Walton-Verona Football 2025 Preview: Following the unpredictable season of last year, coach of Walton-Verona now has a more seasoned football team for the upcoming season.
The Walton-Verona Bearcats are preparing for the 2024 season under the leadership of head coach Gary Pence, who is entering his second year at the helm. After a challenging first season that saw a 1-5 start, the team rallied to finish strong, winning four games in a row and qualifying for the Class 2A playoffs.
Key to the Bearcats' success this season will be senior quarterback Avery Howe, who missed six games last season due to injury but returned to lead the team to four straight wins. Howe ended the season with 685 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, and is expected to anchor an attack built around his decision-making.
Senior wide receiver Brayden Donato is one of Howe's main targets in the air. Donato is expected to be the leading receiver for the Walton-Verona Bearcats this season, as Michael Oldfield, the leading receiver from last season, sustained a dislocated knee during the spring and may not return until October.
The Bearcats are returning 9 starters on offense and 6 starters on defense, which includes a top receiver in Michael Oldfield, who had 39 catches for 642 yards and 10 touchdowns before his injury. AJ Yutze, the top returnee on defense, recorded a team-high 99 tackles last season.
Coach Pence is also looking forward to several younger players stepping in and filling the gaps left by offseason injuries. Andrew Lynn, a sophomore, is being considered to fill the void left by Carter Daniels, who accounted for 70 percent of the team's rushing yards and scored 10 touchdowns last season. Cooper Burch, a junior, made 79 tackles last season and is one of the returning starters in the defensive backfield.
The Walton-Verona Bearcats' 2025 schedule includes games against Brossart, Ludlow, Boone County, Harrison County, Bracken County, Beechwood, Gallatin County, Owen County, St. Henry, and Grant County. Important games in the schedule feature a September 26 road game at Bracken County and an October 3 home game against defending Class 2A champion Beechwood.
Coach Pence emphasizes the benefit of having a full offseason for teaching and preparing the team, now entering his second season after a 5-6 campaign in 2023. The Bearcats aim to improve their home record, having been 0-5 at home and 5-1 on the road last season. With a strong returning core and high expectations, the Walton-Verona Bearcats are poised for a successful 2024 season.
Boone County is included in the 2025 schedule of the Walton-Verona Bearcats, a team based in northern Kentucky. The Bearcats realize the importance of maintaining good health for their players, especially senior quarterback Avery Howe, who missed part of the 2023 season due to injury. In his absence, the team relied on sports analysis to understand and address flashpoints. With Avery Howe back in form, the Bearcats are expected to have a strong American-football season in the NCAA, following a successful 2024 campaign under head coach Gary Pence. The team aims to improve their home record, having been 0-5 at home and 5-1 on the road last season, which could propel them to victory against opponents, including Beechwood, the defending Class 2A champion.
