Bobcats drop home opener

The first possession of the 2023 football season didn't go as the Bobcats planned. High snaps from center forced the home team to scramble early, looking for a solution, as Riverside rolled to a 38-20 win.

Head Coach Tom Thramer said the team's inexperience "really showed up from untimely penalties, missed assignments and lack of leadership."

"There is no way to sugar coat it. We have to get better in every aspect of the game," Thramer told SAM in an interview on Monday. "Riverside is a very good football team and when you play a team like that you can't have all of the mistakes that we had, and that goes for the players and coaches. We will get back to work this week in practice and try to fix as many of the miscues as we can to get ready for next Friday."

Michael Koenig led the Bobcat offense, completing 12 of 25 passes for 197 yards. On the ground, freshman Mason Schwager led the team with two carries totaling 25 yards.

The receiving corps had a strong performance, with Sam Cheatum setting the pace with four receptions for 106 yards. Alec Schindler caught four passes for 51 yards.

Three Bobcat defenders ended in double digits in the tackling department. Ethan Kester led the team with 16. Schindler added 13, including eight solo stops. Keaton Thiele was in on a dozen tackles.

The Bobcats travel to Crofton, Friday, for a 7 p.m., kickoff. Thramer expects Crofton to be a big and physical team.

"They run a very methodical offense that puts a lot of pressure on your defensive front. We will have to get better against the run this week and do our best to take care of ourselves on offense. This season is going to be how much we can improve from week to week to put ourselves in the best position possible," Thramer said.

Team statistics:

Passing: Koenig: 12/25 for 197 yds; Schwager, 1/1 for 7 yds; Aiden McAllister, 1/1 for 7 yards

Rushing: Koenig: 9/-24 yds; Connor Thomson: 5/9 yds; Kester: 1/2 yds; Schwager: 2/25 yds; Mathias Wagner: 2/1 yd; Austin Mendoza, 1/16 yds

Receiving: Schindler 4/51 yds; Cheatum: 4/106 yds; Thomson: 2/11 yds; Preston Hoke: 2/29 yds; Rogan Robertson: 2/14 yds

Tackles: Jesse Thiele: 1; Schindler: 13; Koenig: 4; Cheatum: 1; Logan Kester: 1; Ruger Switzer: 1; Thomson: 1; E. Kester: 16; Hoke: 7; AJ Hobbs: 6; Wagner: 1; K. Thiele: 12; Preston Watson: 2; Gavin Whiting: 1

Sacks: E. Kester: 1

Fumble recovery: Cheatum: 1

Kickoffs: Schindler: 2/88 yds; Switzer: 1/20 yds; Jason Shaver: 1/39 yds

Punts: Schindler: 7/119 yds

Kick returns: J. Thiele: 1/6 yds; Thomson: 3/44 yds