The bell finally tolled on Riviera-Kaufer’s varsity football season as the Seahawks lost 14-7 to Three Rivers in a bidistrict playoff at George West last Friday. In what was supposed to be a cake walk win for the Bulldogs, the Seahawks came out swinging - while their playoff inexperience showed in penalties and missed opportunities - and did not surrender easily.

Running the ball exceptionally were Wade Moore (100 yards) and Adrian Caballero (95). Moore connected with Gilbert Arollo for a 45- yard touchdown strike in the second quarter. On defense, the Seahawks were outstanding only allowing Three Rivers to score on their opening drive and after a blocked punt by the Bulldogs gave them the ball at Kaufer’s 10-yard line right before halftime. Seahawk players and coaches hugged and consoled one another after it was all said and done.

“This season has become more than I could have ever expected,” Moore said. “I did not play last year and this season was a whole new experience for me. Everyone on this team is great, I could not ask for better people and we have turned things around here and hopefully it will keep getting better.”

Just getting into the playoffs was a long shot for Kaufer who needed to beat their Week 10 opponent by a significant margin.

“Against Bishop, we were the underdogs who were not supposed to make it into the playoffs,” Moore said. “We had to win that game by 15 points, but we came back and showed everyone we could do it and that was an unbelievable win for us and it has been a great experience to even be able to play this year.”

After the game, Head Coach Arturo de la Rosa’s previous playoff-berth jubilance turned into postelimination grief as he watched his boys - most of whom he has coached since middle school - cry.

“I have been waiting for this group of players,” a very proud De la Rosa said. “They did a heck of a job, played hard all year and came together at the right time just when they needed to.”

The Seahawks finish with a 5-6 overall record. Contrary to previous seasons, Kaufer was within victory in almost every game they played this season.

“We fought in every single game, these kids always came back and did good things for themselves and their team and I am very proud of them,” De la Rosa said. “These kids played better every week this season while knowing that every opponent now respected us.

Now every team we play in the future will say ‘we better watch out for Riviera because they are coming out’.”

Predicted to finish fifth in District 32-2A - and nowhere near the playoffs - by preseason polls this past summer, the Seahawks instead took third and made their point on the field.