WyoPreps Preseason Football Tour 2024: Riverside Rebels [VIDEO]

It’s adjustment time again for the Riverside Rebels football program. After playing 6-man football for four years, then going to 9-man for the past four seasons, it’s now back to 6-man for the Rebels in 2024. They’ve been a playoff team three of the past four years and now join the North Conference, which includes defending 6-man state champion Burlington.

Riverside was 5-4 last season. They finished third in the 1A 9-man West Conference at 5-2 but lost an all-state player in Ty Strohschein. The Rebels ran the ball very well in 2023. They were fourth at 234 yards per game. Riverside averaged 320 yards and 26.2 points per game, but they also struggled on defense. The Rebels gave up 345 yards and 27.9 points per game. Now, it’s back to a more open game in 6-man.

It’s not like the cupboard is completely bare. Riverside returns two of their top defensive players, Reece Whisenant and Ryder Kozisek. Whisenant made 59 tackles last year, which included eight tackles for loss. He was 33rd in defensive points. Kozisek had 53 tackles and was 43rd in defensive points. Avery Clifford and Curtis Strohschein are also back.

Whisenant, Kozisek, and head coach Jason Mitchell discussed the move to 6-man and how practice is going to preview the 2024 season with WyoPreps.

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Riverside opens the year at Encampment on Sept. 6. They also play at Hulett, Ten Sleep, and Burlington. Their home games are against Little Snake River, Kaycee, Midwest, and Meeteetse. Despite a new type of game, the Rebels hope to be a playoff team and make noise at the end of the season.