From near-fatal crashes to MVP honors. The hectic journey of a Brock football star
Brock Riker’s career under the Friday night lights was nothing short of legendary.
Riker, an offensive and defensive lineman, led the storied, tradition rich Brock Eagles to the District 4-3A D1 championship. He was named the district Most Valuable Player, an incredibly rare honor for a lineman.
Riker’s journey to small town high school football stardom, however, almost ended before it began.
Nearly one year ago, Riker was late for practice and was driving in pouring rain that impaired his vision. There was a car in front of him going 30 mph in a 60 mph zone, and Riker switched lanes to pass when disaster struck.
Riker hit the median and lost control of his vehicle, fishtailing and running off into a ditch. The car rolled several times and hit a tree, which caused severe damage.
Despite the total loss of the vehicle, Riker sustained minimal injuries. He received five stitches in a finger.
Riker said the only reason he is alive today is because God protected him during the crash.
“If God wasn’t there watching me and protecting me, I wouldn’t have played a sport again,” Riker said. “I might not even be alive.”
Brock Riker’s safety wasn’t the only blessing the Riker family received that day. Brock Riker’s brother, Brody Riker, was supposed to be in the car.
“If he was with me, he would be in critical condition,” Riker said. “The tree I hit crushed the passenger seat all the way into the car. It’s a scary thing.”
Riker had been in multiple car wrecks in a one year span. On the same day Brock lost in the 2022 state championship, Riker’s car was hit from behind.
Riker wrecks were a recurring trend, and he developed a reputation. Riker said he was greatly bothered by that, but soon realized that everything happens for a reason.
Riker said Brock offensive coordinator Blake Christenson told him the accidents were simply God trying to get his attention. Christenson told Riker that he was intended to go down a different path.
Riker, ahead of Summer, developed goals to improve on the field, and made a plans to accomplish them. This “lit a fire” within him.
The wreck was a setback, and Riker also broke his foot a few days prior to the car accdient. Still, Riker wanted to commit to making progress in the weight room and ended up gaining 40 pounds.
Mathis said he saw Brock “seize the day” following the crash, and Riker continued his football journey, taking advantage of every opportunity he came across.
He put the past behind him, starting a historic senior season that would become legendary in the small town of Brock.
Brock from Brock: Breaking down an MVP caliber season
Riker led the Eagles to gain nearly 6,000 yards of total offense, averaging over eight pancake blocks per game. He thrived on both sides, recording 86 tackles and five sacks en route to district MVP honors.
Mathis said Riker excelled because of his dedication in the film room and his elite speed and strength.
“He was one of those guys the opposing team always had to game plan for,” Mathis said.
Brock football went to the Class 3A D1 state semifinal, where they were defeated by Malakoff. Despite the wins and losses, Riker said he will remember the “Brock brotherhood.”
“We have a brotherhood like I’ve never seen,” Riker said. “That’s what it really means to be a Brock Eagle. We compete everyday. We work our butts off, and we have fun doing it. We do it for the brother next to us and we love one another.”
What makes Brock special? Riker said the players come together as a unit as they grow older in a small town. They bond from pee wee football to Friday nights under the lights at Eagle stadium.
“Growing up as a Brock football player,” Riker said. “That’s what we do. We’re just so competitive and driven to compete against each other. That’s what we love.”
Brock football players are celebrities in his hometown. Riker made sure the young kids felt valued, according to Mathis.
“All the little kids here in town, they loved him,” Mathis said. “He’s bigger than life. They felt like he was a big brother to them.”
Mathis said that when Riker is off the field, he is a quiet person who cares deeply about his academics. He said Riker, the only Fort Worth-area lineman to win an MVP award in 2023 and an All-Area first team selection, is a humble person who “everyone loves.”
With his high school career behind him, Riker will soon start a new football chapter with Texas State. Riker said he wanted to live in San Marcos because it’s the “closest thing” to Brock.
“It’s a town driven by football,” Riker said. “They love the sport. It’s a close brotherhood in the locker room. Coaches and players get along well and they have fun.”
Mathis said Riker’s drive makes him elite and expects him to continue growing.
“I expect him to play on Saturdays,” Mathis said. “It’s tough to go in there as a freshman and win a spot, but it wouldn’t surprise me.”
Mathis said the Bobcats are undoubtedly getting one thing with Riker: a winner.
This story was originally published March 21, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
.jpg)