River Ridge is the only West Pasco team in the Florida high school football playoffs. The Royal Knights open Class 4A, Region 2 play on the road Friday, Nov. 13, against No. 1 Bishop Moore in Orlando. River Ridge enters at 8-2 as the No. 8 seed, and Bishop Moore is also 8-2. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Mitchell, which had made the playoff field 12 straight seasons, did not qualify. Gulf, Anclote, Hudson and Fivay also stayed home. River Ridge beat Mitchell 13-10 on Oct. 30, its first win over the Mustangs since a 10-7 victory on Aug. 28, 2015. The Royal Knights are on a four-game winning streak.
River Ridge went 7-3 last season but missed the playoffs because of a weak strength of schedule. The school added Carrollwood Day and Northside Christian to the 2026 schedule. Carrollwood Day handed River Ridge its first loss, 45-0, on Aug. 28. The Royal Knights then won seven of their next eight games. Their only other loss came 21-7 to Zephyrhills on Oct. 2, which cost them the District 4A-8 title. They finished second at 5-1.
Defense carried the team. River Ridge allowed 71 points in its opener and 68 points in its next seven games combined, according to MaxPreps. Against Springstead, linebacker Dayton Ray, Korontae Moore, Alec Ferraro and Jackson McCaffrey each recorded a sack. Brett Biggs returned an interception for a touchdown in that game. Quarterback Dylan Walstatter threw three touchdown passes on 17 attempts against Springstead and passed for 251 yards against Mitchell. Antony Doston leads the ground game and rushed for 94 yards against Springstead. Fred Reid coaches the Royal Knights.
Bishop Moore won its district at 4-0 and has won eight straight games, most by wide margins.
Originally reported by Tampa Bay Beacons – Pasco
