RIVERSIDE — The California School for the Deaf-Riverside football program’s transition from underdog to top dog was chronicled in the recently-published book “The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory” by New York Times correspondent Thomas Fuller. A Disney+ series inspired by the CSDR football program success and starring Oscar-winning actor Troy Kotsur (“CODA”) is still in the works. CSD-Riverside’s head coach Keith Adams signs to his team after the Cubs defeated Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Darius Zarembka #15 hits Hesperia Christian runner in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Darius Zarembka #15 is kicked in the head after blocking a punt by Hesperia Christian Sam Montoro #10 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Gio Visco #2 scrambles and breaks free from Hesperia Christian defensive end Roderick Taylor #42 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Lucas Gough #10 and CSD-Riverside’s Xavier Gamboa #25 stop Hesperia Christian Gabriel Sanchez #3 in the backfield in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Kaden Adams #5 signs to teammates against Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Gio Visco #2 runs for a touchdown after the catch against Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Gio Visco #2 celebrates his touch down catch with quarterback Kaden Adams #5 against Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) California School for the Deaf-Riverside defeated Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Xavier Gamboa #25 sacks Hesperia Christian Nathaniel Renner #17 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s head coach Keith Adams gets his point across to CSD-Riverside’s Kaden Adams #5 against Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Xavier Gamboa #25 and CSD-Riverside’s Lucas Gough #10 stop Hesperia Christian Gabriel Sanchez #3 in the backfield in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside player from left Luca Visco #8, Darius Zarembka #15, Kaden Adams #5 and CSD-Riverside’s head coach Keith Adams celebrate in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s head coach Keith Adams con graduates players after a touchdown against Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Kaden Adams #5 leads the team through warmups before playing Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) From left CSD-Riverside’s Darius Zarembka #15, Kaden Adams #5 and Gio Visco #2 celebrate their victory over Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Kaden Adams #5 questions a non-call from an official against Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Xavier Gamboa #25 signs to his coach against Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hesperia Christian Jackson Lake #81 tries to make the catch over CSD-Riverside’s Morgan Hawkins #9 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Lucas Gough #10 cools off during a timeout against Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hesperia Christian Gabriel Sanchez #3 is tackled by CSD-Riverside’s Xavier Gamboa #25 and CSD-Riverside’s Lucas Gough #10 for a loss in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Kaden Adams signs as he talks with the media after defeating Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Chris Bonita #50 sacks Hesperia Christian Nathaniel Renner #17 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Morgan Hawkins #9 is taken down after he catch by Hesperia Christian Nathaniel Renner #17 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hesperia Christian Noah Griffin #87 runs for a first down as CSD-Riverside’s Lucas Gough #10 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Matthew Silvay #1, left battles to recover Hesperia Christian Nathaniel Renner #17 fumble in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Darius Zarembka #15 reaches for the first down as Hesperia Christian Nathaniel Renner #17 tackles him after the catch in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hesperia Christian Jackson Lake #81 makes the catch in front of CSD-Riverside defenders in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hesperia Christian Noah Griffin #87 fumbles the ball right into the hands of CSD-Riverside’s wide receiver Ziak Valencia-Biskupiak #23 after the catch in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Hesperia Christian Noah Griffin #87 fumbles the ball right into the hands of CSD-Riverside’s wide receiver Ziak Valencia-Biskupiak #23 after the catch in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Darius Zarembka #15 blocks the punt of Hesperia Christian’s Sam Montoro #10 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s David Ortiz #28 forces the fumble as he sacks Hesperia Christian Nathaniel Renner #17 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Gio Visco #25 recovers the fumble forced by CSD-Riverside’s David Ortiz as he sacks Hesperia Christian Nathaniel Renner #17 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Matthew Silvay #1 runs for a touchdown after the catch against Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s wide receiver Ziak Valencia-Biskupiak #23 runs back a pick-six against Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Darius Zarembka #15 celebrates after catching a two point conversion against Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s head coach Keith Adams celebrates as the Cubs defeat Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Darius Zarembka talks with the media after defeating Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Luca Visco #8 breaks up a pass intended for Hesperia