By MICHAEL JOHNSON

Bulletin correspondent

River Islands coach Nick Hardenbrook seemed to take Saturday’s 49-6 home loss at the hands of Southern California independent school Viewpoint in stride, despite it knocking his first-year varsity team out of contention for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

“One of the messages we’ve been giving these kids all year is to just keep fighting. We’re made up of juniors, sophomores and freshmen. It's all about battling through experiences like today,” Hardenbrook said of his team that started three freshmen on the offensive line.

The difference both size and speed between the Riptide (2-7) and their visitors from Calabasas was noticeable from the start, with Viewpoint (6-3) able to do what they wanted offensively in the first half.

After an opening three and out from RI, Viewpoint sophomore quarterback Magnus Merriman was able to find Darren Haggerty for a 44-yard touchdown to put the Patriots up.

Large chunk plays on offense were a theme on the day for the visiting Patriots, who scored touchdowns on a 30-yard run from sophomore Ben Burkin, as well as a 79-yard connection between senior Logan Price receiver WR Shane Anderson to finish the first half.

The three touchdowns on offense in the first half came in only six total offensive plays for the Patriots before the break. A 47-yard punt return for a touchdown from Haggerty and a 55-yard fumble returned for a touchdown by senior linebacker Asher Akiva accounted for the other two scores for Viewpoint who went into halftime 35-0 on the hosts River Islands.

Things didn’t come quite as easily for River Islands on offense. The Riptide were able to muster 73 yards of total offense before the intermission, the majority coming on the ground in the form of short, hard runs from standout RB Alex Henry III. Hardenbrook recognized Henry’s tough nature against a defensive front much bigger than the line he was running behind.

“He’s a dog, every single play that kid is fighting,” Hardenbrook said. He takes what is given to him and makes something out of nothing.”

Henry finished with 95 yards on 19 tough carries, but more importantly, scored the first home touchdown in program history from 1-yard out with 2:18 left in the fourth Quarter. The home crowd seemed to understand the moment, erupting in celebration of a touchdown that meant very little to the game at hand, but signified a step in the right direction for a young program looking for positives.

Hardenbrook spoke to what small victories like today mean for his program.

“We’ve been on them from last year, it's all about the process,” he said. “We’re trying to build something here that lasts as long as this school is open for. We’re not trying to just focus on winning right now, we’re trying to build these kids, so they have success every year that we are here.”

Hardenbrook’s defense showed flashes of things to come in the future led by junior defensive back Jordan Acaya, who accounted for two of his unit’s big plays on the day — making a hammering hit on a swing pass in the first half, as well as a tackle for loss to slow the Patriots attack in the third quarter.

Henry also proved his prowess on the defensive side of the ball with an interception of Viewpoint sophomore QB Suna Fakih with time winding down in the fourth quarter.

For Hardenbrook, it's all about what his players are building on.

“In 20-30 years when our guys’ kids come to school here, what we're building will be something they can show them and hang their hats on,” he said.

River Islands will wrap up its 2024 campaign next week at Riverbank (5-4), while visiting Viewpoint will submit for an at-large Southern Section playoff bid after it hosts the Brentwood School.