Depth may always be a concern for one of the smallest schools in the Sac-Joaquin Section, but Ripon Christian is going back to the daunting Trans-Valley League with the highest turnout in the program’s history.
"We have 24 (varsity) players, which is tied for the biggest roster we’ve ever had going into the fall. That’s with us bringing up no sophomores,” fifth-year coach Phil Grams said.
Additionally, the JV team enters the season with 29, the most ever at the lower level.
“We have depth, position by position,” he added. “Everybody on the roster is a football player. There is no one we’re trying to hide. It’s a solid 24 dudes.”
That depth will eventually be tested as the Knights grind through the physical demands of the TVL, long renown as the best small-school league in the state.
They’re returning after 13 seasons in the Southern Athletic League, claiming four championships in that span and three of the last five. Grams also led RC to its first two SJS titles, winning both (2022, 2023) in Division VII.
Ripon Christian now heads to a D-V league that is home to five schools with state football championships. The Knights move after losing many of their top players from the last two section-championship teams to graduation, but they believe there’s enough talent coming back along with bright-eyed reinforcements from the 9-1 JV quad, to hold their own.
“I’m super excited going against better competition,” senior lineman Jimmy Heida said. “There are a lot of players in this league I played Pop Warner with, so it’s going to be like a reunion. It should be fun, and it’s a chance for us to prove our school’s worth, too.”
Here’s a closer look at Ripon Christian’s upcoming season:
Tackling the TVL
Traditionally a powerhouse in basketball and volleyball, Ripon Christian started its football program in 2004 and was part of the Mountain Valley League for two years. The next four were tough sledding for the Knights in the TVL, as they went 4-16 in league.
Escalon (2010,2019, 2022), Hilmar (2018), Hughson (2022), Modesto Christian (2009) and Ripon (2019) have since garnered state bowl trophies. In fact, Hughson’s 2022 championship came at the expense of Ripon Christian, which let a three-score lead slip away in a heartbreaking 31-28 loss in the Division V-AA NorCal Bowl. It’s a game Grams said,” still rubs us the wrong way.”
The Knights have had other postseason encounters with the TVL, dropping three to Hilmar and beating Modesto Christian once.
RC is 0-8 all-time against neighboring Ripon. Dubbed the “Ripon Bowl,” the two schools last battled on a football field in 2013.
“There hasn’t been a football rivalry, but it’s a rivalry, for sure,” Grams said. “All those guys know each other from junior football and probably from playing other sports. It will be one heck of a community event. Being across the street from each other makes it a unique rivalry.”
Ripon Christian isn’t the only new kid on the block. Orestimba had a four-year run in the TVL (2010-13) before a successful nine seasons in the SAL, where the Warriors captured four titles and developed a healthy rivalry with RC.
Then there’s Sonora, which lost just once in nine dominant seasons in the Mother Lode League and has had many entanglements with soon-to-be TVL mates over the years.
“I know that’s a hefty goal, but we have to give it our best shot,” Grams said of competing for the TVL title. “Even if we don’t, we’d be in good shape going into the playoffs. Whoever makes the playoffs from the TVL is going to be battle tested. I look forward to the opportunity to see what we can do.”
Ready to Fly
Second-year junior Mason Tameling (83-of-119 passing, 1,416 yards, 20 TDs, four interceptions) returns at quarterback, and senior tailback Trevor Van Elderen (592 yards, 6.7 per carry, 10 TDs) is primed to carry a heavier load.
Grams’ Fly Offense is undergoing another transformation with the likes of Brady Grondz, the reigning All-SAL Offensive Player of the Year, and 6-foot-9 tight end Jace Beidleman gone to graduation.
“What’s great about the Fly Offense is that it can morph with the personnel,” Grams said. “We looked like the Kansas City Chiefs two years ago when we had the perimeter guys and were throwing it all over the place. Last year, we had what you want in a basic Fly Offense with two (running backs). This year, we don’t have Brady Grondz, who is one of the best flybacks I’ve ever had.”
That role may be divvied up between third-year senior Josh Miller, second-year junior Amos Cady and junior Carson Cho from the JV.
“We’re going to have to find a way to get all those guys on the field at the same time and use their different talents,” Grams said. “We’re trying to figure out who that No. 1 flyback will be early in the season.”
Other budding juniors include Daniel Lambdin and Lushen Sanders, respectively the leading receiver and rusher on the JV team.
Muscle in the middle
The strength of the team comes from the middle of its offensive and defensive lines.
The 6-1, 295-pound Heida is back at center and was the SAL’s Defensive Lineman of the Year. He’s joined by fellow third-year senior Logan DeJong (78 tackles, 5.0 sacks), at guard and defensive tackle. Matthew Chapman will look to bounce back after spending most of his sophomore season on the varsity sidelined by a knee injury. He’ll occupy the other guard spot and is part of the rotation on the defensive line.
SAL Offensive Lineman of the Year Carson Bunnell leaves a massive void at tackle, all 6-4, 305 pounds of him. While starting positions at bookend tackles remain in flux, Grams likes the depth at defensive end, which includes towering 6-9 senior Walker Postma. Juniors Patrick Cory, Sergio Rubio and Braden Schaapman are others expecting to contribute in the trenches.
Shoring up the defense
Six returners lead a defense that shut out nine opponents last season. The Knights are unlikely to repeat that feat, given the big step-up in competition, and they no longer have two-time SAL Defensive Player of the Year Grant Sonke at middle linebacker.
Outside linebackers and team captains Miller and Van Elderen now spearhead the Knights’ stout defensive front. Fellow senior Isaiah Vander Woude provides additional size and experience to the linebacking corps.
The secondary is young, but Cady is a seasoned free safety who intercepted seven passes as a sophomore.
“We’ve been getting stronger in the weight room, getting ready for these bigger offensive lines,” Miller said. “We have a scrappy team. We know there are going to be some tough backs in the TVL.”
Outlook
Racking up the minimum four wins required for postseason consideration has gotten much harder.
It would have been understandable for the Knights to compile a more forgiving non-league schedule, but they didn’t do that.
“We still wanted to have a challenging non-league, but we also want to be fresh as we’re about to face the rigors of the TVL,” Grams said. “I don’t think we have a walk-in-the-park non-league (schedule).”
They’ll begin with road games at Summerville and former SAL foe Le Grand, two teams coming off 9-3 seasons. Then they host Calaveras, a traditional MLL power that is back on the rise after a few down years.
Ripon Christian scheduled its bye week before squaring off with two TVL titans out the gate — Hilmar and Hughson.
“I think a lot of people are writing us off early,” Miller said. “It might have been Geno Smith who said, ‘They wrote me off, but I ain’t writing back,’and that has to be our mentality this season.”
