Riverside looks to bounce back after tough football season

It was a short time ago.

In 2014, Riverside Academy reached the Division III state semifinals. 2015, Riverside got to the Division III state championship game. In 2016, the Rebels captured their first ever state title.

That set in motion a world of change.

Legendary coach Bill Stubbs retired following the state title game. Top assistant Chris Lachney took over but remained for just one season of major obstacles, with three scheduled games being impacted by weather cancellations or a scheduling snafu. Lachney left following the 2017 season and is now the linebackers coach at Southeastern Louisiana.

Enter Kevin Dizer, a former Sterlington and Belhaven player and assistant coach.

After three years as an assistant under Stubbs and Lachney, Dizer took over a program that had lost most of its stars and whose numbers had slipped a bit.

Playing an extremely difficult schedule, the Rebels slipped to 3-7 in 2018, falling in their first playoff game to Ascension Episcopal.

The personable, pleasurable Dizer remains an optimist.

“Looking back at last year, I could not be more blessed,” Dizer said. “That needed to happen. It gave me an opportunity to see the deficiencies in our team. Had we played a lighter schedule, we likely would have had a winning record but that would not reflect who we are or where we are at. I feel like this is now my team and we can move forward in positive fashion.”

Suffice it to say that it was tough and it was a learning experience.

With 12 starters returning, Dizer and the Rebels are ready to rebound in 2019.

Despite key losses to graduation, including wide receiver Kash Foley (Grambling), running back Louis Cheneau (Louisiana College) and defensive lineman Wilbert Robertson (Louisiana College), there is a good combination of veteran starters and young talent returning.

On offense, seven starters return, led by junior quarterback Gage Larvadain (5-7, 145). Though small in size, Larvadain is large in heart and in athletic ability. As the point guard on the Rebel basketball team, Larvadain is the leader of that team. As the quarterback on the football team, he is the unquestioned leader of that squad as well.

“Gage is a special kid,” Dizer said. “He is just one of those kids you will not get to coach very often. He’s extremely tough, extremely smart and we are blessed to have him. He has a chance to take a huge step forward this year. He can put fear in people this season. We expect him to make that big of a jump.”

In the backfield, junior Ahmonte Watkins (5-10, 175) is back is well. Senior Will Smith (5-8, 185) is the H-Back.

“Watkins is special,” Dizer said. “He has four track titles already. He can really run. This will be his first year as a full-time running back. Elijah Davis (5-7, 165) is a freshman who has a chance to be really special as well. It is a strength of our team.”

Once again, the wide receiver position should be solid, led by returning starters in juniors Tairyn Lockhart (5-10, 170) and Andre Murphy (5-8, 155). Talented freshman Cade Middleton (5-9, 155) will is the other projected starter.

“This is a talented group but none are true receivers,” Kizer said. “It is only Lockhart’s second year playing receiver while Murphy moves from defense. Middleton is talented but his natural position is in the secondary. It is a fun group to work with and I think we will get a lot out of them. Lockhart has already exceeded my expectations.”

Riverside should be strong up front with three returning starters.

They include seniors Cody Pellissier (5-9, 215) and Nathan Faucheaux (6-2, 300), along with junior Sammy Faucheux (6-1, 245). Four others will compete for starting spots, including juniors Myron Nicholas (5-9, 190) and Trevon Brown (5-10, 265), along with sophomore Haeden Wahden (5-10, 230) and freshman Alex Ross (6-2, 285).

“We should be much improved on the offensive line,” Dizer said. “They were babies last year and are bigger and stronger and understand the offense better now. I expect this group, as a whole, to be much better than last year.”

There are five starters back on defense.

Up front, senior Connor Naquin (5-9, 175) and junior Nick Washington (6-1, 225) return to provide strength. They will be joined by junior Logan Loving (5-10, 265) and senior Edward Humphrey (6-1, 230). Freshman Sydney Steib (6-0, 275) will also play and has a very good future.

“I like our defense as a whole,” Dizer said. “We have Craig Laborde here now to run our defense and he has head coaching experience. We moved Washington from offense to defensive line. Naquin is a senior who does everything you ask him to do. Humphrey has size and is a senior. We have enough to be productive.”

Junior Chamar Jackson (6-0, 185) is the lone returning starter at linebacker and he will be joined by Brayden Louque (5-5, 170) and Jairus Jones (6-0, 190).

“We are extremely athletic at linebacker,” Dizer said. “Those guys still have a lot to learn about playing the position but they are very promising.”

The secondary has a pair of returning starters in seniors Herbert Keys (5-7, 145) and Bryan Simmons (6-0, 185). Also in the mix to start are junior Keiahz Bernard (5-7, 145) and sophomore Kayon Brumfield (5-11, 150).

“We are pretty young in the secondary,” Dizer said. “We will likely play some guys both ways to augment that unit.”

Rhett Moore will handle kicking and punting duties.

Last year, Riverside opened its season 0-3 against 5A power Barbe, Division I power Archbishop Rummel and Division II power De La Salle. It was a tough hole to dig out of before facing district rivals and powers Country Day and Newman.

The pre-district schedule has totally changed in 2019. It remains a challenge, though not quite as daunting.

The Rebels open at 5A Thibodaux before playing at a tough Division IV power in Ascension Catholic, who reached the state championship game last season. The first home game is on Sept. 20 against Woodlawn of Baton Rouge before the Rebels travel to Catholic of Pointe Coupee.

Week five has Riverside at home against Sophie B. Wright before another difficult task at Division IV power Southern Lab.

The final non-district game is at Lupin Field against Newman on Oct. 19 before the Rebels open district play when they host St. Martin’s Episcopal Oct. 25. Then comes a brutal finish against tradition power West St. John and talented Country Day and Justin Ibieta to conclude the regular season on Nov. 8.

“The schedule is ideally what I wanted,” Dizer said. “Every week, you have a chance to win or lose. Last year, we went into three or four games knowing we had to be perfect to have any chance. This year, I feel we can compete week to week. West St. John and Country Day are really good in our league. We are still playing Newman despite the fact that they are not in our district anymore. I look forward to it. Newman is well coached. It is a true measuring stick of where we are at.”

If the Rebels can remain healthy while young, talented players gain experience, look for Riverside to improve upon last season and perhaps to advance in the playoffs despite another very tough schedule.

“We are a year away from being a state championship contender,” Dizer said. “We have a young team with just a few seniors with a big freshman and a big junior class. We just have to hold everyone accountable and have them understand that it takes daily to become a championship team. We have been there before and we can get there again. We are not far away. We are looking forward to the challenge.”