In every ending there is a new beginning, and there’s no better application of the classic proverb than the upcoming closure of Rider, Old High and Hirschi and opening of Memorial and Legacy.
Cody Blair, who was named Legacy principal, has been working hard to manage juggling the ending of Rider and new beginning of Legacy.
“Still really honored to be a part of the Legacy and Memorial opening, especially Legacy, very excited and looking forward to it, but I’m also trying to stay involved and engaged here with the last year of Rider,” Blair said. “I’m trying to keep being present with everyone and enjoying all these moments and this time together.”
Several new school positions have been named, and among the Rider staff many are taking the jump with the 2023-24 Rider football season coming to a close, it means more than just the end of a sport. The Raider’ loss to Frisco Emerson also meant no more pep rallies and marching band performances.
The Raiders finished the season with a 10-3 record, winning their first district title since 2008 and making it three rounds deep in the playoffs, one round further than Rider went last year.
Many people thought the team wouldn’t have as good a season with losing last year’s seniors. The coaches and players never let the doubts get to them and finished Rider’s last season in program history on a high note.
“The coaches and the players always believed that we could do this, but outside we raised a lot of eyebrows, even the people in the school,” Rider coach Marc Bindel said. “I think there were a lot of students and others that didn’t think we could have the success that we had.”
Bindel, who was named Memorial High School’s head football coach for next year, is proud of the team handling the burden of being the last Rider group to ever play. Two main reasons behind their success were hard work and not being selfish with the ball.
It took a lot of shoes to fill and several new starters had to step up. However, Bindel said with everyone excelling in new roles, this year’s group made it seem like they didn’t lose as many players as they had.
“Everybody stepped up, you know they had big shoes to fill like Luke Gambs from the d-line. Carson Ayres took over that role and did a good job,” Rider defender Jailyn Gibbs said. “Joe Castles, our sophomore quarterback, stepped up in Jack Pitts’ shoes, he did a good job being a quarterback being so young.”
Kenji Johnson was one of the players who stepped up the most in his first season being the team’s main offensive threat. The junior rushed for 1,694 yards and 20 touchdowns while earning the District 2-5A Division II MVP.
Gibbs recorded 17 sacks and 63 quarterback pressures, taking home 2-5A Defensive MVP honors. A couple new faces to the program also had good seasons with Evonjre Donnell making 22 sacks and Elijah Jackson having 19 rushing touchdowns and eight sacks.
While the season was going on, many moments were full of fun action for the team. It was more than football to them – it was family, breaking tables after wins, ending a rivalry against Wichita Falls High School with a blowout win.
“The final Rider football season was fun,” Johnson said. “It was a great ride. I love my seniors and got to play the last game with them.”
“My favorite moments of the Rider-Old High game hit differently like the flyover, the stands being packed on both sides, everybody getting involved and the pranks,” Gibbs said.
Most seniors are sad about the season ending and thinking about the next chapter in their life, but Jaylin Gibbs doesn’t plan on football being over for him. He wants to continue football wherever the sport takes him.
“I mean it ain’t over, like I said i don’t know where I’m going to go. I’m not really sad about it,” Gibbs said. “I’m just thankful I got to be a part of something this special, being part of history.”
Not only is Rider closing, Bindel is ending a chapter of his life that has spanned 15 years, the last 10 of which has included being the Raiders’ head coach. His daughters grew up in the Rider family watching the games and supporting him and the team.
“It’s a really special football program, and to be a part of it was an honor,” Bindel said. “My family and wife grew up with the Rider football program over the last 15 years, and it’s just become a big part of our lives.
“We sacrifice a lot of time together to invest in the program to see what it is today. Unfortunately, it’s coming to an end, but how healthy it is and how strong it is, is really special.”
