Much like River Ridge High School, the Hawks football program is under construction.
For the past four years, River Ridge students have grown accustomed to the school’s modernization project that is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
By next fall, River Ridge will finally host home football games on its own field with artificial turf and lights after years of sharing South Sound Stadium with North Thurston and Timberline.
But the Hawks football team has no interest in waiting until next summer to finish its own construction project.
They want to put their hard hats on now.
Under second-year head coach Tim Claridge, River Ridge is looking to rebound from a 2-7 season in 2025 in which the Hawks suffered four shutout losses by margins exceeding 33 points.
On the first day of fall practice at the recently built Nisqually Middle School turf field, where the Hawks are practicing for the second straight year, there was a palpable buzz on the turf. Incoming transfers have brought a new energy on both sides of the ball, and the returners are primed to elevate their game under the tutelage of new offensive and defensive coordinators. Kendall Johnson is in his first season as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, while Adam Kulhawik joins the Hawks as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
“The point of emphasis for us is to really change the culture. We’re trying to build a program that is built around discipline, respect and hard work,” Claridge said. “We’re making sure these guys are working hard because they want to and not because the coaches are telling them they need to. It’s a culture shift for them to have the desire to really want to be better as a football program.”
River Ridge has been collectively confident since spring ball that the new leadership in the coaching staff and in the locker room can result in a breakout year in 2026. In building off the positive spring camp, coaches have deployed a couple of mantras that will be featured on the backs of their hats and on the team’s social media as abbreviations throughout the fall: grind for success (GFS) and discipline, hard work, together (DHT).
“We’re identifying key leaders. I don’t think it’s wrong for us to point out where we need to make improvements, but I think it’s how you coach the improvement,” Claridge said. “We have to build on the successes that we have, call out the areas that need to be improved, and make sure that we’re identifying that and coach it up and not just yell at kids that they didn’t get it right. We have to coach for success.”
At the center of the rebirth is senior quarterback Ryzen Nunez, who also lines up at defensive end.
A quarterback since the third grade, Nunez started his prep career as the starting quarterback for the C-team before leaving football his sophomore year, citing a loss for the love of the game. He returned to the Hawks as a junior last fall and played wide receiver and defensive end.
This year, Nunez, now 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, returns to his quarterback spot, four inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than the last time he suited up at quarterback.
“They needed me to play, so I’ll do what our team needs,” Nunez said of his comeback to quarterback. “I like leading the team and being someone they can look up to when things get hard. The skills I can bring to the team are everything they need from a quarterback.”
Replacing a Second Team All-Puget Sound League running back in Jalon Fulton will be difficult, but the Hawks will deploy a three-headed monster in senior Xavier Street, senior Ozias Tinitali and sophomore Jimmy Ha. Tinitali battled injuries last season, and Street was a late addition to the running back room as a junior and quickly flashed his potential in limited opportunities.
As a part of the Hawks’ undefeated freshman team season a year ago, Ha “ran all over everybody,” according to Claridge.
River Ridge will have a deep and talented wide receiver room, led by brothers Ayden and Aizaiah “Zay” Rookwood, who both transferred from Leavenworth High School in Kansas. According to teammates and coaches, the brothers have brought a commanding presence to the team. Junior receiver Tyler McClellan will bounce around from the outside to the slot, and senior AJ Harvey has bulked up this offseason and will line up at tight end.
“We’ve got a lot of firepower on offense, both in the run game and the pass game. I think we’re very versatile,” McClellan said. “It’s gonna be hard to stop.”
While the offensive line struggled last fall, the Hawks will benefit from the return of experienced starters in Second Team All-PSL honoree Karter Chirhart, who has added about 45 pounds since last season, and sophomore Corey Karya. Senior Andru Tuipe’a was a Second Team All-PSL selection at tackle but will likely spend most of his time at guard this fall.
McClellan, a junior captain, senior Caleb Marquez and junior D’Vaughntae Sellman will line up at safety. Seniors Tripp Durham and seniors Slater Jack will man the linebacker room, and Nunez and senior Jerry Ha will terrorize opposing offenses up front.
Senior Marco Villa Jr. will be able to flip fields as a returning First Team All-PSL punter.
All eyes are on Kelso in Week 1, as the Hawks will take a trip to Cowlitz County on Sept. 4 looking to make a statement. Claridge will be looking for aggressive defensive play and sharp execution on offense in order to start 1-0.
“We’ve got the horsepower to be very competitive this year, but taking care of the details is going to be a key factor for us,” Claridge said.
The 2026 non-league schedule also includes a home matchup against Auburn Riverside and a road test at Shelton. There’s no gimmes in the PSL slate, with road trips to Capital and Lakes followed by home games against Timberline and Peninsula. The Hawks will close out the regular season against North Thurston.
Surrounded by a world of change and construction at River Ridge High School with the modernization project, administration and coaching changes, and the recent completion of the Nisqually Middle School turf, the Hawks believe they can put last season in the rearview mirror and grind for success in 2026.
“We’ve been working really hard together off the field and on the field. We all train together. We all hang out together,” Nunez said. “We’re creating a brotherhood with each other. That will keep us confident so that we can trust each other in this upcoming season.”
