Four Boone County-area football programs landed in the Cincinnati Enquirer's preseason top-10 Northern Kentucky rankings published Friday, all chasing the same destination: Kroger Field in Lexington.
The motivation is personal. For the first time since 1978, no Northern Kentucky team reached the KHSAA state championship games in 2025. That ended a 47-year streak of NKY representation in the state finals.
The Ryle Raiders, Cooper Jaguars, Conner Cougars and Boone County Rebels all appear in the Enquirer's NKY list as the 2026 season kicked off Thursday and Friday nights across the region.
Ryle reloads at Borland Stadium
Ryle, which reached the Class 6A state championship game in 2024, enters 2026 ranked inside the top six of a separate statewide preseason poll. But head coach Mike Engler's squad faces significant turnover after graduating quarterback Nathan Verax and running back Jacob Savage.
The Raiders' identity may shift to defense, where senior Evan Kincaid returns after tying for third in Kentucky with seven interceptions in 2025. On offense, Kincaid joins Andrew Smith and state champion sprinter Cruze Sauley in a retooled receiving corps, with Max Parsons anchoring the offensive line.
Ryle hosted Covington Catholic on Aug. 20 at Borland Stadium in Union. The Raiders had won the last two meetings against the Colonels, snapping a six-game CovCath winning streak in the series.
Cooper rides momentum
The Cooper Jaguars earned a No. 8 ranking in a statewide preseason top-25 poll after a last-minute win over Ryle closed their 2025 campaign on a high note, according to a statewide ranking.
Conner starts fresh under Floyd
In Hebron, the Conner Cougars begin a new chapter under first-year head coach Chase Floyd after a year of significant adversity for the program. Quarterback Ethan Estvanko leads the offense as the Cougars look to improve on a 2025 season that ended with a 7-48 first-round playoff loss to Scott County.
Conner opens at Madison Central on Aug. 21 with a Week 2 home matchup against Ryle on Aug. 28.
Boone County eyes improvement
The Boone County Rebels open at Holmes on Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Florence's program faces a steep climb. MaxPreps lists the Rebels at No. 158 in Kentucky. A district showdown with Conner on Oct. 2 looms as an early measuring stick.
What's next
Conner hosts Ryle on Aug. 28 in a Week 2 clash between two Boone County-area programs with playoff aspirations.
