Beechwood and St. Henry will face a more dangerous Walton-Verona team when Class 2A District 5 play begins in late September, with the Bearcats returning 13 starters from a squad that earned its first playoff win in three years in 2025.
Walton-Verona finished 5-7 last season and lost to Beechwood 42-7 in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. But head coach Gary Pence brings back six offensive and seven defensive starters, headlined by two-way standouts AJ Yutze and Cooper Burch, who combined for 220 tackles and earned NKY Division III all-conference honors, according to the Northern Kentucky Tribune.
"AJ Yutze and Cooper Burch are the leaders of our team. They're two of the best inside backs I've ever been around," Pence told the Tribune on Aug. 11.
Junior running back Andrew Lynn, who rushed for 744 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2025, returns behind an offensive line anchored by seniors Samuel Koester and Bishop Riddell. Sophomore Braxton Parr won the offseason quarterback competition and is listed as QB-1.
That veteran core matters for Beechwood and St. Henry because District 5 playoff seeding runs through head-to-head results among six teams: Beechwood, St. Henry, Walton-Verona, Bracken County, Gallatin County and Owen County.
What it means for Beechwood
The Tigers, under eight-time state champion coach Noel Rash, remain the district favorite. Rash returned to the Fort Mitchell program in May after Jay Volker accepted a teaching position in Ohio. Beechwood won the 2024 Class 2A state title under Volker and captured three straight titles (2020-22) under Rash, according to KHSAA records.
Walton-Verona travels to Beechwood on Friday, Oct. 2. Last year's 42-7 playoff blowout suggests the Tigers still hold a talent gap, but the Bearcats' experienced roster could make that matchup more competitive than the lopsided 2025 result.
What it means for St. Henry
The Crusaders are entering only their second varsity season after going 2-9 in 2025. As we reported Aug. 5, St. Henry returns 10 offensive starters and nine defensive starters, including senior free safety Andrew Stewart and 290-pound lineman Zach Cline.
"We had to win two games to get in," head coach Tim Odom told the Northern Kentucky Tribune on Aug. 5, discussing the Crusaders' district outlook. "We feel pretty confident that we can improve on that this year in district play."
St. Henry closes its district schedule at Walton-Verona on Friday, Oct. 23. The Bearcats hold a 1-10 home record under Pence, but with this many returning starters, that trend could reverse. The game could determine which team earns a higher playoff seed.
Slow starts loom
The Bearcats have started each of their last two seasons 1-5 before rallying in the second half. They managed just 13 total points in their last two openers. Pence said the priority is reversing that pattern.
The gap may be closing.
All three teams open the season Friday, Aug. 21. Walton-Verona travels to Brossart, St. Henry visits Holy Cross and Beechwood begins its schedule under Rash's second stint at the helm.
