The NKyTribune is featuring players on each of the 21 high school football teams in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties leading up to the first games of the 2022 season on Aug. 19. We will then provide focused coverage of our local teams throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
By Sarah Mae Wilson
NKyTribune sports reporter
Dayton football players celebrated the team’s first playoff win since 1998 last season, but the Greendevils lost their next game and finished with a 5-7 record that somewhat shaded their accomplishment.
“Having a winning record this year is very possible,” said returning quarterback Russell McIntyre. “It’s going to be hard to beat a team that doesn’t give up.”
Dayton quarterback Russell McIntyre tries to escape a Brossart defensive player in last year’s season opener. (Photo from bmustangs.com)
Last season, McIntyre passed for 571 yards and six touchdowns while also rushing for 272 yards and four TDs. The top two pass receivers and top two rushers on that team graduated, so he’s not sure what he’ll be called on to do.
“As for this year, we shall see what happens,” he said. “I want to win regardless if that’s through the air or on the ground.”
Dayton had 12 seniors on last year’s roster who helped turn the program around under coach Jesse Herbst. The Greendevils were 0-9 the season before he took over and they’ve gone 14-18 over the last three years.
Like most Class 1A teams from small schools, replacing 12 seniors isn’t easy. But McIntyre said a lot of new talent is stepping up so he’s not worried at all.
McIntyre knows a football team revolves around its quarterback. He strives to be the best version of himself on and off the field. If he does falter, he’ll rely on returning players like seniors Dylan Davis and Landyn Hopper and junior Mason Johnson to step up.
Russell McIntyre
Davis was one of team’s top tacklers last season with 68. The returning players on defense also include linemen Dangelo Jimenez and Nick Baldwin. McIntyre saw limited action at free safety, but he doubts if he’ll be needed there this season.
“That’s just not my place, especially when you have the guys we do on defense,” he said and added it’s possibly “the best combination of skill, technique, power and speed”
Last year, Dayton had a 3-3 record going into its three Class 1A district games. The Greendevils lost two of those games and finished the regular season with another loss. But they beat Ludlow in the first round of the playoffs before a season-ending loss to Newport Central Catholic.
In this year’s playoffs, teams from different districts will face off in the first round. That will present a new challenge for McIntyre and his determined Dayton teammates.
“When it comes to playoff time, it’s a brand new season, records reset, and that’s what myself, the coaches, and the other players are focused on — playoffs,” he said.
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
2021 SEASON: 5-7 record, lost in second round of Class 1A playoffs.
DISTRICT: Class 1A, District 4 with Bellevue, Ludlow, Newport Central Catholic.
HEAD COACH: Jesse Herbst (14-18 in three seasons at Dayton).
2022 SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 – at Pendleton County, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 – at Frankfort Western Hills, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9 – at Estill County, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 – LEXINGTON SAYRE, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 – BRACKEN COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 – at Bellevue, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 – NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 – at Ludlow, 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 – EMINENCE, 7:30 p.m.
Other NKyTribune prep football previews:
COOPER JAGUARS
HIGHLANDS BLUEBIRDS
CAMPBELL COUNTY CAMELS
HOLMES BULLDOGS
BROSSART MUSTANGS
COVINGTON CATHOLIC COLONELS
CONNER COUGARS
BELLEVUE TIGERS
LUDLOW PANTHERS
SIMON KENTON PIONEERS
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC THOROUGHBREDS