Christian Preston Leighton #9 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Xavier Gamboa #25 gets the facemark of Hesperia Christian Nathaniel Renner #17 as he sacks him in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Kai Davis #13 signs after defeating Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside’s Xavier Gamboa #25 and CSD-Riverside’s Darius Zarembka #15 block the punt of Hesperia Christian Sam Montoro #10 in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CSD-Riverside defenders stop Hesperia Christian Gabriel Sanchez #3 in the backfield for a loss in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) California School for the Deaf-Riverside walk onto the field arm in air to play Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Show Caption1 of 43CSD-Riverside’s head coach Keith Adams signs to his team after the Cubs defeated Hesperia Christian in a nonleague football game in Riverside on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) Expand This is an incredible story that has unfolded over the past four years. But the Cubs hope there are a few more chapters left to tell. CSDR has reached the championship round of CIF Southern Section 8-player football playoffs each of the past three seasons, winning the Division 1 crown in 2022 and the Division 2 title in 2023 after finishing as the Division 1 runner-up in 2021. The two section titles were the first of their kind in the school’s history. And the Cubs are looking to keep the remarkable run going by making it a 3-peat this season. “The goal is to keep the dynasty going,” CSDR football coach Keith Adams said through American Sign Language interpreter Mark Bayarsky following the Cubs’ 60-6 victory over Hesperia Christian on Thursday afternoon. “There is no longer the felling of we’re just lucky and happy to be here. The expectations and standards for this program have changed over the years. The goal every year is to be playing for a championship.” And things are looking good for the Cubs at the moment. CSDR improved to 5-0 with Thursday’s victory and are favored to win the four remaining contests in the regular season, starting with next Saturday’s homecoming game versus the Texas School for the Deaf. CSDR almost certainly will return to the Division 1 level of the CIF Southern Section 8-player playoffs this season. The Cubs currently are No. 2 in the Calpreps.com rankings that will help determine playoff seedings. Flintridge Prep holds the No. 1 spot in the rankings, while Faith Baptist, the school CSDR has squared off against in those previous three championship games, is ranked third. “The biggest thing for us is staying healthy,” senior quarterback and linebacker Kaden Adams said through the interpreter. “I believe if that happens, we can go out there and play our game and get the job done. We have to be smart, play sharp and fight, fight, fight.” CSDR does have a solid football tradition, but postseason success long eluded the program while the Cubs were still playing the more traditional 11-player game. As the school’s enrollment dwindled, however, a decision was made in 2018 to make the switch to the 8-player game. CSDR scored the program’s first playoff victory the following season, as the Cubs defeated St. Michael’s Prep in a Division 2 opener. That 2019 team featured a group of talented freshmen, and another strong class was on its way. But then came the COVID-19 pandemic. CSDR is a boarding school that serves deaf students throughout Southern California. There were no in-person classes that school year at CSDR, which also meant no athletics. The football team returned to action during the fall of 2021, going 659 days between games. Media outlets took notice of what the Cubs were achieving, starting with a Southern California News Group story in September of 2021. CSDR continued to pile up the wins, and journalists from across the nation — including Fuller — quickly jumped on the story, as well. The quest that season came up short, as Faith Baptist routed the Cubs 74-22 in the championship game. The defeat hurt but also provided motivation for the next season. CSDR returned the favor, rolling to an 80-26 win over the Contenders in the 2022 final. The two programs squared off in a section final for a third consecutive season, with the Cubs pulling out a 54-42 victory last year. Darius Zarembka, a receiver, safety and kicker, is one of five players on this year’s team that have been part of the four-year journey. “This has been amazing ride,” Zarembka said through the interpreter. “The goal is to carry the legacy and not rest on our past laurels. All of us remember the feeling of losing that first championship game. That was heartbreaking and we don’t want it to happen again.” Zarembka said the chemistry and bonds players have built over these past four seasons have been instrumental to the program’s success. “We are a connected group on and off the field,” Zarembka said. “It’s a brotherhood and a family. We’re working together for a common purpose. … We don’t put each other down. We stay supportive of one another and that carries us to the goals we are trying to achieve.” CSDR put on quite a show Thursday afternoon. The Cubs scored on all seven of their possessions in the first half to build a 52-6 lead. Kaden Adams threw three touchdown passes for the Cubs, and juniors Gio Visco and Matthew Silvay each scored three touchdowns. “I think if we play smart and keep mistakes to a minimum, we have a good chance to play for another championship,” Keith Adams said. “It has been special to coach this team the past few years and accomplish what we have. … Hopefully this story is not finished yet.”