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SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018 | THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RIVERVIEW RAIDERS
Riverview Raiders move to run focused offense
BY SAM PIERCE
STAFF WRITER
The goals for the Riverview Raiders this season are very similar to previ- ous seasons. They want to beat rival Bald Knob, and they want to make the playoffs.
“We also want to be a family,” head coach Mike McCain said. “Last year was the first year that Riverview made the playoffs, so they want to continue it and make that a tradition.”
The Riverview Leadership Council, which is made up of upperclassmen on the team, also said they would like to win eight games this year — which would be a new school record. The Raiders finished 7-4 last season, losing in the first round of the playoffs, but the sev- en wins were the most in school history. The Raiders returned four players on offense and four on defense.
“We are not as experienced as we were last year; that’s for sure,” McCain said. “We are pret- ty inexperienced.”
Senior quarterback Griffin Miller is a re- turning all-conference player and a “phenom- enal athlete and runs well,” McCain said.
“He also throws well and has had a pretty good offseason,” the coach said. “He has put on 15 pounds and will be a three-year starter for us at quarterback.”
Miller also plays baseball and was part of the 4x100 meter relay team that won state this year. Miller threw for 841 yards with 8 touchdowns and 7 interceptions last season. He also rushed 84 times for 963 yards with 11 touchdowns.
Last year, Riverview worked primarily out
RIVERVIEW RAIDERS
AUG. 24 .....................................BROOKLAND AUG. 31 ............................................DEWITT SEPT. 7 .........................................HIGHLAND
SEPT. 21
SEPT. 28
OCT. 5 ........................................@LR MILLS* OCT. 12 ..................................... STUTTGART* OCT. 19 ..................................@BALD KNOB* OCT. 26 ..............................HEBER SPRINGS* NOV. 1 ......................................... @LONOKE*
*DENOTES CONFERENCE GAMES
of the Spread offense, but McCain said this year, the team will switch to the Flex Bone, which is primarily running out of the option.
“We needed to switch because of our per- sonnel,” he said. “Our depth is not as big, so it fits us well.”
McCain said he is proud of how the Raiders have taken to the new offense, a transition the team has been working on since the end of January.
“To be where we are now, they have done a good job of buying into the new offense, and they have transitioned well,” McCain said.
Making the move to fullback is returning senior Baylee Dillin. McCain said Dillin has worked hard in the weight room and has tran- sitioned well from the Spread to the Flex at that position. Last year as running back, Dillin had 82 carries for 538 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Senior Cade Trickey is more of a shifty-type runner compared to Dillon.
RIVERVIEW continued on 27SS
..... CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN* .............. @SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE*
PHOTOS BY STACI VANDAGRIFF/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Riverview junior quarterback Logan Miller, right, hands the ball off to junior Santos Gutierrez. Head coach Mike McCain said the Raiders are switching to a more run-focused offense this season.
Riverview junior wide receiver Blake Nelson runs through a barrage of blocking shields.