Riverview senior Cam Long is eager to lead, teach football teammates

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 | 3:25 PM

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The Riverview football team scrimmaged Brashear last Saturday, and though senior Cam Long didn’t suit up, the senior offensive guard and nose tackle’s presence still was felt on the field.

Long was right there helping coach his teammates and taking in the action from a different perspective, one he said will help him in games this season.

“It was pretty easy for me,” said Long, who hopes to use his experience, strength and quickness in the trenches to help the Raiders’ wing-T offense move the ball and also create problems for opposing offenses.

“I love to lead,” he said. “My coaches wanted me to step up this year and be an even bigger leader, especially for the younger players. I am ready and excited to get the job done.”

Riverview coach Trevor George often sees Long as a seventh coach.

“We didn’t dress him and also a few others who didn’t need to prove a lot based on their resumes the past three years,” George said. “He might get a few plays during our second scrimmage Friday (at Beth-Center). He will be full-tilt come Valley week next week.

“Cam is so knowledgable in the game. During the scrimmage, he would pull kids off to the side after a series and would tell them to work on this technique or this scheme or this key. He keeps everyone in the right mindset of being competitive and getting better. We did our captain voting last week, and he was one who got a vote from every player on the team. It was unanimous. He’s that type of kid who everyone respects. He wants so much to help us get to the playoffs.”

Long and his Riverview teammates hope to navigate through the challenging gauntlet that is the Eastern Conference and earn a berth to WPIALs for the first time since 2016. Last year, the Raiders went 4-6 and finished one game behind Leechburg for the fourth playoff spot from the conference.

“We are so confident with what we can do,” Long said. “We have a lot of experience back, and everyone is stepping up into their roles.”

Long, who checks in at about 215 pounds, said he feels faster than ever before.

“I also feel I am stronger,” he said. “I re-dedicated myself in the weight room in the offseason. I wanted to do my part to be ready and be at my best. My strength and speed works the best for what I am trying to do. I get double-teamed constantly (at nose tackle). I am ready for it. I know if it takes two guys to block me, someone is free. Whatever gap I am in or wherever I go, the linebackers know they can take the opposite gap and make plays.”

Long got on the field a lot along the offensive line and defensive line as a freshman.

“He weighed a lot more than he does now,” George said.

“He was a stout freshman, but he was remarkable. Ever since I’ve been watching him, all the way back to junior high, I noticed his footwork with great speed and quickness for how much weight he was able to hold. It didn’t matter how tall he was compared to who he was going against. On the attack, he always had a chip on his shoulder and a gritty attitude. That is something he still carries with him.”

Long came back his sophomore year and shed weight and put on muscle.

“In eighth grade, he squatted 440 pounds,” George said. “That was insane. He’s always loved the weight room, and you could really tell how hard he worked in that offseason. He returned to guard and the defensive line, and you could really see him come into his own. He really developed a strong competitive nature.”

Long shed weight and added muscle before last season. George said he was even quicker than he was as a sophomore.

“He started to show leadership characteristics, too,” George said. “We always knew he had it in him to be that dedicated leader for this team. We moved him to center last year, and we would pull him to take advantage of his quickness. He also had a dominant year on the defensive line.”

George said Long, who is back at guard this season, is a versatile offensive lineman.

“He’s played every position since freshman year,” George said. “His 40 (yard dash) time is remarkable for a lineman. He’s actually getting recruited by some schools as an H-back because of how well he moves. We expect him to have a big year. I am excited to see what he can accomplish.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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