 2024, according to head coach Joe Pirillo.

He said RHS football has been designated as an independent team for the 2023 season in preparation for being transferred to the Mother Lode League the following year.

“2024 is the California Interscholastic Federation realignment cycle for the Sac-Joaquin Section teams,” he said, adding that Riverbank will move into the Mother Lode League that year.

The Bruins have played in the Trans-Valley League for a number of years, competing with teams from schools nearby, like Escalon, Hughson, Hilmar and Modesto Christian, among others.

As an independent team, this fall Riverbank will be playing teams from Gridley, Denair, Tracy, Lindhurst, three high schools in Sacramento and one in Roseville, for a schedule of eight games, half of them on the road.

The Mother Lode League teams are mostly located in the foothills. In this coming football season, the MLL is made up of teams from Sonora, Amador (Sutter Creek), Calaveras (San Andreas), Summerville (Tuolumne), Bret Harte (Angels Camp) and Argonaut (Jackson).

Early summer practices for football ended July 3 at Riverbank High. The dead period mandated by the CIF is now in effect for football.

Regular practice can begin on Monday, July 24. The first scrimmage can be held on Aug. 11, with the first regular game no sooner than Aug. 18.

For Lady Bruin volleyball, cross country and girls golf, the mandated dead period is set to begin on July 10, with practices able to resume again on July 31, first scrimmage date is Aug. 11.