Sept. 7 vs. Whitefield Academy

After a bad 2011, a win in the season opener would go a long way to forgetting the past and opening the Gary Downs era as Eagles coach on a positive note. Even though Riverside cadets didn’t report to campus until Aug. 10, meaning a late start to practice, they have an extra week before opening the season at Maginnis Field.

The Eagles have two nonregion games to start the season before playing seven of the final eight games in Region 8-A.

Location: Gainesville
Coach: Gary Downs, first year as a head coach
Region: 8-AA North
Last region title: 2006
Last playoff appearance: 2009
Returning starters: 4 on offense, 5 on defense
Offensive strategy: Multiple I-formation: If you’re not large across the line of scrimmage, if creates advantageous blocking angles, and is a system that can be learned quicker by the players.”
Defensive strategy: Multiple: It allows us to put pressure on the other offense, even with smaller players.”

Home games in CAPS | * denotes subregion games