Senior offensive lineman Joaquin Jara and his 2025 Riverside Brookfield High School football teammates were off to an 8-0 start and going after the program’s first undefeated regular season since 2001. Then the Bulldogs lost a wild 45-43 regular-season finale at Glenbard East for the Upstate Eight Conference East Division title on a last-second field goal. Then came the 29-23 home loss to Rolling Meadows in the opening round of the Class 6A playoffs.
“I think at the end of the season we kind of let up because we were undefeated and we were just going to be an undefeated team,” Jara said. “(Glenbard East) was a big loss. That kind of demoralized us. I think that kind of led into the playoffs.”
Especially with 12 returning starters, the Bulldogs have the collective confidence from last season’s 8-2 finish (5-1 in UEC East) but also the resolve to achieve their first conference title since 2009 and secure at least the program’s first playoff victory since 2015.
Senior team captains are third-year starter Andrew Olivares, Nico Caputo, Jara, Anthony Lembcke, Braeden Novak, Bryan Rimpila and Brandon Ruiz. Jara, quarterback Novak, slot receiver/running back Caputo, and inside linebacker Rimpila were among the Bulldogs’ 2025 All-UEC selections.
“We have a chip on our shoulder because we had a good season so we kept lifting, getting everybody going, keeping it going forward,” Rimpila said.
With this year’s earlier schedule and expanded state playoffs, the Bulldogs open Aug. 21 at home against Sandburg, which was 7-3 last season and lost to Lockport 21-14 in the opening round of the 8A playoffs.
“A lot of these guys experienced some success last year, which is great, so they know they’re capable of doing it, but it’s unfinished business,” RBHS coach Sam Styler said. “It’s kind of been our rallying cry. We fell short in the conference championship game and obviously that left a bad taste in our mouths and rolling into that playoff game. It’s just fueled them.”
The 2025 Bulldogs outscored opponents 410-199 with eight games in which they scored at least 31 points under offensive coordinator Brad Wojick.
Novak was impressive in his first varsity season, passing for 1,405 yards (82 for 139) with 19 touchdowns and rushing for 136 yards with one TD. Until late in the season, Novak platooned at quarterback with current senior Giancarlo Garcia, who did not return this season.
“My confidence rose a lot. I did not expect to be that good,” Novak said. “I’m just going to carry that into this year. I have a chip on my shoulder to go win some playoff games.”
The Bulldogs graduated key receivers but they also possess four returning starters on the offensive line – Jara (left tackle), seniors Damian Amparan (left guard) and Felix Sanchez (center) and junior Charlie Jicha (tackle/guard). Mostly out of the backfield, Caputo caught a team-high 25 passes for 315 yards and three TDs and rushed for 159 yards and one TD. He’s healed from a broken hand that hampered his past baseball season. Seniors Will Rio and Tim Jiacomelli Jr. also expect to contribute more.
“We have a lot of speed, physical, downhill football. I think we can be (just as explosive offensively),” Novak said.
“I think the success is going to come from the offensive line, honestly. We really did not let up many sacks,” Jara said. “Having those returning starters back, especially knowing the system (helps). We’re going to be a lot more connected up front.”
Defensively, the Bulldogs have returnees Rimpila (31 tackles) and Lembcke (29 tackles) at inside linebacker and Ruiz (sack) on the outside, Olivares on the line and Lee, who moves from cornerback to safety. Returning assistant coach John Evans is the new defensive coordinator. Senior newcomer Henry Jurgens, a former soccer player, is expected to contend for kicking and punting duties.
“I’d say we have really good leadership and we’ve definitely improved our energy and just our overall strength,” Lembcke said. “We had a really disciplined team last year and I think that’s going to really impact our success in a positive way.”
Last season’s seniors set the tone by helping the Bulldogs return to the playoffs. Entering his fifth season as head coach, Styler, said this offseason was even better in terms of participation, even for players who were juggling multiple sports.
“We held people a lot more accountable, showing up for everything, making sure everyone was there consistently. That really helped,” Caputo said.
“The offseason lifts we had were just phenomenal. The speed work we did on Fridays was phenomenal, just the total buy in that we’ve seen,” Styler said. “We’re very grateful for the seniors we had last season.”
Glenbard East is a home game in Week 8 (Oct. 9). The regular-season finale Oct. 16 is at Glenbard South, last year’s third-place UEC East finisher which the Bulldogs beat 21-17 with a late rally.
“Last year was great for the program, but we were not satisfied with it,” Styler said. “Obviously (one goal is) make it back to the playoffs but we don’t just want to make it back. We want to make a run.”