2024 Preview: River Bluff Gators

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LEXINGTON | After going 5-6 and winless in Region IV-5A, the 32 rising seniors at River Bluff are determined their prep careers on a high note.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I think this year, coming together, the whole team playing together, that's what is going to make us better,” Offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360010' first='Joseph' last='Allende']</strong> said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators will rely upon their senior-laden class to compete in a challenging region with the defending Class 5A champion (Dutch Fork), the Class 5A runner-up (White Knoll), last year's Class 4A Lower State runner-up (Irmo) and two playoff teams (Lexington and Chapin).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“They all love each other,” assistant coach Charles Johnson said. “They want to play with each other. They want to be successful and have success.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>River Bluff will be offensively by two of its top playmakers. Wide receiver and East Carolina commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464880' first='Stephen' last='Collier']</strong> is, in his words, “back to full strength” his summer after coming back from a torn left labrum.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is good news for quarterback Parker Murphy who looks to improve upon last year's numbers (1,620 yards, 12 touchdowns, five interceptions). Along with Collier, the Gators return at wide receivers <strong>Brock Godley</strong> and <strong>Aaron Johnson</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators hope to see a turnaround in the running game. They managed a combined total of 1,896 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns, only slightly more than what Class 5A All-State tailback <strong>Cooper Johns</strong> (1,871 yards, 24 touchdowns) produced in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1592250' first='Hayden' last='Myers'] will look to help improve those numbers. He will play behind an offensive line that returns four starters – tackles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249821' first='Pac' last='Pitts']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592647' first='Alex' last='Kirylo']</strong> and guards Allende and <strong>Cooper Simril</strong> – and tight end <strong>LJ Berndt</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, River Bluff returns two of last year's leading tacklers linebackers Elijah Hayes and Griffin Lindler. The defensive line has three starters – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1335423' first='Eric' last='Johnson']</strong>, <strong>Nathan Shuman</strong>, and <strong>Terrell Tull</strong>, while the secondary is young with defensive backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664633' first='Caleb' last='Renwrick']</strong> and <strong>Caleb Pinckney</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158026' first='Tripp' last='Bryant']</strong> will once again manage the placekicking and punting duties.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray']</strong>&nbsp;QB, 2025 – In two seasons, he's thrown for over 2,700 yards and 28 touchdowns in two seasons as a starter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360010' first='Joseph' last='Allende']</strong> OL 2025 – A three-year starter, the 6-foot-3, 330-pounder has allowed just one sack the past three seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brock Godfrey WR</strong>, 2025 – The rising senior has 4.47 speed, is reliable on short routes and looks to become more of a deep route receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464880' first='Stephen' last='Collier'] </strong>ATH 2025 – At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, the East Carolina commit has led the team in receiving all three seasons on the varsity level. Despite coming off surgery for a torn left labrum, he had 46 receptions for 626 yards and five touchdowns, rushed for four touchdowns and scored on a team-high nine 2-point conversions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16227887/656283e932e6d212c4085705' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6694542de615b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BIGGEST LOSS (es)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Toriaun Leaphart </strong>RB – A two-way player who was second on the team in rushing with 485 yards and three touchdowns and 25 tackles and an interception at free safety.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hayden Cushman </strong>LB – The team's leading tackler with 84 in nine games last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacob Pinkney </strong>RB – Tied for the team lead in rushing touchdowns (6) last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422592' first='Caleb' last='Pinkney'] </strong>DB, 2027 –. The two-sport athlete has drawn the coaching staff's attention this summer. At 5-foot-9 and 163 pounds, he's expected to see action at free safety and wide receiver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Levi Gibbons </strong>LB, 2027 – The hard-hitting rising sophomore looks to break into the starting lineup</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["470689"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6694542de84a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>– The 6-0, 160-pound rising sophomore is the potential heir apparent to Murray saw action in two varsity games. He's left-handed and has a quick release throwing downfield to open wide receivers. He shows good mobility in avoiding sacks and creating long yardage plays with his legs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16847322/654816c638636f0f7c34fd8b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6694542de84d2"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->