The Ryle Raiders kick off the 2026 football season Aug. 21, hosting Covington Catholic at 7 p.m. at Borland Stadium in Union. It will be the 13th meeting between the programs in 14 seasons, and both teams must replace their starting quarterbacks and running backs.

Ryle, ranked No. 19 in the Sports Illustrated Kentucky preseason Top 25, went 10-4 last fall and reached the Class 6A state semifinals before falling to South Warren. As we reported in late July, the Raiders graduated QB Nathan Verax, running back Jacob Savage (now at Indiana University) and their top two receivers.

Sophomore Brody Smith, who has not attempted a pass in a varsity game, takes over at quarterback. Coach Mike Engler praised Smith's arm in an Aug. 3 NKyTribune preview, saying Smith can throw the ball accurately and run when needed, though the Raiders won't use him as a runner the way they did Verax.

Smith will throw behind a veteran offensive line anchored by junior tackle Max Parsons (6-foot-4, 265 pounds), who holds Division I offers from Akron, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn and Miami of Ohio. Senior tackles Elliott Lageman and senior guard Max Neumann also return.

The defense may be the Raiders' calling card. Ryle allowed 17 points per game in 2025, and senior safety Evan Kincaid tied for third in Kentucky with seven interceptions. Kincaid will also line up at receiver alongside state champion sprinter Cruze Sauley and linebacker Andrew Smith, who had 58 tackles last season.

Engler enters his 12th season at Ryle with a 93-55 career record, three region titles and one state runner-up trophy. He needs seven wins to reach 100 career victories. "Keep us flying under the radar," Engler told the NKyTribune on Aug. 3. "I want people to think we're going to be down. I think we're going to be pretty good. If we stay healthy, we've got a chance to be really good."

Covington Catholic (No. 20 in the SI preseason poll) went 9-4 in 2025 and lost to Boyle County 49-14 in the Class 4A region finals. The Colonels must replace QB Cash Harney and RB Dylan Gaiser, who combined for 321 of CovCath's 375 offensive yards per game last season.

Junior Dylan Courtney moves from receiver to quarterback, while sophomore Kiyan Miller takes over at running back. Army commit Jonny Lind (6-foot-2, 270 pounds) anchors the offensive line, and Ball State commit Owen Pitzer returns at tight end after catching 17 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns.

On defense, junior linebacker Cash Myers led CovCath with 112 tackles in 2025, including 22 in a playoff game against Johnson Central. Coach Eddie Eviston, who is 120-30 in 11 seasons at CovCath, told the NKyTribune on Aug. 14: "By the end of the season, or maybe in just a few weeks, some of these names will start popping up."

All six Cincinnati Enquirer writers picked CovCath to win. Ryle has won the last two meetings in the series, snapping a six-game winning streak by the Colonels.

Ryle travels to Conner on Aug. 28 for Week 2.