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Riverview's 'Bermuda Triangle' swallows defenses

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By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: September 9, 2009

RIVERVIEW - Riverview High football players Bryan Giordano, Anthony Quinones and Eric Diaz feel it's only fair opposing defenders be forewarned should they enter within reach of any of the Sharks' three senior offensive linemen.

With that, they offer a simple message.

"Be prepared to get lost," Diaz started before yielding to Giordano to finish with, "because whoever comes across us disappears."

The message makes more sense when realizing the trio operates under the nickname "The Bermuda Triangle," a reference to the mysterious area located off the United States' southeastern Atlantic coast known for a rash of unexplained disappearances of ships and aircraft. Giordano, Quinones and Diaz are in the business of opening up holes for the Riverview rushing attack, and to do so they are tasked with getting the opposition out of the way.

The only real difference between them and The Bermuda Triangle is the mystery aspect; Giordano, Quinones and Diaz have no qualms with talking about the methods in their work.

"We love to blow people off the ball," Quinones said, referring to their physical blocking style.

Giordano, Quinones and Diaz are a close-knit group. They began to bond as freshmen on the Riverview junior varsity squad after they discovered they shared the same traits.

"We're mean and nasty," Quinones said.

Each of the three is a multiple-year varsity starter at Riverview. The veteran of the group is Giordano, a three-year starter and a varsity team member since he was a freshman. Quinones and Diaz are each two-year starters and have been with the varsity squad since they were sophomores.

It was last season when the group derived their nickname. At the time, the three combined to comprise the left side of the Sharks' offensive line - Giordano at center, Quinones at guard and Diaz at tackle. During a film session early in the season, they couldn't help but notice how effective they were when working together. They also noticed while watching how the shark fin painted near midfield (representing the school's mascot) resembled a triangle. A discussion ensued, and one thing led to another. Since then, they've not only carried the nickname, but vowed to be a dominant force for the team.

Riverview coach Bruce Gifford wants his team to be physical, and he wants to be able to run the ball consistently. To do so, he plans to lean heavily on Giordano, Quinones and Diaz.

"We love that responsibility," Giordano said.

The group has been slightly split this season in order to make the Sharks' line that much more effective. Giordano remains at center and Diaz at left tackle, while Quinones has shifted to right tackle. Junior Justin Tew and senior Will Bramlett fill in the gaps on the line this season as the new left and right guards, respectively.

"There is a chemistry that we have," Diaz said, "and we're trying to get that with the whole line."

The trio wants to expand "The Bermuda Triangle" to include their new line mates. The key, they say, is for Tew and Bramlett to prove their worthy by continuing to work hard.

Hard work is what Giordano, Quinones and Diaz pride themselves on, and it's the trait they believe leads to respect. It's certainly the reason Gifford raves about his three senior linemen, each of whom he believes continues to get better.

"They're great kids to have and they're great kids to coach. All three of them really work their tails off," Gifford said. "Right now they're all pulling together and they're earning that name little by little every week."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

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