By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Smoke, Heat Cancels First Bruin Home Football Game
Stadium
Scheduled game time saw no Riverbank football fans in the stands on Friday, Aug. 27 as lots of smoke, coupled with high temperatures brought the cancellation of the non-league game against the Delhi Hawks. At game time, the reported Air Quality Index (AQI) was about 162, well inside the 150-200 red range, indicative of unhealthy air in the area. Many other high school games were delayed or canceled last week as well. Photo By Ric McGinnis

The first scheduled ‘Friday Night Lights’ game, set for the football field in the Angelo Novi Stadium on the campus at Riverbank High School, just didn’t happen last week.

The Bruins were set to host the Hawks of Delhi High School at a 7 p.m. non-league game, scheduled for Friday, Aug. 27. But the heat and the severe smoke from fires in Northern California caused the game to be canceled.

At game time the temperature was about 92 degrees, but the Air Quality Index (AQI) was reported at 162. According to the index, that puts the number well into the Red Range, described as unhealthy for everyone. That red range runs from 150 to 200 AQI.

According to RHS Athletic Director Juan Harvey, the decision to cancel came about the time school got out that day.

Earlier weather forecasts had predicted that increasing winds from the north would bring increasing amounts of smoke from the northern fires to the valley all day. It is said that the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which regulates high school sports standards, has set the limit at that AQI of 150.

The problem affected many football games across the region, with some being canceled, others rescheduled for Monday night.

When asked about a reschedule here, varsity football coach Joseph Pirillo said that Delhi wasn’t interested in playing on Monday, hence the cancelation.

This week, the Bruins are set to travel to Delta High School in Clarksburg, with a 7 p.m. scheduled start on Friday, Sept. 3. Riverbank is not fielding a JV team this year.

 

Lady Bruin Volleyball

RHS girls were scheduled to start with back-to-back matches this week, on Monday and Tuesday. A Thursday match, Sept. 2, will see Riverbank host Orestimba’s Lady Warriors, from Newman, in a non-league series. Starting with the freshman team, they’ll be playing at 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

On Monday, the varsity was to play in a Foundation Game at Johansen High in Modesto, and on Tuesday, all three teams were scheduled to play at Central Valley High in Ceres.

 

Girls Golf

The Lady Bruin linksters were to play at the Yellowjacket Tournament in Turlock on Monday this week, then at Hughson on Aug. 31. They’ll tee up at Livingston for a Sept. 2 contest, and host Denair on the Escalon Golf Course next Tuesday, Sept. 7.

 

Cross Country

Riverbank runners are set to start off their season with the opening Trans-Valley League meet at River Bluff Park in Ceres on Wednesday, Sept. 1. On Friday, they’ll run at the Central Valley Classic at Woodward Park in Fresno.

After that, they travel to the Kim Durst Invitational in Ceres.