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 2018 season on Friday. We will then provide focused coverage of our local teams throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
By Evan Merrill
NKyTribune contributor
Jake Smith’s debut as starting quarterback for the Ryle football team did not go well last season. In the second game, the junior was replaced by Easton Pilyer and spent the next eight weeks in a back-up role.
When Pilyer suffered an injury during Ryle’s loss to Louisville Butler in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs, Smith came in as his replacement. But he still finished the season with fewer passing yards than one of the team’s running backs, who completed three option passes for 114 yards.
Smith will get another chance to prove himself his senior year. He’ll be under center once again Friday in the Raiders’ season opener against Covington Catholic, last year’s Class 5A state champion.
“Starting (last) year at quarterback and then losing that position, that really took a toll on me and my confidence, but I didn’t let that affect my play the rest of the season,” Smith said. “For me, looking back at last season, I saw a full circle. I started off at quarterback and finished the season at quarterback. I feel like quarterback is where I’m meant to be.”
Ryle was primarily a running team last year when all-state senior tailback Jake Chisholm picked up 2,313 yards on the ground and scored 33 touchdowns to set single-season team records in both categories. He also set a Northern Kentucky record by rushing for 450 yards and six touchdowns in one game.
“Jake Chisholm’s a great football player, probably one of the best, if not the best, running back I’ve ever coached,” said Ryle head coach Mike Engler. “But I think your program moves on. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy to replace Jake. But the one thing we had is so many returning starters around him.”
The Raiders will have four first-year starters on the offensive line in Friday’s game. The lone veteran is Jake Gideon, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound senior recruited by Western Michigan University.
“He’s one of those guys that is a leader,” Smith said of Gideon. “The other four linemen look up to him and they’ve all gotten much better, much stronger, better with technique, because of him.”
Ryle’s other returning starter in the backfield is Kyle England, who rushed for 460 yards and five touchdowns on just 62 carries last season. He expects to get the ball a lot more now that Chisholm is gone.
“He’s showing to be a really good threat, a really good player,” Smith said of England. “I think he’ll fill Chisholm’s shoes, maybe not to the point where he has one of the most historic games in Kentucky history, but he will have a substantial role on the team this year.”
Even though Smith got limited playing time at quarterback last season, the coaching staff has renewed confidence in his ability to run the offense.
“The summer he’s had has been way above what I even expected,” Engler said. “I personally think he’ll be one of the top, if not the top, quarterback in Northern Kentucky this year.”
On defense, the Raiders have senior linebacker Jackson Saladin returning. He made a team-high 107 tackles last season when the team allowed 272 yards per game.
“It’s pretty fun,” Saladin said of taking on a leadership role this season. “I enjoy it out there, getting those younger guys ready for those Friday nights.”
RYLE RAIDERS
2017 season: 8-3 record, lost in first round of Class 6A playoffs.
District: Class 6A, District 5 with Conner and Cooper.
Head coach: Mike Engler (34-14 in four seasons at Ryle).
2018 SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 – COVINGTON CATHOLIC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 24 – at Lexington Catholic, 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 – at Boone County, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7 – HIGHLANDS, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 – at Campbell County, 7 p.m..
Sept. 28 – at Indianapolis Cathedral (Ind.), 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 – COOPER, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 – at Conner, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 – SIMON KENTON, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 26 – DIXIE HEIGHTS, 7:30 p.m.
Other NKyTribune prep football previews:
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
DIXIE HEIGHTS COLONELS
COOPER JAGUARS
CONNER COUGARS
HIGHLANDS BLUEBIRDS
LUDLOW PANTHERS
BOONE COUNTY REBELS
HOLMES BULLDOGS
WALTON-VERONA BEARCATS
BROSSART MUSTANGS
NEWPORT WILDCATS
SCOTT EAGLES
CAMPBELL COUNTY CAMELS
SIMON KENTON PIONEERS
BELLEVUE TIGERS
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC THOROUGHBREDS
LLOYD JUGGERNAUTS