By sports reporter Terry Boehmker, NKyTribune
On Thursday, Dayton High School football players will start preseason drills on a brand-new artificial turf field that is a component of a $15 million sports complex being constructed on land next to the high school.
The multipurpose stadium should be finished by the football team’s first home game versus Pendleton County on August 29, according to head coach Jesse Herbst. The Greendevils have been practicing and playing at O.W. Davis Field, which was constructed in the 1930s, for the past 90 years.
Herbst, a former Dayton football player who has served as the team’s head coach for the past six seasons, stated that this is long overdue and greatly needed.
On the land between Dayton High School and Lincoln Elementary School, which the school board acquired over a number of years, a field house is also being constructed. It will offer indoor practice spaces, such as softball and baseball batting cages.
In April 2024, the Dayton athletic complex’s foundation was laid. Bellevue and Newport Central Catholic started comparable programs six months later.
For football, soccer, and track, NewCath is constructing its first on-campus athletic center. Bellevue is renovating Ben Flora Gymnasium and Leo Gilligan Field. The artificial grass playing fields at the two locations are not yet complete.
Only on July 10th are high school football teams allowed to practice without making contact while wearing helmets. To get ready for the season-opening games on August 22, full-pad practice can start on August 1.
Football teams from Northern Kentucky participated in three of the six state championship games last season.
Beechwood defeated Owensboro Catholic 50-34 to reclaim the Class 2A championship. Bowling Green defeated Cooper 37-20 in the Class 5A final, and Louisville Trinity defeated Ryle 42-23 to win the Class 6A championship.
St. Henry High School’s varsity football season will begin this year. Under seasoned head coach Tim Odom, the Crusaders started their move to varsity competition last year by participating in freshman and junior varsity games.
With new head coaches, Simon Kenton, Holmes, and Conner, three area football teams, will start preseason practices.
In January, Joe Wynn assumed leadership of the Simon Kenton program, and in May, Holmes elevated assistant coach Jon Hopkins to head coach. Shortly after longtime head coach Dave Trosper passed away unexpectedly in June, Conner hired Noel Rash.
