Riverton Parke looks to bring home the football sectional

Brad Sanders needs no reminders.

He doesn't need a motivational speech about what is at stake when his top ranked Riverton Parke football team heads to Cloverdale Friday night to compete for the Class A Sectional 47 championship.

As a former Panther player, assistant coach and now having served as the head coach for a decade, Sanders is fully aware of the fact Riverton Parke (11-0) has won just one football sectional in program history, has made it to three straight sectional championship games and has made it four of the last six seasons. 

"I have never experienced a sectional championship. We have been trying to emphasize to the kids, it is just another game. I don't talk to them a whole lot about what my thoughts are. It would mean a great deal. It would mean a great deal to the community, and our support has been awesome. A sectional is the hardest thing to win. You have to win two to get there and three to get it, and after that, it is one game at a time. It is tough, and it would mean a lot. Nobody gave us a chance last year against South Putnam and we took them to the wire," Sanders told The Parke County Post. 

After losing in overtime to eventual Class A state champ South Putnam last year, the Panthers have worked to get back to this point. 

They have been ranked the top team in Class A all year and have dealt with the expectations and pressure, although Sanders notes there is some extra feelings surrounding Friday's clash. 

"The rankings and all that stuff, there is a privilege that comes with that, and a little pressure. Last year, we weren't expected to win. This year, if you don't, is your season a failure? You were unanimous number one all year, and if you don't get it done, is your season a failure or a success? I am proud of what the kids have accomplished, and I am grateful for this group of kids. They understand this could be the end if we don't do what we need to do on Friday. I don't say those things to put pressure on them, but to get them to understand there is an end, and we will try our best to make sure it is not Friday," Sanders said. 

He is also aware of the fact that Cloverdale (8-3) has won only one sectional in its program's history and has made it to three straight sectional championship games. 

"We know Cloverdale will be ready. It's on their home field, and this is their third appearance in a row," Sanders said. 

As he puts it, something has to give on Friday night when the two teams meet at Cloverdale for a 7 p.m. kick. The winner advances to play the winner of Forest Park (6-5) and North Daviess (11-0) in the regional. 

"Someone is going to come away excited and someone is going to come away disappointed. We have to show up and do what we need to do," Sanders said. 

When watching Cloverdale on film, Sanders said the athletes stand out. 

"They got a lot of really good athletes. They are very explosive. Scheme wise, they make you defend both sides of the field, and they do a lot of good things. Defensively, we have to be disciplined. All their kids run hard, and we have to get everyone to the football and get some stops. Offensively, we have to control the line of scrimmage. We are going to line up and try to run the football. We have to play our game," Sanders said. 

Sanders said both teams will try to start the game fast and succeed on the opening drive. 

"I think all the nerves and all that goes away when the ball is kicked off and we have the first whistle. We have had a great week of practice and prep, and now we wait for it to get here," Sanders noted. 

A week ago, the Panthers went on the road and upended North Central (Farmersburg), 42-7.

"They got off to a fast start, and they have some talented kids down there. They got out to a touchdown, and we got settled down and tried a few different things scheme wise. Once we got settled in, defensively, we were good. Offensively, we moved the ball pretty well. I was disappointed with some of the effort early on, but we cleaned it up," Sanders said. 

With that game in the rearview, Sanders is looking to win the elusive sectional crown Friday. 

"We have to play our best of the year, probably. They are going to be fired up, and they will probably have things for us we haven't seen. We have to play well defensively. They have some great athletes and they are super explosive. We take pride in playing defense and getting after it, so it will be an explosive offense against a good defense. They will try to stop our run game and get stops. Whoever can get the most stops and capitalize will come out a winner," Sanders said.