Riverside searching for stability under 3rd coach in 3 years

By: Ted Sarneso
Saturday, August 17, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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Nerve-wracking.

That’s how Riverside’s Rob Magnifico described taking the reins for the first time as a head coach.

“I coached at Ellwood for 17 years. The last year there I was their interim coach. I’ve been at Riverside the last five years as an assistant coach,” Magnifico elaborated. “Trying to get the kids back to where they need to be, it’s a process.”

Magnifico started off by changing systems for both the offense and defense. He also brings in a brand-new staff and has a group of players from last year’s junior varsity squad last year that will contribute.

“The goal is to take a one-win team last year and get them back to the winning ways that people around Riverside are used to seeing,” said Magnifico. “I want the team to do the best they can moving forward. We want to be in the race for the playoffs every year.”

Magnifico’s first priority was to get more kids at Riverside interested in playing football. He’s accomplished that, entering camp with 41 players on the varsity roster, almost doubling the total of 27 kids on the roster at the end of last year.

Second, he wanted to put an end to the rash of injuries the team suffered throughout last season, so he implemented a new weightlifting program.

“I think we addressed a lot of the injuries the kids were getting, like pulled hamstrings and things of that nature,” said Magnifico.

All Magnifico’s moves have supplemented the motivation the players have coming into this season to better their record from 1-8 overall last year and 1-6 in the Midwest Athletic Conference.

“I’ve seen a lot of leadership coming from my senior class, who were freshmen my first or second year when we were making the playoffs, so they’ve been on a team that’s had success and are motivated to get back there,” said Magnifico. “They’re even leading some of our practices and pushing the younger kids, making the whole team better.”

Seniors quarterback Ayden Garcia, tailback Robert Janis and tight end Zack Hare are the leaders.

Magnifico wants Garcia to “take the offense and make it his own this year.”

“I’ve been stressing with Ayden that this is his team. He needs to lead them, and if he leads, they will follow. I know he can accomplish what he sets his mind to do.”

Garcia was the backup his first two seasons while playing receiver and Magnifico has watched as his quarterback matured and worked on his defensive reads.

“In our offense, he’ll need to read the defensive linemen to know whether he’s going to pitch it, pull it or throw,” said Magnifico. “He’s taken a big step in the right direction, and I expect big things from him once the season starts.”

Magnifico also expects a bounce-back year for Janis, who led the team in rushing with 596 yards despite missing four games to injury.

“I’m looking for him to have an outstanding year, but it’s important for him to be injury-free this season,” Magnifico emphasized.

Hare, who stands at 6-3 and 225 pounds, was the team’s leading receiver last year and will figure to be the leader again this season, just based on the type of offense the Panthers run.

“We’re going establish the run with Janis in the backfield and Zack will be a part of the run-pass offense we like to execute,” Magnifico said. “He’s a big target, can come down with any contested ball, and once he’s on the move, he’s tough to bring down.”

On the outside, Riverside is developing juniors Joe Chill and Hunter Garcia as well as sophomore Trenton Keisling and freshman Aiden Gaydosz to become threats and bring wrinkles to the offense.

Along the offensive front, the Panthers only have one senior starter, but Magnifico is pleased with how strong the group is.

“They average between 6-foot and 6-2 and the weight averages out between 235-245,” said Magnifico. “We have a ton of depth at the position as well, with almost three complete lines and no dropoff in talent between the first and second groups. We’ve been rotating a lot of guys in and out of all three and we’re getting a good mix and match for substitutions.”

Defense will be the main focus for the Panthers, who yielded 37.5 points per game last season.

“My defensive coordinator, Javon Mooney, and I have tried to take some of the overthinking out in our scheme, try to make things simpler for our guys,” Magnifico said.

The two leaders on that side of the ball are middle linebackers Ryan Dugas and Hare. In the secondary, Keisling, Garcia and Mason Holler will force opposing teams to think twice when throwing the ball.

“We did a 7-on-7 with Ambridge a couple weeks ago and they combined for five interceptions,” said Magnifico. “If I can find a solid fit at strong safety, we can be formidable in the passing game.”

Even though he’s a bit nervous for his first true head coaching job, Magnifico has a talented roster and the coaching experience to be successful in the MAC.

“I’ve been coaching in the conference for a long time and it’s the toughest conference in 2A,” Magnifico said.

Mohawk, Western Beaver and Beaver Falls figure to be talented groups and with Union playing up this season, the conference is not short on rigorous competition.

“Every one of those teams is going to be a tough game, and you’re going to have to be on your A game to beat them,” Magnifico posited. “I hope we can put together a nice string of wins this year and make the playoffs, but with our conference, you never know.”

Riverside

Coach: Rob Magnifico

2023 record: 1-8, 1-6 in Class 2A Midwestern Conference

All-time record: 289-255-4

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at Hopewell, 7

8.30 Northgate, 7

9.6 at Laurel, 7

9.13 Union*, 7

9.20 at New Brighton*, 7

9.27 Western Beaver*, 7

10.4 at Freedom*, 7

10.11 Ellwood City*, 7

10.18 at Beaver Falls*, 7

10.25 at Mohawk*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Ayden Garcia

40-91, 585 yards, 2 TDs

Rushing: Robert Janis

140-596, 5 TDs

Receiving: Zack Hare

22-430, 1 TD

FAST FACTS

• The Panthers allowed an average of 37.5 points a game last year and scored an average of 9.1.

• Riverside’s only all-conference player from last year was senior punter Jacob Jackson.

• The Panthers’ only win was a 23-14 victory over New Brighton in the second-to-last game of the year.

• Riverside is four years removed from postseason success. In 2019, the Panthers beat Burgettstown and McGuffey in the first two rounds of the WPIAL playoffs before falling to Avonworth in the semifinals.

Tags: Riverside