'Work in Progress' turns into historic season for Riverton Parke football

Riverton Parke head football coach Brad Sanders needs no reminders of how the program was once enduring lean seasons and how far the Panthers have come. 

"Our program has been a work in progress. For years we were everyone's Homecoming and we were the doormat of the WRC. We took a lot of big losses over the years. My goal personally was respect. Not for myself but for every player who ever wore a jersey at Riverton Parke. It's been a lot of hard work and there have been a lot of people behind the scenes who none of this would be possible without. We are proud of how far we have come and we are well aware we haven't accomplished anything yet," Sanders told The Parke County Post.

The veteran coach, who also played at Riverton Parke, knows all too well the history, the good and the bad that has surrounded the program. However, heading into Friday night's contest against Attica, Riverton Parke is 6-0 and in the driver's seat in the Wabash River Conference title chase. 

"We are not surprised at all by where we are at. We have a great group of kids and after losing in the sectional championship last season the goals were set. The number one goal was an undefeated season and WRC Championship. The kids have bought in and put in the work," Sanders said. 

Riverton Parke has been efficient on both sides of the football this season, as several players have rushed for over 100 yards in games for the offense and the defense has set the tone, allowing an average of 6.8 points per contest. Sanders, who is the all-time winningest coach at Riverton Parke, admits it is hard to single out just one player. 

"We have a lot of talent so it's hard to single out just one player. It's what makes this group so special. Its been a total team effort and these guys are unselfish. They don't care who gets the credit. We have great depth and have been able to just plug the next guy in if faced with an injury. Everything we do starts up front, so all the credit goes to those big boys up front. They take pride in playing physically," Sanders noted.

Despite the success, Sanders knows his team has not accomplished anything yet, as a WRC title still remains, as well as an elusive sectional championship, which could run through South Putnam, as the Eagles advanced to the Class A Semi-State last year. 

"We still have not won a WRC Championship, and we have only won one sectional in school history. I feel we are on the right track and at the beginning of what could be a lot of good years for our program. To win a WRC Championship, we have to finish the schedule the way we started it. Myself and the staff place a huge emphasis on finishing the way we start. No matter if it's in the weight room, on the sled, sprints etc...we put our players in a position to challenge them to finish with the same effort and same physicality as what they started. For us to win the WRC we will need to approach every opponent left on the schedule the same way," Sanders said.

And, as for a sectional, he knows his team will have to take on South Putnam at one point or another. 

"We know to win a sectional we will have to get by South Putnam. It has been on our minds since last fall when we lost to them in the sectional championship. They are a great team and we have to continue to work hard week by week. We will put more thought into that when it gets closer. Our goal right now is to finish the rest of the regular season off the right way," Sanders admitted.