The NKyTribune will be featuring each of the 21 high school football teams in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties leading up to the first games of the 2017 season on Aug. 18. We will then provide focused coverage of our local teams throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
By Evan Merrill
NKyTribune contributor
A weight lifted off their shoulders. That’s the best way to describe the Dayton Greendevils’ mentality entering the 2017 high school football season.
Dayton running back Xavier Hundemer, center, had one of his best rushing games in a win over Bellevue last season. (Photo from Dayton football team)
Last year, Dayton defeated neighboring rival Bellevue for the first time since 2007 and got off to a 2-2 start before injuries started piling up. The Greendevils lost a district game to the Tigers, 7-0, later in the season and ended up with a 2-9 record, but several returning players gained valuable varsity experience.
That’s why Dayton coach Chad Montgomery said this year’s team has set its sights on posting a winning record.
“As far as the small schools go, aside from the ones with continued success, you have a group every five to 10 years that can actually do something,” Montgomery said. “We really feel this group can get that turned around for us.”
The coach is pushing the senior class that includes running back Xavier Hundemer and quarterback Seth Chinn to lead by example and interact more with their younger teammates so keep them engaged.
“That’s one of our coach’s big things,” Hundemer said. “He needs us to step up and be leaders. We worked really hard over the off-season and we’re hoping we can take over that role.”
Hundemer, who rushed for 457 yards last season, had one of his best games in the 14-13 win over Bellevue. He picked up 144 yards and scored a touchdown that night. This season, he’ll be running behind a revamped offensive line that includes several first-year starters.
“We fixed our offense to be quicker and faster,” coach Montgomery said. “It’ll definitely benefit Xavier too, just some of the blocking schemes we put in. I think they’ll get the job done for him.”
One thing Hundemer and his offensive teammates need to improve on is red zone efficiency. Last year, the Greendevils scored only eight touchdowns in 28 red zone trips for a disappointing 28.5 percent conversion rate.
“We moved the ball pretty well,” Hundemer said, “but we always had the big play (breakdown) that shot ourselves in the foot. I feel like we weren’t disciplined and focused last year. We have to change that this year.”
With a thin roster once again, the Greendevils hope to avoid major injuries like the ones that depleted their starting lineup last season.
“I hate to use that because all the small schools deal with it, but if we do (avoid injuries) you’ll definitely see, as far as the record goes, you’ll see a dramatic improvement,” coach Montgomery said. “Last season, we were doing pretty well, then lost five games in the fourth quarter. That was with a depleted roster. We just can’t sustain one injury, we have no depth this year. A couple key guys might go down, the record (then] might reflect it, but we’ve definitely improved over the years.”
Dayton opens the season against Brossart and then renews the area’s longest standing rivalry with a game at Bellevue. But the Class A district game between the two schools on Oct. 13 is the one that means the most. The winner will gain possession of “The Paddle” traveling trophy.
“They still have the paddle. They still have the bragging rights,” coach Montgomery said. “Playing them twice, those games should be dogfights, is what they should be, but we’re hoping our kids have the confidence that they can play with those guys now.”
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
2016 SEASON: 2-9 record, lost in first round of Class 1A playoffs.
DISTRICT: Class 1A, District 4 with Beechwood, Bellevue and Ludlow.
HEAD COACH: Chad Montgomery (12-24 in six seasons at Dayton).
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 – at Brossart, 7 p.m.
Aug. 25 – at Bellevue, 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 – PENDLETON COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15 – TRIMBLE COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 – at Bracken County, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29 – EMINENCE, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 – LUDLOW, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 – BELLEVUE, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 – at Beechwood, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27 – at Carroll County, 7:30 p.m.
