QUINCY -- It was a tough first year for Riverside football coach Heath Huffman in 2024 as the Warriors suffered numerous injuries at key positions on their way to finishing 1-9.
However, Huffman remains confident, and with a year under his belt, he is looking to make the necessary changes to get Riverside in a position to be more successful this season.
“In my first year, I tried some new things, and I made some huge mistakes,†Huffman said. “I’m going back to what I know, which is, we are going to be in shape and more disciplined. We are going to hit it hard and just go back to good, sound football.â€
Huffman indicated roster numbers are up for Riverside, with 44 players competing on a regular basis in the summer programs and more than 50 expected for the season.
“The guys this year have really bought in,†Huffman said. “We are pushing them hard and not allowing them to do the things that we had so many issues with last year. We have cut that out and they are ready. They are liking what we are doing.â€
Riverside will be led by standout running back Malakhi Hope (5-foot-11, 170 pounds). The dynamic sophomore rushed for 934 yards on 121 carries and eight touchdowns last year, despite missing three games.
“We weren’t very good, so that tells you how good he was,†Huffman said. “This year he has gotten more in the weight room and put on a little bit of mass. He is focused and is a very good player. I would put him up against the rest of them all day long.â€
“I got ranked by Prep Redzone at 15 in the state, so I was really excited for that,†Hope said. “It also wanted to make me even better because I want to be the best. I’ve been hitting the weights harder and doing everything even better than last year.â€
To go along with Hope missing three games, the quarterback position was also ravaged by injuries. Four Warriors QBs threw at least 21 passes apiece throughout the season, with none of them having more than 61 attempts.
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“The injuries were tough,†Huffman said. “The teams we play are so much bigger than us. We were playing superior football teams being in the MSAC, and then we had to start more freshmen, and they get hurt because they are going up against 18-year-old men.â€
This year, the Warriors had a two-headed quarterback battle going on in preseason with senior Dasani McCallister (6-3, 150) and junior Tavion Woods (5-11, 181) competing for the position. Huffman indicated both could play throughout the season.
“They are both pretty dead even and doing great,†Huffman said. “Dasani is the better drop-back passer and does well throwing the ball. We are teaching him to read the field and make those decisions. In the 7-on-7s, he was like a magician.â€
“Tavion is also a really good quarterback, but he’s a mover. If we want to run triple option, we can. He is a bit better fit there for that. Right now, we are working on the spread to try and loosen things up more for Malakhi to run the ball.â€
Wide receiver is also expected to be a strength with seniors Riley Gilmore (6-3, 180) and Logan Tudor (6-1, 160). Juniors Ethan Scruggs (6-2 155), who also played some at quarterback, and Tyson Arms (5-7, 150) are expected to be key contributors, too.
On the offensive and defensive lines, sophomore Paul Cochran (5-9, 200) is expected to play a key role, along with Joel Peters (5-9, 230) and senior Colin Campbell, who missed last season with an injury.
Others expected to play key roles defensively include junior cornerback John Battle, sophomore Nolan Confere, senior linebacker Zach Crider, a pair of freshmen in Cedric Copning and Vaughn Brockman and senior kicker Eli Taft.
“I’m so happy and proud to be here,†Huffman said. “We want to build a program here that our community can be happy with. Our goal is to have a winning record and make the playoffs. We have a schedule we can compete in and hopefully stay relatively healthy.â€
