Riverton Parke looks to silence doubters, critics

The last time Riverton Parke suffered a loss was November 7, 2025 against South Putnam in the sectional championship. 

Since then, the Panthers, who finished 11-1 last year, won their second Wabash River Conference title in a row, posted an undefeated regular season and went wire to wire as the top ranked team in Class A. 

For all the success, Riverton Parke head football coach Brad Sanders says his team still doesn't get any respect. 

It doesn't surprise us at all. We get it. I feel that as a program, we have done everything we can to earn respect and in many situations, it is still not given. We talk to the kids about that a lot. I saw a quote by John Gruden that said everyone has dreams, but we want to be the nightmare. That's the way we look at it. Regardless of whether we win or lose, we are going to come play, play physically, and hit people in the mouth. That's what we are going to do," Sanders told The Parke County Post. 

The Panthers have won one sectional title in its history and have played for a sectional title in 2021, 2024 and 2025. 

"We watch the selection show, and we hear the whispers about our lack of postseason success," Sanders said. 

Last season, Riverton Parke dominated South Putnam in the first half before falling 29-21 in overtime. The loss has provided plenty of motivation for his team in the days, weeks and months that have followed, according to Sanders. 

"It played a role all through the summer and back to the winter with our offseason stuff. We have a sign on our practice field that reads, "One inch is the difference between heartbreak and history." It literally was for us. We felt like if we could get by South Putnam, we had a chance to get there. We fell just short, and South Putnam ran through everyone to get there. The last tough game they had was us. These seniors lost to South Putnam as sophomores and juniors in the sectional championship. Those are the only two games they have lost. We know what is in front of us, and we are pretty focused and see what comes of it," Sanders said. 

The Panthers open the Class A Sectional 47 Tournament against North Vermillion. 

It marks the second time this season the two WRC foes will meet, as Riverton Parke defeated the Falcons, 56-0 on Sept. 18. The winner will play the winner of North Central (Farmersburg) and Parke Heritage.