Riverside and St. Albans’ football teams are after the same thing: growth from recent down cycles to returning to being competitive players in the Mountain State Athletic Conference.
The Warriors hope they’re on their way after a gutsy comeback win in Week 2, while the Red Dragons are eager to head that direction entering their county rivalry and MSAC Gold Division opener on Friday night at Crawford Field.
“They’re doing the same thing we’re doing,” first-year Riverside coach Michael Terrell said of St. Albans and his opposite number, Dan Brown. “We're working hard every day, and that’s what I told our kids, you gotta work hard every day. That's the only way we can get better and change this program, and I know he’s telling his kids the same things.”
The Red Dragons (0-2) carry the Kanawha Valley’s longest losing streak at 13 into Friday’s game. Brown knew to expect a lengthy and gradual building process upon taking the job, but he aims to show progress in St. Albans’ first home game after starting with losses at Shady Spring and Nitro by a combined 89-21.
That goes for everything from sprucing up Crawford Field, where Brown spent part of his Labor Day painting doors ahead of the h...