Football: River View has a team-first mentality

I was out at the River View football practice this week, doing interviews for a feature on the Panthers' new quarterback, Ruvim Tyutyunnik, and was struck by how much the players are buying into a team-first mentality.

Senior Austin Weatherby started most of last season at quarterback, and despite offseason surgery, came into spring camp in the mix for the job again.

Junior Terran Brown also started some games last season at quarterback, and he too was in the mix for the job again.

Tyutyunnik eventually earned the starting nod. The sophomore has a natural knack for leading, and a great arm. But the only way the Panthers will be successful is for everyone to be fighting for the same goal, and by all accounts that is happening.

“They've helped me totally. They've supported me,” Tyutyunnik said of Weatherby and Brown. “Terran is playing receiver – he actually caught one of my touchdown passes. Austin is helping out on the O-Line. He is doing great at left guard.”

River View head coach Brett Jay praised Weatherby for giving up the glamorous job, and going and working on the line.

“Austin Weatherby understood that we were going to do whatever we could to put our best 11 players on the field,” Jay said. “Austin went to the offensive line, and much respect to him for making that decision on his own, with the team in mind.”

Sounds like the Panthers (1-0), who play at Union Gap's La Salle High at 7 p.m. tonight, are on the right track this season.

This story was originally published September 7, 2012 at 11:27 AM with the headline "Football: River View has a team-first mentality."