Riverview QB Connor Kmetz returns from injury-interrupted season bigger, stronger, faster

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | 4:41 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Connor Kmetz was perfect.

In the first half of last year’s victory over Valley, the Riverview quarterback completed all nine of his pass attempts for 125 yards and three touchdowns as the Raiders led 21-12 at the break of what turned out to be a 37-35 victory.

However, Kmetz was injured on the third of the three TD tosses, and he didn’t play the rest of the game.

He then missed three games afterward.

“It was tough, but I think Rio (Stotts) did a great job coming in for me and leading the team really well,” Kmetz said.

Kmetz was able to return to game action, finishing the season with 877 yards passing and nine touchdowns. For his efforts, he earned Eastern Conference honorable mention recognition.

“I did everything I could to get back,” Kmetz said.

“I went to multiple doctors. I wasn’t trying to rush it, either. Obviously, it could’ve ended up worse. Me missing the three games was the best-case scenario.”

Now, as a second-year starter under center, Kmetz is taller and bigger, and he feels he is stronger and quicker. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he hopes to blend his physical growth and ability with his elevated knowledge of the game and maturity through experience to lead Riverview to what it hopes is a return to the WPIAL playoff for the first time since 2016.

“I am not taking any day, any practice, even any rep for granted,” said Kmetz, who tested his mettle with his Raiders teammates Saturday during a scrimmage with Brashear and Apollo-Ridge at Riverside Park.

“You never know what rep will be your last rep or what game might be your last. I want to come out and do everything with a 100 percent focus and intensity. That is my mindset now.”

Kmetz said putting on good weight with muscle in the offseason was one of his main goals.

“I added about 15 pounds,” he said.

“My dad and I went to the gym three days on top of what I was doing with the team, so I was going around six days a week. My guy, Tyler, down at Anytime Fitness, the local gym nearby, we really worked on my speed going into the summer. That was a big part of my game I really needed to unlock with being able to rush and extend plays from the pocket.”

Riverview coach Trevor George said the weight gained through muscle not only gave Kmetz a more secure frame for injury prevention, but it also helped him develop a stronger arm and better footwork in the pocket.

“He was really dedicated this offseason to build his body, and also his mind,” George said.

“One of the advantages to being in the school, Connor and I would meet three days a week after school and watch film, whether it was a college game or an NFL game, anything on YouTube or Hudl. We would break down coverages, and he was a sponge, just soaking up all of the knowledge. It’s been really neat to see his development physically, mentally and with his leadership capabilities. He is always cool, calm and collected, and that rubs off on his teammates, especially the younger ones. He’s a humble kid who is always striving to be better.”

Kmetz said he and the Raiders offense, a mix of the Wing-T in the run game and a more spread-out plan in the pass game, really made strides over the summer.

“Just executing the plays against other teams in the 7-on-7s was what we were looking for, not so much the wins or losses,” he said.

Beyond the X’s and O’s, Kmetz said he has grown as a team leader on and off the field. Past mentorship from veterans such as quarterback Rocco Cecere when he was a freshman has now given him the strength to pay it forward to many of the team’s up-and-coming young standouts, including freshman signal caller Dylan Reynolds.

“This offseason, I became a lot more vocal and also tried to lead by example,” Kmetz said.

“I would get on some guys, too, sometimes if I felt they were slacking off or anything like that, not giving 100 percent effort. That helped me also be accountable for myself and my own effort. (Rocco) was a great leader for me, and his influence really helped me start as a sophomore last year. It’s been important for me to take (Dylan) under my wing as much as possible and teach him everything I can.”

When asked to give an assessment of what his team can do in and out of conference play and a drive to the playoffs, Kmetz sounded a conservative tone.

“Ultimately, the goal is the playoffs. It’s that way for every team,” said Kmetz, who will help lead the Raiders into Saturday’s noon Week Zero kickoff against Beth Center at Riverside Park.

“But one thing our coaches have been stressing is that each week is its own season, and we have to concentrate on taking that week as seriously as possible. We can’t be going around circling games on our calendar and getting ahead of ourselves. If we concentrate on the week at present and then move on to the next one, it can add up to a spot in the playoffs, for sure.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Riverview