2017: 11-2 2018: 10-4 2019: 9-4 2020: 10-2 2021: 9-4
Josh Smithers took over the Riverview football program in 2017. In his five years at the helm, the Rams have averaged 9.8 wins per season. Looking back through those seasons on Max Preps, the Rams have won 9 playoff games in that stretch. Last season, two of Riverview’s losses were against Venice, a district opponent and neighbor of 15 miles to the south. The second loss took place in the regional semifinal. Venice went on to cruise to an 8A State Championship. FHSAA football reclassification simply placed Riverview in 4S District 14 with Sarasota and Venice. The rest of their 2022 schedule is loaded with playoff teams, as usual.
Riverview graduated their leading rusher, Jayden Birch, and their leading tackler, Tyre Smith. Additionally, according to his Hudl and Max Preps, their leading passer and second-leading rusher, Will Carter Jr., appears to have transferred to Booker. The top returning player is 2024 ATH Charles Lester III (6’2” 180 lbs). He is already rated as a five-star athlete by the national recruiting sites. He has offers from all over the country. A key player who should be talked about more is 2023 DT Da’Marcus Abner (6’1” 255 lbs). In their spring jamboree, Abner showed off his skillset with 2 sacks and 3 tackles for loss. He is fast, physical, and has a great motor. He is a fun player to watch, and a young man who should have a big-time senior season. His brother, 2023 DE/G Don’t’a Abner (6’1” 260 lbs) is a physical lineman who plays the game at a high level also. 2023 K Stone Springman (6’4” 180 lbs) is rated as the #1 kicker in Florida and the #5 kicker in the country by Kornblue Kicking.
2024 QB Jeremiah Dawson (6’4” 210 lbs) won the starting job in the spring and threw 3 touchdowns during the jamboree. 2023 QB Joe Borchers (6’3” 200 lbs) is another QB on the Rams’ roster who is making some noise this off-season. Borchers reported an offer from Miami on March 31st. 2024 OL Weston Gruttadauria (6’2” 230 lbs) picked up his first D1 offer from Charlotte in May. 2023 TE Luke Petitta (6’5” 240 lbs) landed his first D1 offer from Holy Cross yesterday.