Senior co-captain Anthony Lembcke returned to the defensive starting lineup for the Riverside Brookfield High School football team in Friday’s season and home opener, playing outside linebacker. This time, he also played offense as a short-yardage running back. He even scored a touchdown in the third quarter.
“An amazing feeling, the crowd cheering, everything,” Lembcke said. “This is my first-ever touchdown on varsity and first-ever (offensive) snap. It was a big experience.”
The Bulldogs had highlights and big plays but that was their only score in a 28-6 loss to top-25, area-ranked Sandburg in the meeting between two 2025 playoff teams.
On the game’s opening drive, RBHS reached the 7-yard line but turned the ball over on downs. A 37-yard field goal attempt was unsuccessful as the first half ended.
Still, the Bulldogs only trailed 7-0. The Eagles then scored to open the second half with a 49-yard TD pass and added TDs on their next two possessions.
“I think just a few missed plays that we didn’t capitalize on. Other than that, if we capitalize on those plays, then I think we could have won that game,” RBHS senior running back/receiver Nico Caputo said. “But we fought hard and played with a lot of energy. That’s kind of what matters so hopefully we can keep that going the rest of the season and find a way to bounce back.”
The Bulldogs already were back on the field practicing at 8 a.m. Saturday. On Friday, Aug. 23, they visit Hinsdale South (0-1), which lost to Wauconda 32-21.
Riverside-Brookfield’s Josh Villeda (19) tackles Sandburg’s Quinn Durkin (23) during a nonconference game Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s quarterback (9) attempts a pass against Sandburg’s Nolan Torgerson (97) during a nonconference game Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Gideon Bradford (0) gets tackled by Sandburg’s Camren Robinson (2) during a nonconference game Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Ryan Kubitz (62) blocks Sandburg’s Zaid Masri (33) during a nonconference game Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 in Brookfield, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
“I’m extremely proud of how the boys fought. They played hard. We just didn’t execute well enough on either side of the football,” RBHS coach Sam Styler said. “We showed when we did play our game that good things were happening. Just little mistakes here, little mistakes there that ended up being big mistakes. We’re going to get it fixed up but I have all of the faith in the world in this team. We knew they were a good team. I don’t think there was ever a moment where our guys really felt like they were wavering.”
Senior quarterback Braeden Novak completed his first four attempts and was 21 of 38 passing for 193 yards.
Caputo (10 catches, 65 yards), senior Tim Giacomelli (4 catches, 58 yards) and sophomore James Organ (5 catches, 56 yards) were the leading receivers.
“I really think the game came down to execution,” Novak said. “I made a few execution mistakes. I think the whole team did.”
RBHS senior running back Gideon Bradford rushed nine times for 44 yards. Caputo had 12 rushes for 24 yards, giving him 22 touches for the game.
“I definitely anticipated that (multiple) role moving forward and I’m excited for it,” Caputo said. “I really like whenever I get the ball. As long as I get the ball.”
The Bulldogs opened with a 17-play, 62-yard drive that included two third-down conversions and a 3-yard run by Lembcke on fourth-and-1 at the 13.
On first-and-goal, a pass completion to the 3 was nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty. Back-to-back catches by Caputo moved the ball from the 23 to the 7, but Novak’s pressured fourth-down pass to Organ in the end zone was low.
Sandburg scored 59 seconds before halftime on an 18-yard TD pass. The Bulldogs marched from their 30 to the Sandburg 20 but senior Henry Jurgens’ field-goal attempt was wide.
“I overthrew a couple of throws in the first half and if I make those throws, it’s two touchdowns and I think it’s a whole different ballgame,” Novak said.
Trailing 14-0, the Bulldogs used their first drive of the second half for a 59-yard TD drive – the last nine rushes behind the line of center Felix Sanchez, guards Ryan Kubitz and Daniel Amparan and tackles Charlie Jicha and Joaquin Jara.
Lembcke (3 carries, 7 yards), who had two carries on the opening drive, scored from the 2.
Sandburg, however, answered with a 24-yard TD pass after facing second-and-25 at the 35 following a personal foul penalty. Sandburg quarterback Max Fahey added his fourth TD pass, an 11-yarder, in the fourth quarter. The Eagles’ talent and 8A roster certainly helped against the 6A Bulldogs as the game progressed.
The Bulldogs’ Joshua Villeda, Bryan Rimpila and Jayden Lee added tackles for loss.
“After the second quarter, we definitely got over our heads a little bit and we needed to stay disciplined,” Lembcke said.
“It is a new defense. We are still learning the defense, but I think with just a couple of more tweaks, we should be right there. (Sandburg) is a good team. We definitely showed our own out there.”
