Are the Pieces Finally Coming Together at River Ridge?

Reid guided River Ridge to a district championship in his first season before following it with back-to-back winning seasons. After going 4-7 in Year 1, the Royal Knights improved to 7-4 and followed that with a 7-3 campaign in 2025. His record now stands at 18-14, and each season has brought another step forward.

This season feels different.

River Ridge returns quality experience at several key positions, welcomes a handful of important additions and, perhaps most importantly, has more depth than the program has had in years. Reid has emphasized that depth throughout the offseason, and it is one of the biggest reasons optimism around the program continues to grow.

Competing in Class 4A, Region 2, District 8 alongside Zephyrhills, Pasco, Springstead, Gulf, Fivay and Hudson, the Royal Knights should once again find themselves in the district championship conversation.

It starts at quarterback.

Dylan Walstatter gained valuable varsity experience as a sophomore and now enters the season ready to take command of the offense as the full-time starter. After seeing meaningful snaps last fall, the junior has a chance to take the next step and emerge as one of the area’s rising quarterbacks.

Fortunately for Walstatter, he will have plenty of help around him.

Wide receivers Brendan Krupp and Dylan Gonzalez return to lead the passing game, giving the young quarterback experienced options on the outside. Their familiarity with the offense should make the transition into a full-time starting role much smoother.

Transfer running back Antony Dotson adds another dimension to the offense. A home-run threat with the ball in his hands, Dotson gives River Ridge an explosive runner capable of changing a game with a single touch.

The offensive line should be one of the biggest strengths of the team.

Caleb Mercer, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound lineman, returns alongside Arthur Winstanley, who stands 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds. River Ridge also added Josh Greene, a 6-foot-1, 300-pound transfer from Hudson, and Nehemiah Bultron, a 6-foot-3, 335-pound transfer from Land O’ Lakes. Their size and experience should help protect Walstatter while strengthening an already productive running game.

That depth extends throughout the roster.

River Ridge has more competition at multiple positions than it has had in recent years, giving the coaching staff more options on both sides of the football. It is one of the biggest differences surrounding this year’s team and another reason expectations continue to rise entering Year 4.

As promising as the offense may be, the strength of this team could be on defense.

The Royal Knights underwent a change at defensive coordinator after Cortez Stubbs accepted the head coaching position at Pasco. River Ridge filled the opening with Steve Karoff, the former defensive coordinator at Osceola, who inherits a unit with plenty of talent returning.

The heart of that defense begins at linebacker.

Dayton Ray returns after recording 47 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as a sophomore. Already one of Pasco County’s top young defenders, Ray appears ready for an even bigger season.

Alongside him is Jackson McCaffrey, who finished with 18 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions last year. His versatility gives River Ridge another disruptive player capable of affecting the game in several ways.

Jordan Atkinson also returns at linebacker, adding another experienced piece to a group that should be one of the strengths of the defense.

The Royal Knights bring back Brett Biggs and Dylan Gonzalez in the secondary. Up front, defensive end Tre Gonzalez enters his junior season after totaling 25 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2025.

With returning players at every level and more depth behind them, River Ridge has the pieces to field one of the stronger defensive units in Pasco County.

The Royal Knights have already proven they can compete under Reid. Now, entering Year 4, the expectation is to take another step.

With a young quarterback who gained experience last season, explosive skill players, a strong offensive line, one of the program’s deepest rosters in years and a defense capable of leading the way, River Ridge believes it has what it needs to compete for another district championship.

Whether that translates into another district title or the program’s deepest playoff run under Reid remains to be seen.

One thing is clear. The Royal Knights believe this season could be different.

2026 Schedule

Aug. 21 at Northside Christian
Aug. 28 vs. Carrollwood Day
Sept. 4 at Sunlake
Sept. 11 at Fivay*
Sept. 18 vs. Hudson*
Sept. 25 Bye
Oct. 2 vs. Zephyrhills*
Oct. 9 at Pasco*
Oct. 16 at Gulf*
Oct. 23 vs. Springstead*
Oct. 30 vs. Mitchell

*District game