Rebels show promise in week zero contest

Encampment comes to town Friday for a 5 p.m. kickoff

The Riverside Rebels got everything they wanted out of Saturday’s week zero game against Dubois except the win, as the Rams prevailed 32-27.

With several new starters on both sides of the ball, the Rebels picked up quality reps against a quality opponent as they looked to establish momentum for the official season opener later this week against Encampment.

Coach Matt Jensen called it a typical week zero game/scrimmage.

“There were ups and downs, but I liked the way our kids fought through adversity,” Jensen said. “We just couldn’t overcome our first-half deficit in the second half. 

“Dubois is going to be a good team in the south. They are probably a playoff team that plays good team football. They are well coached, and the season looks bright for them.”

After a sluggish start, the Rebels improved as the game progressed, with Jensen saying, “Our conditioning really paid off ... our team tempo was good offensively (and) we made some adjustments at halftime that help us in the run game defensively.”

Gavyn Cervantes led the offense, completing 13 of 22 passes for 173 yards and adding another 36 rushing yards on nine carries. Jaxson Womack carried eight times for 44 years and Corbyn Godfrey seven times for 37 years.  Eli Jensen and Paul Stone were the top pass catchers, with Jensen hauling in five for 72 yards and Stone three for 28.

Defensive standouts included Zack Kuntz, with four solo tackles and five assisted tackles; Cervantes, with four solos and three assists; Womack, with a solo, four assists and a pass breakup; Godfrey, with six assists, and Cam Schreiner, with two solos and three assists.

Most important, the game gave the Rebels insight into their strengths and weaknesses heading into week one. “It’s difficult to fully correct deficiencies until experiencing a competitive match against another varsity team. It really reveals areas that may have been overlooked or unaddressed during practice,” said Jensen. “We have to focus on the small details that will help us win games. We had too many penalties, (nine penalties for 65 yards) and lost the turnover battle (3-1). 

“I do feel confident that we will be able to get these things fixed and be stronger as a team moving forward.”

The Rebels face a tough test this week in Encampment, which comes to town Friday for a 5 p.m. Kickoff.  The Tigers are likely to be ranked No. 2 in the state this week, said Jensen. “Despite their small roster (11-12 players), they are highly athletic and will be prepared after a significant win against Burlington last week.”