Bruin athletes on the court and on the field last week bid farewell to senior teammates and finished their final home games of the season.
The girls volleyball teams played first, on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at home, then closed out their 2017 season on the road at Hilmar.
The Bruin varsity football team played on Friday, Oct. 27, hosting Big Valley Christian High School’s Lions and celebrating Senior Night for the last home game of their 2017 season. They finish up this Friday, Nov. 3, on the road at San Andreas, taking on the Rams of Sierra Ridge Academy/ROP, the final game of the year.
On Riverbank’s football field, the team rolled to an early score in the first quarter, in the first two minutes of play, but Big Valley answered with a touchdown of their own. A missed PAT attempt left RHS down right at the end of the quarter, just 14-13, but they never really got back in the game.
The opening play series of the second quarter saw a substantial pass reception by Riverbank’s Billy Williams called back by an offensive pass interference penalty, according to the referees, although photos of the play show something different.
What some on the sidelines called ‘poor officiating’ ultimately led to two RHS players being ejected from the game by the end of the first half. Although the Bruins scored in every quarter, so did the Lions.
The score at the break was 36-19, in favor of Big Valley.
Several good plays along the way in the second half gave Riverbank hope, but it just wasn’t to be. Despite sparks of completed passes and lengthy runs, RHS just couldn’t get it back. One drive was capped off by senior QB Matt Jones punching through the middle and over the north goal line, with running back Billy Williams accomplishing the same thing on the other end of the field later on.
In the end, the Bruins were disappointed by a 58-37 final score ending their home campaign with the hard fought loss. They’ll finish up their season this Friday at San Andreas.
Lady Bruin Volleyball
Earlier last week, on Tuesday, Oct. 24, the Lady Bruins hosted Modesto Christian High School, starting with Senior Recognition Night preceding the varsity game.
Despite contending well in the first and third games of the match, Riverbank went down disappointed, in three, 16-26, 7-25, and 20-25.
The girls finished their season on Thursday, Oct. 26, with losses at Hilmar, 7-25, 5-25 and 5-25.
Youth Football
Riverbank’s Youth Football teams finished out their regular season games this past Saturday and will launch right into the playoffs this coming weekend. And they get to host a round of the games to start the playoff run.
Last weekend’s scores were: Futures and Starts forfeited losses to the Lodi Flames, where the games were played.
The Rookie team lost 13-7 and the JVs lost 46-0, but the Jr. Bruin varsity won, 38-0, placing third in their level.
On Saturday, Nov. 4, Riverbank hosts Futures, 5- and 6-year-olds, from Salida, beginning at 11 a.m. The Starts, the 7- and 8-year-olds, also host Salida, at noon.
The Rookies host Salida, too, the 9- and 10-year-olds, at 2 p.m., with the JVs hosting the Jaguars of Stockton, 11- and 12-year-olds, at 4 p.m.
The Varsity game begins at 6 p.m., meeting the 13- and 14-year-old Central Valley Jets of Modesto. Riverbank placed third while Modesto finished first in the rankings.
