Riverbend looks for new beginning

STAFFORD — Riverbend High School is hoping to reach uncharted territory. In its program’s sixth year of existence, the school’s football squad has yet to finish a regular season with a winning record.

The Bears were 5-5 in each of its first three seasons. Most recently, in the past two years, they were 2-8 and 1-9, respectively.

Even with this trend of disappointment, new head coach Todd Campbell doesn’t believe he’ll find difficulty trying to covey the message of winning to his players.

“This is a group that expects to win,” said Campbell, who is making the transition from Hylton. “How fast they learn the new systems on offense and defense will help to determine their success.”

Helping to lead the defense — which returns six starters — are senior defensive back Kirkland Nelms and linebacker Brandon Thomas.

“If we can come together, then our defense will be fine,” Nelms said. “We have a lot of good players who are good individually. But if we can come together and play as one, then we have a chance to be one of the top defenses (in the Commonwealth District).”

Also being sought after by those from the next level is rising senior Jesse McNeal, a player that has been effective in the backfield and in the secondary.

McNeal finished 2008 on a high note, rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in a Nov. 7 contest against the Albermarle Patriots.

McNeal is one of several candidates vying to get a majority of the touches in 2009.

The person handing them the ball is a certainty. Junior quarterback Zac Naccarato also finished last year strong, throwing for 154 yards and two scores at Brooke Point on Oct. 31 and then an 11-for-19 passing effort versus Albermarle in which he distanced 167 yards through the air. That improvement has continued with practices and workouts in the off-season.

“He’s done a good job maturing and learning the new offensive scheme,” Campbell said.

That new scheme is a Multiple-I formation, which, although it’s a run-first system, doesn’t rely as heavily on the run as the team’s previous offensive structure — the Wing-T.

After sharing last place with North Stafford in the Commonwealth standings, the Bears are in need of enhancements, which are being worked out in a steady diet of a two-a-day practice sessions. But Campbell points out that it’s not one specific area that needs to improve. Instead, he looks for growth from top to bottom on his roster.

“This team needs to play four solid quarters of football to be successful,” Campbell said. “Developing depth is a major goal.”

Campbell understands that building a winner takes time and that gradual progression could add up to ultimate success down the road, even later this fall.

“My hopes are that this team improves each week,” he said. “If we can do that I don't see why we can't be in the hunt at the end of the season.”

Brian Wright is a contributing writer for the Stafford County Sun. Reach him at info@staffordcountysun.com.