Kentucky high school football is less than two weeks away, with action kicking off on Friday, Aug. 23. In Class 6A, the division that holds Kentucky’s largest schools, no Northern Kentucky-area school has won the state championship since 6A was created in 2007.
All three Northern Kentucky schools, Campbell County, Ryle and Simon Kenton, have had good seasons in that time, with Simon Kenton making the state championship game in 2008, but none have gotten over the hump. The exciting thing about a new football season: This could always be the year.
Below, with the teams listed alphabetically, is a preview of each of the three Northern Kentucky-area teams in Class 6A.
Campbell County Camels
2023: 3-8, made first round of Class 6A playoffs
Head coach: Brian Weinrich
Returning players: QB Lucas Anthrop, RB/DB Trevor Bertram, WR/DB Garyn Jackson, WR/DB Xavier Fancher, DL Mason Haywood, LB/RB Aiden Dowds, LB Lockland Carmichael, DB/WR Blake Funston
Outlook: Campbell County’s offense will have a new look in 2024 with the graduation of starting quarterback and leading rusher Nathan Smith. Rising junior Lucas Anthrop was the only other listed quarterback on the roster to throw a pass in 2023, so he’ll be in the mix for the Camels’ starting job.
Of the five Camels who rushed for over 100 yards in 2023, two will return. Trevor Bertram will likely take over most of the rushing duties, and he saw success in 2023, rushing for 4.7 yards per carry and three touchdowns on 62 attempts. The other of those rushers returning is Garyn Jackson, who also led the team in receptions (48) and receiving yards (642) last season. Whoever ends up being the Campbell County first-year signal caller, he will have a strong weapon in Jackson. Xavier Fancher, who finished second on the 2023 team in receptions and receiving yards and first in receiving touchdowns, will also be a nice outlet for the new quarterback.
On defense, the team returns six of its top 12 tacklers from 2023. Rising senior linebacker Aiden Dowds will be a strong leader in the middle of the defense after recording 56 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks as a junior. Jackson and Blake Funston will head up the defensive back corps after strong junior seasons. Along the defensive line, the Camels will look to Mason Haywood, who could break out after having two sacks last year.
Ryle Raiders
2023: 8-5, made Class 6A state quarterfinals
Head coach: Mike Engler
Returning players: QB/DB Nathan Verax, RB/LB Jacob Savage, WR/DB Landon Lorms, WR/DB Dylan Lee, WR/LB Gavin Lyons, OL/DL Jake Stewart, DE/TE Dillon Smith, DE/TE Bo Gay, LB/WR Kai Workman, LB/WR Beau Faul, LB/RB Jaden Galicia, LB/RB Carson Jenkins, DB/WR Drake Meadows, DB L.J. Warner
Outlook: Quarterback Logan Verax won’t be back in 2023 after throwing for 3,279 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. That loss will affect all areas of the Ryle offense because Verax also rushed for 456 yards and seven touchdowns. Last year’s backup was Logan’s brother Nathan Verax, who completed 14-of-25 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns last season. It’s likely a Verax will still be behind center for Ryle in 2024.
Returning with the younger Verax will Ryle’s top running back from last season, Jacob Savage, who rushed for 380 yards and seven touchdowns, and four of the top six pass catchers from last season. Landon Lorms, who caught 91 passes for 1,023 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, and Dylan Lee, who went for 782 yards and 10 touchdowns on 45 catches, will headline the receiver group. Grady Reynolds, who recorded 717 yards and three touchdowns last season, will be the biggest loss among the receiving corps, but Ryle should have the depth to deal with it.
The 2023 Ryle defense was an extremely young unit, and it finished near the middle of Class 6A for points allowed per game. Returning 13 of 15 players who had 20 or more tackles last season, the unit is in a good spot. Savage will be one of its stars after recording 163 tackles in 2023, and so will defensive end Dillon Smith, who had six sacks. There is more experience all around the Ryle defense in 2024, which should make the unit better than it was in 2023. If the offense can keep pace, Ryle could be one of the best teams in Class 6A this season.
Simon Kenton Pioneers
2023: 5-5, made first round of Class 6A playoffs
Head coach: Roy Lucas
Returning players: QB Brady Lee, RB/DB Durell Turner, WR Grayson Harris, WR Tysin Weaver, LB Aven Bohms, LB/RB Landon Brown, LB Brayden Shoborg, DB Hayden Blair, DB Tucker Ober, DB Colton Farfsing
Outlook: Simon Kenton’s passing offense has a chance to improve in 2024, with multiple players being more experienced. Starting quarterback Brady Lee returns for his senior season after throwing for 2,245 yards, rushing for 442 more and totaling 29 touchdowns last season.
The team returns its top two receivers, Grayson Harris and Tysin Weaver. Weaver recorded 603 receiving yards and six touchdowns as just a freshman in 2023. Nathan Kitchens and Carter Blades, who combined for nearly 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last season, won’t be back, but both Weaver and Harris are positioned to step up this year. Star running back Durell Turner (1,401 yards, 7.2 yards per carry, 13 touchdowns in 2023) will not be back after transferring to Anderson before this season. Other than Turner and Lee, no other player on Simon Kenton’s roster rushed for more than 100 yards last season. The running back situation is a big question mark, but the offense scored the second-most points per game in Class 6A last season. If the Pioneers can find a productive running back or two, the offense could be even better in 2023.
The Pioneers’ defense finished in the bottom half of the class in points allowed per game last year. If it can improve, Simon Kenton could be a state championship contender this season. The unit’s top two tacklers, Aven Bohms and Landon Brown, return to form a formidable linebacker duo in the middle of the defense. Brayden Schoborg had four sacks last season as a sophomore. Overall, the Simon Kenton defense returns six of its top 12 tacklers from last season, but the top players are good enough to make for a strong unit if the depth can fill in well.
Note: All stats are from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association website.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kentucky high school football: NKY teams aim for Class 6A state title
