2026 Team Preview: River View Raiders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% Off Your Subscription with Code PRZWV30 at Checkout!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2025 SEASON RECAP</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Losses: OL Tristan Mullins - OL Landon Stamper - WR/DB Kaiden Baker (TR)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>River View finished 3-7 in 2025 but did so with a roster that leaned heavily on underclassmen and graduated a small senior class. Many of those younger players were thrown into varsity action and took their lumps along the way, giving them valuable experience heading into this season. Jim Bob Sparks now takes over as head coach and has brought plenty of excitement around the program. With many players returning from last year's young group, the Raiders should benefit from that experience as they look to take a step forward in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2026 SCHEDULE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8/28: vs Mount View<br>9/4: vs Logan<br>9/18: vs Wyoming East<br>9/25: at Tug Valley<br>10/2: at Van<br>10/9: vs Midland Trail <br>10/16: vs Summers County<br>10/23: at Southern Gap (VA)<br>10/30: at Bluefield<br>11/6: at Scott</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Record: </strong>3-7<br><strong>2026 Prediction</strong>: 4-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2026 OUTLOOK</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>River View has a chance to push its way into the playoff conversation in 2026, but the Raiders will need to take advantage of their opportunities. There are some tough matchups on the schedule, along with several games that could be winnable if they play to their potential. In a competitive Class AA playoff race, those closely contested games could ultimately determine whether River View gets into the postseason. If the Raiders can find a way to win their share of those matchups, they have a legitimate opportunity to make a playoff push this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>PLAYERS TO KNOW</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2202062"],"_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-6a4a77091ca8e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>RETURNING STANDOUT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 River View OL Coleman Cook is a strong returning presence up front and one of the top under-the-radar linemen to know in Class AA. We got a chance to see Cook at our Exposure Series, and his strong, stocky build stood out along with the way he plays on film. Cook is a road grader in the running game who brings a physical mentality as a blocker and gives the Raiders an experienced starter to lean on. With another season ahead of him, Cook has a chance to earn more recognition as one of the better offensive linemen in the classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19990823/6a163ad50267c659bb7f54fbu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a7e07c382dca"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2327475"],"_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-6a4a770920ebe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>RETURNING STANDOUT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Length and speed give River View a playmaker to know this seaosn in 2027 TE/LB Corey Lester. Lester is a long, lanky athlete who can cover ground on defense and use his speed to create plays at receiver. He should be a key two-way player for the Raiders again while also being part of a deep receiving group that gives them plenty of options in the passing game. Lester has flown under the radar to this point, but his athleticism and role for River View makes him a Class AA player to know this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20013954/685668fdbc1a8ee5bd11e4ceu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a7e07c382eae"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2327474"],"_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-6a4a770920f52"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A multi-year starter and senior leader, 2027 River View RB/LB Turner Addair will be a valuable piece for the Raiders again in 2026. Addair earned Honorable Mention All-State honors as a sophomore in 2024 and has the opportunity to have another season worthy of that recognition. He may lack some size, but Addair is a tough runner who doesn't shy away from contact and should be an important part of the running game. His experience also carries over to the defensive side and is multi-sport standout for River View to know this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1700917"],"_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-6a4a770920fbf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>RETURNING STANDOUT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of River View's top players heading into the season is 2028 ATH Ethan Christian. Christian accounted for more than 1,000 all-purpose yards and 7 touchdowns as a sophomore, flashing how special he can be by his senior year. He has a good athletic frame and moves smoothly as a receiver while also giving River View a good athlete in the secondary.Christian's ball skills stand out tracking the ball and creating space with his speed and quickness. After another offseason of development, Christian has a chance to put up big numbers as a junior and earn some postseason accolades. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22452269/68e286019c4dae332bc3b729u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a7e07c383048"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1700922"],"_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-6a4a770921086"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>RETURNING STANDOUT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>River View returns an experienced quarterback in 2028 QB Jeremih Long, who has been the starter since his freshman season and earned Honorable Mention All-State honors in 2024. Long has developed into one of the top quarterbacks in Class AA and enters his junior season with plenty of talent around him at the skill positions. His strong arm allows him to attack all three levels of the field and stretch defenses vertically. With a group of talented playmakers to distribute the ball to, Long has the pieces around him to put together a big junior season and be considered for all state again. We hope to get film on Long this fall as he has the talent to be mentioned among the top quarterbacks in the 2028 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2205239"],"_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-6a4a770921024"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>BREAKOUT CANDIDATE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028 River View WR/DB Aydan Garlic gives the Raiders another athletic option to work into their passing game this season. We also saw Garlic at our Exposure Series and showed the quickness to create separation whether he's working from the slot or lined up outside. He can stress a defense vertically, but also has the burst to make the quick passing game effective when he gets the ball underneath. With River View expected to have plenty of weapons around the quarterback, Garlic should be a key piece of that group and make his fair share of plays. He's another under-the-radar player for the Raiders who deserves more attention heading into his junior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/AydanGarli55420/status/2079816327263392030","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AydanGarli55420/status/2079816327263392030 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>OTHER PLAYERS TO KNOW</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nathaniel Hess - 2027 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cam Muncy - 2028 WR/DB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kenny Christian - 2028 EDGE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Peyton Lee - 2028 RB/LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kory Vance - 2028 OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Connor Auville - 2029 OL/DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dale Crigger - 2029 TE/LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Logan West - 2029 OL/LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->