2022 Prep Football Previews: Versatile senior among eight returning defensive starters for Walton-Verona


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 Blake Lehmann

NKyTribune sports reporter

Coming off the heels of a 9-4 season and appearance in the region finals of the Class 2A state playoffs, Walton-Verona’s football team is looking for strong play from a defensive unit that features six returning starters this year.

The veterans includes senior linebackers Chris Harward and Logan Ryan, who were two of the leading tacklers on last year’s team with 66 and 60, respectively.

Logan Ryan, No. 15, was one of Walton-Verona’s best pass rushers last season with eight quarterback sacks. (Photo from beechwoodphotos.com)

“We’ve got a lot of experienced guys coming back even though a lot of our seniors (from last year) graduated,” Ryan said. “I’m pretty confident in ourselves on the (defensive) back half.”

Last year, the Wildcats’ defense held opponents to 203 yards and 19 points per game. Coach Jeff Barth said he’s very hopeful that this year’s group will surpass those numbers and contribute to another winning season.

“We’re certainly shooting for it,” Barth said. “We certainly feel like our defense will be a strong point for us this year compared to last year’s group and groups before then. We try to play good, complimentary football and win games.”

The coach said Ryan is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound hybrid defensive player the team uses at defensive end and linebacker to make plays. Last season, he tallied 13.5 tackles for loss, including eight quarterback sacks.

“He’s just an all-around good athlete,” Barth said of Ryan, who is also a standout on the Walton-Verona lacrosse team. “He’s just got a great motor. He flies around to the football and he’s strong. And he’s also got great length, keeping offensive players at bay with his reach. He’s a student of the game and coachable.”

On the offensive side of the ball, Walton-Verona had to find and develop replacements for last year’s leading passer, top two rushers and four starting linemen during preseason practice.

Walton-Verona coach Jeff Barth

Most of them graduated last spring, but running back Tyson Beach, who rushed for 1,287 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore, transferred to Princeton High School in Ohio.

That means Ryan could be seeing more playing time on offense and moving around to different positions. Barth mentioned putting him at tight end and jumping in at running back for some plays.

“We’ve got him being more of a slot tight end type, but he’ll also get some carries out of that, maybe (play) as a lineman as well,” Barth said. “He’s a kid that we’re going to give to on the ground a few times because he’s a good enough athlete and we’ve got to find ways to give him the ball.”

Ryan said he doesn’t expect to have a heavier workload on offense, but he’s ready for whatever is thrown at him.

“I’m not expecting to be the best guy out there or take all of the reps like you’d expect out of Tyson (last year),” he said. “But I do expect to have a bigger role.”

With the main cogs in the running game gone and several first-year starters on the offensive line, Barth said the Bearcats’ usual run-oriented offensive scheme could become more pass friendly.

“This year we’re probably going to throw the football a little bit more than we have in the past,” he said.

WALTON-VERONA BEARCATS
2021 SEASON: 
 9-4 record, lost in third round of Class 2A playoffs.
DISTRICT:  Class 2A, District 5 with Carroll County, Gallatin County, Owen County, Louisville Shawnee.
HEAD COACH:  Jeff Barth (104-54 in 13 seasons at Walton-Verona).

2022 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 – SCOTT, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 – vs. Holy Cross at Thomas More, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 – at Grant County, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 – NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 – at Boone County, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 – GALLATIN COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 – at Carroll County, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 – at Owen County, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 – LOUISVILLE SHAWNEE, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 – TRIMBLE COUNTY, 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
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
DIXIE HEIGHTS COLONELS
RYLE RAIDERS
LLOYD JUGGERNAUTS

HOLY CROSS INDIANS


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