Four downs with Campbell County

Campbell County football coach Brian Weinrich was asked who his starters would be this season.

“If you know that, let me know,” Weinrich said. “We’ve got a lot of depth at a lot of positions, which is a good problem.”

The Camels task is certain: replacing 26 seniors from last year’s 3-8 squad. 

“We feel like we’re deep in offensive line, running back, wide receiver, tight end,” Weinrich said. “We’re going to be able to use personnel packages and formations that are going to benefit us.”

FIRST DOWN — RECAP

The 2023 football season seemed promising – until it turned sour with some close calls.

After a 56-7 opening night win over Scott, Campbell County dropped games to three of Kentucky’s strongest teams – Class 2A state semifinalist Beechwood (50-7), 5A semifinalist Highlands (67-35) and 5A runner-up Cooper (38-14).

It got worse, and not only because it took the Camels the aforementioned three weeks to score another 56 points. 

“Last year was sort of a learning experience, let’s just say that,” senior nose guard Mason Haywood said. “We learned, mostly, we need to finish.”

A win over Newport Central Catholic, losses to Harrison (the Wildcats reached the third round of the Ohio Division II playoffs), Ryle and Simon Kenton (37-36 in overtime and 27-21, respectively), a win over Great Crossing and losses to Covington Catholic to finish the regular season and Bullitt East in the 6A playoffs. Two of those losses came in overtime, one to Ryle and the other to Bullitt East. The Simon Kenton loss came on a Pioneers Hail Mary to end the game.

The Camels scored 271 points and allowed 385. Weinrich hopes his team learned at least one lesson.

“You’ve got to be focused on everything every day,” Weinrich said. “You can’t just be good some of the time.”

SECOND DOWN — OFFENSE

A single word – payoff – is how Weinrich describes this season.

“The last couple years we’ve had a good group and not a lot of depth,” Weinrich said. “We’ve had a couple really good developing years at JV and freshman levels. It’s paying off right now.”

Yes, Campbell County graduated quarterback Nathan Smith and his 2,416 yards (1,575 passing and 841 rushing) and 27 touchdowns (11 passing and 16 rushing). Weinrich, however, doesn’t seem concerned – he said junior Lucas Anthrop (6-4, 195 pounds) and freshman Xander Guy (6-4, 190) are the early contenders.

Weinrich said Anthrop and Guy are so similar, he can only tell them apart by their shoes.

“They’re both built the same,” Weinrich said. “They’re both tall with strong arms.”

Seniors Garyn Jackson (6-1, 170), Xavier Fancher (6-1, 175) and Carson Clark (5-11, 170) are the top three candidates to catch the ball. Jackson amassed 642 receiving yards and 122 rushing.

If you don’t remember what Jackson did March 12 at Mason County’s Fieldhouse last March 12 against Harrison County, here’s a refresher: his five points included a right-wing 3-pointer at the buzzer that gave the Camels a 64-63 win – and the 10^thRegion title.

Seniors Blake Funston (5-11, 170) and Aiden Dowds (6-0, 215) and junior Trevor Bertram (5-9, 205) could share minutes in the backfield. Weinrich said the three are as dissimilar as Anthrop and Guy are alike.

“Dowds, he’s a downhill power runner that’s got good shiftiness,” Weinrich said. “Funston, he’s quick, he can make somebody miss in the hole … Bertram’s kind of a combo of the two; he’s got phenomenal speed like Blake does, and then he’s very strong – big legs, and he’s very powerful.”

Four starting spots appear certain: junior tight end Gavin Richardson (6-1, 195), center Liam VonHandorf (6-1, 220) and guards Dalton Turner (5-11, 245) and CovCath transfer Isaac Mason (5-11, 230).

A combination of sophomores, Connor Abercrombie (6-3, 280) and Max Mills (6-5, 260), a transfer from Hoover, Alabama, and junior Brayden Allender (6-3, 235) could split plays at tackle.

THIRD DOWN — DEFENSE

Look for Campbell County to run a 3-4 set.

Weinrich is willing to let the defensive assistants – Russell Harden (defensive coordinator), Zach Deaton (linemen), Jeremiah Sowards (linebackers) and Paul McKee (defensive backs) – run things.

“They know what they’re doing,” he said. “Let’s just keep that rolling and trust the defensive staff to do it. That’s what they’re comfortable with.”

Seniors comprise the front line – Haywood (5-10, 230) and ends Austin Thomas (6-1, 185) and Griffin Markus (5-11, 205). 

Senior Lockland Carmichael (5-10, 175) and Elijah Depperschmidt are the projected outside linebackers, with Mason and Dowds inside. Dowds’ 26 tackles last year included 11 for loss and four sacks.

Funston, whose 33 tackles are tops among the returnees, and Parker Kist (Weinrich calls him “Tuna”) are the cornerbacks. Jackson and senior Jacob Yates are the safeties.

FOURTH DOWN — GOALS/OUTLOOK

Campbell County’s regular-season features the same 10 teams. It’s hard finding a tougher lineup in Northern Kentucky – Beechwood in Fort Mitchell, home games with Highlands and Cooper, Newport Central Catholic (which made the Class A third round), Harrison, Simon Kenton and CovCath at home, Great Crossing in Georgetown and Ryle in Union.

Weinrich can tell by the 50 or so players who showed up to coach about 120 youngsters at a youth camp July 12; he believes his team cares about each other.

“We’re at the point now where we’re ready to start learning how to win and win every game,” Weinrich said. “We’re not showing up to try to get a winning record.”

To which Funston added: “To me, as long as we play good and we give it our all and everybody knows they tried their best and leaves it all out on the field, if we play a great game, play a great team and they had a great game as well, I won’t think of it as a failure.”

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