Last season

Record: 2-8 overall, 2-3 in Tobacco Road 6A/7A conference (fourth)
Playoffs: Missed the playoffs

2026 preview

Riverside has sailed through rough waters in recent years.

For most of this decade, the Pirates’ campaigns have sunk short of postseason territory. Last year, the crew descended for the first seven games before seeing a positive change in their course, losing each battle in that stretch — with the exception of a forfeit against Jordan — by more than two scores.

This fall, the same obstacles lie in front of Riverside’s hopes to turn things around. Facing another tough schedule, the Pirates are entering the next journey with new approaches and a fresh focus to keep the ship upright.

“There’s a higher level of accountability and doing things the right way,” Riverside coach Cory Lea, who is entering his 10th year at the helm of the program (sixth season in the second stint), said. “We can play, but we’ve got to do our jobs every game.”

After graduating a thin senior class and losing former quarterback Jesiah Johnson, the Pirates are looking to “solidify” areas of their roster, especially the offensive and defensive lines.

Lea expects the most drastic improvements on defense, a unit that gave up 35 points per game in 2025.

“We’ve solidified a lot of places where we were weak last year,” Lea said. “We decided to go back and forth between a three-man and four-man front instead of staying exclusively in a three. So, that’s helped us a lot, and we’ve got a couple pieces back that weren’t here last year. And so talent wise, we’ll be a little better.”

Lea is looking for significant contributions from senior three-year starting linebacker Joshua Elmenshawi, defensive end Alex Roper and two-way junior Jordan Harrell on defense. As one of the biggest surprises of the offseason, sophomore defensive lineman Kameron King will look to step up this season.

“(King) plays in the middle,” Lea said. “He’s going to help a whole lot at our defensive tackle position.”

Offensively, the biggest change is senior Taylen Lea taking the reins at quarterback. Lea primarily played receiver last year.

“Taylen has pretty much either been a ball boy, been a JV kid, been a varsity kid in this offense since he was 7,” Lea said. “Probably the biggest thing he brings is a mind almost like another coach on the field. He knows how to make adjustments. He understands the offense in and out. That’s probably the biggest thing, just his level of experience. And he’s not a bad athlete, so now we can run the ball. We can throw it. So now, we can take the athletes that we have and exponentially do a little more with them.”

Lea will have a few solid targets to throw to as he makes the transition to the backfield. Riverside’s offense will also have Harrell, who’s moving to the slot from running back. During the Pirates’ scrimmage against Wakefield at the Bull City Classic Friday, Lea connected with Harrell for two touchdowns, both of which went for over 20 yards.

Riverside will also bring back standout junior tight end Leighton Lascallette, who holds an offer from Charlotte and is considered one of the best in the state at his position. Lascallette led the Pirates in receiving yards last season. Out wide, Riverside will look to speedy pass catchers Joshua Thigpen, a junior, and freshman D’Marte McMillan. Senior Dakari Monds will help lead the Pirates’ run game after being named the team’s offensive MVP in 2025.

“We are much improved on our offensive line,” Cory Lea said. “Walter Carter’s playing center. Tyler Godwin’s a senior playing right guard. We’ve got Austin Grimes playing that tackle position, so we’re really stacked as far as our talent and experience level on the offense.”

Riverside expects to have enough players to keep fresh bodies on the field this season. Lea hopes the improved depth helps his team be in better position to compete — and even win — in more games this year


Schedule
*conference game

Aug. 21 — vs. East Wake
Aug. 28 — vs. Sanderson
Sept. 4 — vs. Person
Sept 11 — vs. Jordan
Sept. 18 — at Franklinton
Sept. 25 — BYE
Oct. 2 — vs. Northern Durham*
Oct. 9 — vs. Hillside*
Oct. 16 — at Southern Durham*
Oct. 23 — at East Chapel Hill*
Oct. 30 — at Chapel Hill*