3. Riverbend Bears

Since opening in 2004 the Riverbend Bears football program has had successful seasons and even a few years with some decent playoff runs. But what has eluded them has been a great season with a complete roster that causes issues for teams on both sides of the ball. The 2021 Riverbend Bears have all the parts to be that team. Last season Riverbend turned several heads (including mine) defeating some of the Commonwealth districts best in Mountain View and Colonial Forge. Their tough grind it out offense and hard nosed offense made it difficult for them to beat. Towards the end of the season however, their injuries and perhaps lack of offensive balance caught up with them and they were toppled by an upset minded wolverines club. This year that same 4-2 team is back returning nearly 15 starters that are building off more experience and a real off-season. Last season the athletic Aiden Fisher played QB for the Bears, this season he will line up in the backfield and will look to be an extremely hard player to bring down. Transfer Tanner Triplett is only 5'8 but his ability to throw the ball will certainly make Riverbend more balanced than they were a season ago. All 3 of the WRs the Bears plan on being on the field are returning players from last season. And of course the 6'6 D-1 bound Mega Barnwell is returning as well. Riverbend is not the biggest up front offensively however this group is Senior and Junior heavy with experience in this offense. Riverbend also has much of their stingy defense from this past spring returning. Lead by Aiden Fisher, the Bears are also returning MarcAnthony Parker, Jordan Klingensmith, Cade Mattive, EJ Wilborne, and Devin Washington. Barnwell will also likely get time on defense like he did last season making life difficult for offensive lines in the district. The Bears are talented enough to be the best team in the are this season and they very well may be, there are questions on the line, but there is no doubt that this is one of the more complete rosters in the area. It would in no way surprise us to see the Bears be the kings of the Commonwealth district and make a deep run in the Class 6 playoffs.                                                                                                        

Record Prediction: 7-3