Spring football capsule: Riverview

By Izzy Gould, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Saturday, May 30, 2009

Riverview

Coach: Bruce Gifford (second season, 2-8)

Last season: 2-8

District: Class 5A-6 (Bloomingdale, Durant, Newsome, Plant City)

Key losses: LB Shannon Burch, OL Ryan Gascon, RB Eric Lampe, LB Devin Ray, DB Willie Timmons

Who's back: RB Terrance Carter, OL Eric Diaz, DL Jacob Farmer, DB Dontavious Gardner (Brandon transfer), OL/DL Bryan Giordano, QB Jarid Heffers, RB Ronnie Johnson, OL Anthony Quinones, DB/RB Jamal Stewart (Deerfield Beach transfer)

What's new: Gifford refers to his first season as a transition year. He has hired a new coaching staff and is implementing a new offense and defense. Riverview will run versions of the single wing and spread wing with the goal of getting the playmakers on the field at the same time. Defensively, the Sharks will run a version of the 5-3 to utilize a good defensive front. Returning to the staff is defensive coordinator Sean Washington, who spent the spring with Chamberlain. "We're bringing in my coaching staff and running what I want to run," Gifford said. "Last year was a transition year."

Audible: "We see things we have to work on. I like some of the things we see. Our team's beginning to mesh with this coaching staff. That was a problem and we've fixed that." — Gifford

Did you know? Five coaches, including Gifford, coached together at Durant under Mike Gottman: Washington, Chad Lee (offensive coordinator), Wesley Wyatt (offensive line) and Taylor Jordan (defensive assistant).

Spring game: Lost to East Bay 15-8

2009 schedule

Sept. 4 vs. Freedom

Sept. 11 at Tampa Bay Tech

Sept. 17 vs. Lennard

Sept. 25 vs. Plant

Oct. 2 at Spoto

Oct. 9 vs. Durant

Oct. 16 at East Bay

Oct. 23 at Plant City

Oct. 29 at Newsome

Nov. 6 vs. Bloomingdale




=======================
St. Petersburg Times
=======================





/