Ripon Christian has taken on an unfamiliar role as the hunted after claiming its first Sac-Joaquin Section title.

“It’s one thing to get that title, but then to back it up, that’s definitely different,” coach Phil Grams said. “Everybody wants to give us their best shot this year.”

RC held off Woodland Christian 28-16 in the Division VII final and drew Hughson for its first appearance in a NorCal Bowl Game. The Knights drew a tough assignment in Trans-Valley League power Hughson and dropped a 31-28 heartbreaker but proved themselves as a worthy opponent despite three of their top two-way sitting out with devastating injuries.

For returning players, it serves as motivation. Even with the target on their backs, they believe there is still more left for them to achieve, as the school prepares for its return to the rugged Trans-Valley League after 13 years in the Southern Athletic League.

“We want to build off that energy and get back to where we were,” flyback/cornerback Brady Grondz said. “We want to go even farther.”

With eight starters returning on both sides of the scrimmage and younger players coming up from the 8-2 JV team, the Knights have good reason to feel confident.

“You can’t replace championship experience,” Grams said. “Even before those guys went down, on a 22-man roster guys are getting in and getting experience.”

Here’s a look at the 2023 Knights:

Offense: Leading the charge are third-year starters Dustin Hoekstra, Grant Sonke and Grondz. Tight end/linebacker Hoekstra is expected to miss about half the regular season while recovering from elbow surgery.

The sturdy Sonke has been the top rusher for Grams’ fly offense, and Grondz is the speedy playmaker in space both in the run and pass game.

Paving the way is a veteran offensive line headed by 6-foot-3, 305-pound tackle Carson Bunnell and second-year junior center Jimmy Heida.

There are new faces in the passing attack. Taking over at quarterback is sophomore Mason Tameling.

“He’s pretty talented,” Grams said. “We’ll look a little different than last year with a senior quarterback. We’ll do some things to slow some things down and make sure we have extra protection, but we feel like he’s a varsity quarterback right now.”

Senior Jace Beidleman may also get some reps behind center, but the Knights would rather put his 6-9 frame to use at tight end. They also have an ensemble of wide outs and flybacks such as Ethan Schenk, Elias Ochoa, second-year junior Josh Miller and sophomore Amos Cady.

Defense: While the Knights anticipate the return of their leading tackler from 2022 in Hoekstra, they’ll still be plenty stout up front.

Cote Windorski rejoins Bunnell and Heida on the line, which is further solidified with the addition of sophomore Matthew Chapman. Behind them are productive linebackers Preston Zuidervaart and Sonke, along with 6-foot, 215-pound second-year junior Logan DeJong.

“We have so much young talent coming up to help us seniors and other returning players get to that next level,” Grondz said. “There are a lot of guys who are going to make plays.”

Grondz racked up 18 pass deflections last season at cornerback. Miller is another player who gained valuable experience as a sophomore in the defensive backfield. Cady is in contention to start at safety.

“We have a lot of experience coming back, but we play both ways,” Grams said. “That’s our biggest deal every day — can we keep our 22 bodies healthy?”

Schedule: Ripon Christian again starts the season against Central Valley Christian, a top program out of the Central Section.

The Cavaliers from Visalia took it to the Knights last year 42-14, the first of 12 straight wins until they lost in the CS Division II championship game.

Grams had to scramble for a new Week 1 opponent after Cloverdale dropped out over the summer. In its place is Pajaro Valley of Watsonville, which has won no more than three games in a season the past seven years.

The Knights will face another struggling team in Calaveras before going on their bye week in preparation for their final march through the SAL. They’ll get their biggest test early on, as reigning champion Orestimba visits in Week 5.

The hope is for them to be as close to 100 percent healthy as possible at that point.

Managing a small roster has always been a tall task for Ripon Christian coaches, and they’re expecting it to get tougher next season when they begin the weekly carnage of the TVL.

The TVL has long been considered the best small-school league in the state, and it’s only going to get better with RC, Orestimba and Mother Lode League power Sonora joining with up with Escalon, Hilmar, Hughson, Modesto Christian and Ripon — all schools with state championships.

Preparing the younger classes for the future challenges is a responsibility the current seniors gladly take on.

“It means a ton to me, and I can vouch for these guys too, it means a lot to us,” Sonke said. “We’ve been around for quite a while now, and it’s a big deal making that jump from the Southern League to TVL, which is a dominant small-school league. So fostering these younger players to becoming great players and great men is an honor for us. We don’t get to be part of the team next year, but we’ll definitely be part of their legacy.”