Last season, James Freeland stepped into the position of head coach of the Riverton football team. Playing in arguably the most difficult region in the state, the Silverwolves struggled to a 1-9 record. Riverton picked up one region victory, defeating Copper Hills. 

Freeland wants the team to take some steps forward in year two. 

Riverton competes in Region 2, which features nationally ranked and perennial state power Corner Canyon, not to mention always-tough Bingham and solid squads in Herriman and Mountain Ridge. Improving Copper Hills rounds out the region foes. Though last season had some rough moments, Freeland thinks the team can build off what it learned and be more competitive in 2024. 

“We want to improve upon last year’s experience,” he said. “We have a team goal of getting better every game in a tough preseason schedule. We want to compete for and win a region championship in the best region in
Utah football.”

Those goals may seem lofty considering the competition the Silverwolves face and where the team was a year ago. Still, Freeland isn’t shying away from challenging his team and expecting more success on the scoreboard and in the standings. But more than scoring touchdowns and keeping other teams off the scoreboard, Freeland is hoping his players work hard, have a positive attitude and develop into good players and good people. 

“We want happy kids that take pride in being Riverton Silverwolves,” he said. “We want kids that keep playing hard and learning
life lessons.”

Freeland identified three team leaders he is looking to for production and for examples to their teammates. Senior quarterback Andrew Neilson started every game last season and got valuable experience under center. A pair of offensive linemen will help to protect Neilson and open up holes in the running game. Senior left tackle Max Tuimaseve and senior right tackle KT Falateu are both returning starters from last season. Freeland described Tuimaseve as an “athletic pass blocker” and said Falateu is a “driving run blocker.” 

Perhaps the best thing about the Riverton football team, Freeland said, is the camaraderie and brotherhood the players share. 

“These kids love each other and aren’t afraid to let each other know about it,” he said.

With optimism and positivity in the program, Freeland admits there are challenges and potential barriers to the team achieving its goals. He said the most significant issue is losing players to other schools. Currently, it is virtually impossible for Freeland or others at Riverton to keep students within the school boundaries from transferring somewhere else. This can affect the Silverwolves’ numbers, talent and experience level, and cohesion. 

“The biggest challenges that Riverton faces is the transfer rule, or the lack of enforcement,” he said. “We are trying to teach our kids that the grass is greener where you water it.”

Riverton’s players are committed and excited to be Silverwolves. Freeland said everyone is doing his part to make this season as successful as possible. In the early part of the season, he has noticed some improvements from the previous year. 

“We are a bigger, more confident team,” he said. “My first impression is one that reflects these guys work ethic and goals they have. They have a strong desire to be great and work for it.”

It didn’t take Riverton long to equal last season’s win total. 

Riverton won its season opener against Syracuse on Aug. 16, prevailing at home in a strong defensive effort, 13-7. In game two on Aug. 23, the Silverwolves played tough against a good Ridgeline team but fell in a close battle 28-21 in overtime. 

As a Riverton resident himself, Freeland takes pride in coaching the Silverwolves. He’s grateful that the players represent the community and school so well. 

“These are our kids,” he said. “I live here; I love this town and the way our kids are raised here. Their faith in what we are doing to be successful is second to none.”

Riverton’s final non-region game is Sept. 13 at Pleasant Grove. The first Region 2 contest will be against Herriman at home on Sept. 20. A noteworthy game will take place on Sept. 27 when Riverton travels to Corner Canyon. The Silverwolves entertain Bingham on Oct. 4 and host Mountain Ridge a week later on Oct. 11. Riverton wraps up the regular season at Copper Hills Oct. 18 in a game against the Grizzlies. 

The Class 6A state tournament follows the regular season finale, with first-round action starting Oct. 25. Playoff seeding is determined by RPI ratings, which the Utah High School Activities Association bases off teams’ records and the records of their opponents and their opponents’ opponents. Higher seeded teams will get first-round byes and second-round home games. The quarterfinals are Nov. 8 and 9 at higher-seeded teams’ home fields. The semifinals are at the University of Utah on Nov. 14, while the finals are also at the U of U and will take place Nov. 22. 

Last season, Riverton had a first-round bye and got a tough draw in the second round against Lehi. The Silverwolves lost that contest 31-0. Riverton’s last playoff win was just two years ago in a 48-6 victory at home over Kearns. That preceded a wild 55-50 loss in the second round at Davis. The last time Riverton advanced to the state quarterfinals was in 2014—a year when the Silverwolves made it to the semifinals and lost to Bingham 35-3.  λ