{"id":255151,"date":"2025-08-02T05:34:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T05:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/255151\/"},"modified":"2025-08-02T05:34:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T05:34:14","slug":"2025-prep-football-previews-talented-ryle-team-has-potential-to-win-areas-first-class-6a-state-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/255151\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Prep Football Previews: Talented Ryle team has potential to win area’s first Class 6A state title"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dan Weber
NKyTribune sports reporter<\/p>\n

Like most football coaches in the preseason, Mike Engler hates to rank his Ryle Raiders too high.<\/p>\n

But with this team, this year, he has no choice. The numbers won\u2019t let him downplay his guys. Nor will the Ryle fans. \u201cExpectations are high,\u201d Engler says, admitting \u201cwe have a chance to be better than in 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n

So Engler has his Raiders, runners-up to a Louisville Trinity team that the guys from Union led going into the fourth quarter in last year\u2019s Class 6A state championship game, ranked No. 2 behind Trinity going into this season.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Ryle two-way starter Jacob Savage rushed for 1,056 yards, scored 22 touchdowns and made a team-high 141 tackles on last year\u2019s Class 6A runner-up team. (Photo by Dale Dawn)<\/p>\n

After all, Ryle does return nine starters on offense from that 12-3 team. \u201cTen if you count Dameyn (Anness),\u201d Engler says of the two-way senior running back\/strong safety transfer from Ludlow. He would also give the team seven starters back on defense.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s a problem for opponents since Anness (1,472 yards on 140 carries) will be lining up in the same\u00a0backfield with 230-pound Jacob Savage, the two-way star who Engler says should be the best football player in Northern Kentucky and a leading candidate for Kentucky\u2019s Mr. Football.<\/p>\n

Although exactly how he\u2019ll work the two together, Engler says he\u2019s not ready to divulge right now. All he\u2019ll say is \u201cthey will be on the field together.<\/p>\n

\u201dSavage is certainly the best linebacker in the state of Kentucky,\u201d Engler says of the four-year starter who made 141 tackles last season. And he not too shabby on offense, scoring 22 touchdowns while gaining 1,056 yards on his way to an Indiana program that made the 2024 College Football Playoffs.<\/p>\n

But is he the best player in Northern Kentucky? One media ranking has two quarterbacks listed ahead of him\u00a0\u2013 Cooper\u2019s Cam O\u2019Hara and Covington Catholic\u2019s Cash\u00a0Harney. That the Raiders will face both 5A Cooper and 4A CovCath early in the season \u201cwill add a little motivation\u201d to those games, Engler says. You can count on it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Ryle senior quarterback Nathan Verax passed for 2,374 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. (Photo by Dale Dawn)<\/p>\n

One thing Engler hopes he doesn\u2019t have to count on is a season where the Raiders had nine running clocks \u2013 the last eight straight \u2013 before they faced Trinity.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur starters hadn\u2019t played a full game in two months\u00a0and that probably hurt us at the end against Trinity,\u201d\u00a0Engler says of the shortened games thanks to Ryle\u2019s lopsided scores.<\/p>\n

Or maybe their opponents improved. \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ll get eight running clocks like that again,\u201d Engler says. But if they do, look for Ryle\u2019s starters to stay on the field longer.<\/p>\n

And with Nathan Verax back at quarterback (186 of 318 passing for 2,374 yards and 30 TD) and Kai Workman (93 tackles) lining up at linebacker next to Savage, that\u2019s\u00a0not good news for opponents.<\/p>\n

Nor is returning kicker Gavin Moses. \u201cHe may be the best kicker in the state,\u201d Engler says of Moses who was a perfect two-for-two on field goals longer than 40 yards.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur guys got a taste of it, they know what it takes to get\u00a0there,\u201d Engler says of his team with seven three-year\u00a0starters. \u201cIt takes a little luck. You could be good and not get there.\u201d And then there\u2019s this as the returning\u00a0favorites: \u201cThe bullseye is on your back.\u201d<\/p>\n

But on the front of their jerseys, it says \u201cRYLE.\u201d And if ever a Northern Kentucky team was going to win a 6A title, this might be the year. And the Raiders might be that team.<\/p>\n

RYLE RAIDERS\u2028\u2028
2024 SEASON: 12-3 record, lost in Class 6A state championship game.
STARTERS RETURNING: 9 offense, 6 defense.
DISTRICT:\u00a0Class 6A, District 6 with Campbell County, Great Crossing, Simon Kenton.
HEAD COACH:\u00a0Mike Engler (83-51 in 11 seasons at Ryle).<\/p>\n

2025 SCHEDULE
Aug. 22 \u2013 at Covington Catholic, 7 p.m.
Aug. 29 \u2013 CONNER, 7 p.m.
Sept. 5 \u2013 COOPER, 7 p.m.
Sept. 12 \u2013 CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LOUISVILLE, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19 \u2013 at Highlands, 7 p.m.
Sept. 26 \u2013 LEXINGTON TATES CREEK, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 10 \u2013 at Campbell County, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 \u2013 at Great Crossing, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24 \u2013 SIMON KENTON, 7 p.m.
Oct. 31 \u2013 DIXIE HEIGHTS, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

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