The NKyTribune is 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
After getting off to a rough 0-2 start, the 2016 Walton-Verona football team rebounded well, winning a Class 2A district title and finishing with a 7-5 record after a narrow 13-10 loss to Holy Cross.
This year’s team has multiple starters back on defense and will feature a more balanced offensive attack, according to Bearcats’ head coach Jeff Barth.
After running the ball on 90 percent of its plays last year, Walton-Verona is looking to have a little more balance in its offensive attack. (Photo by Carla Martin)
“We expect to throw the ball more this year with (junior) Garrett Jones at quarterback … become a more balanced attack,” Barth said. “We really try to design around what we have.”
Jones is a better passer than last year’s quarterback Scott Pettyjohn, a running back who was converted to that position. That means the Bearcats will be able to open up their offensive a little more after averaging less than 30 passing yards per game in 2016.
“It’ll be an adjustment, but I think it’s going to make us even tougher to prepare for,” Barth said. “In the past, teams would just say, ‘If you shut down their run, we can beat them.’ Hopefully our passing game is able to complement our running game more than it has in the past.”
The Bearcats’ rushing attack will still be featured, just not nearly as much as last year. Instead of a 95-to-5 ratio of run to pass, Barth expects it to be 70-to-30 this year. To make the offensive adjustment, the team is relying on senior leadership from running back Mason Smith,wide receiver Zach Clinkenbeard and lineman Colton Catlett, among others.
“Coach definitely expects a lot out of us seniors this year,” Smith said.”We have quite a bit of them and they’re supposed to step up. This year could be our year.”
Coach Jeff Barth
This is Smith’s final season of football. He’s an outstanding wrestler who made a commitment to attend West Point and compete in that sport. He’s currently recovering from shoulder surgery, but he’s expected to return within the first couple weeks of the season and play running back and linebacker once again. Last year, he rushed for 261 yards and two touchdowns on offense and recorded 78 tackles on defense.
Walton-Verona has several other starters returning from a defensive unit that put up some good numbers last season. In their last 10 games, the Bearcats posted four shutouts and allowed 3 and 7 points in two other games. They won their four district games by scores of 36-0, 35-0, 21-3 and 52-13.
“Collectively as a unit, I feel we have the ability to be an even better defensive unit this year with as many guys returning as we have,” coach Barth said. “Our offense has probably gotten more press over the last seven or eight years, but really we like to think of ourselves as a defensive-minded team. We’re really excited about the guys we have coming back.”
After seeing their potential and development a season ago, this group of Bearcats is excited for the 2017 season to begin and compete for another district title.
“I can’t wait for the season to start,” Smith said. “We’re just young, and this year, as well as coming years, we’re just going to get after it — continue to be district champs, and hopefully make it to state.”
WALTON-VERONA BEARCATS
2016 SEASON: 7-5 record, lost in second round of Class 2A playoffs.
DISTRICT: Class 2A, District 5 with Carroll County, Gallatin County, Owen County, and Trimble County.
HEAD COACH: Jeff Barth (60-34 in eight seasons at Walton-Verona).
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 – at East Jessamine, 6 p.m.
Aug. 25 – at Kentucky County Day, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 1 – HOLMES, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 – HOLY CROSS, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 15 – at Lexington Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 – OWEN COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 – at Trimble County, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 13 – CARROLL COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 20 – at Gallatin County, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 27 – at Bellevue, 7 p.m.
Other NKyTribune prep football previews:
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
COVINGTON CATHOLIC COLONELS
BISHOP BROSSART MUSTANGS
