Despite the thermometer coming nowhere near 100 degrees, it was still a warm, sunny Saturday as the Jr. Bruins youth football teams hosted the Steeler-Jags from Salida on Sept. 8. Unfortunately, the visitors left after putting three of the five games played in their win column.

The first three games were disappointing to the home fans, with the Futures going down 20-13, the Starts getting blanked, 27-0 and the Rookies also shut out, 20-0 by the visitors.

The final two games, however, were on the plus side: the JV team fought hard to come back with an 8-6 win after being down 6-0 at the half.

The Varsity Jr. Bruins put their stamp on the day with a convincing 42-12 victory over Salida.

Next week, Riverbank travels to Ceres to take on the Jr. Bulldogs, before returning home to the RHS football field to host the Jr. Pride of Turlock. Another home game follows the next week.

The new age-level team this year, the Futures, includes 5- and 6-year-olds, making five levels of play for the Junior Bruin teams.

The other levels include the Starts, 7- and 8-year-olds; the Rookies, the 9- and 10-year-olds. The JVs are 11- and 12-year-olds; with the Varsity Junior Bruins being 13- and 14-year-olds.