I6 SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2014 /// THE ENQUIRER KENTUCKY

Its not enough that the Walton-

Verona football team has a running
back whos on target to break the
schools all-time rushing record. The
Bearcats have two backs in range of
the mark ahead of what promises to be
a record-shattering season.
Weve run the ball a lot in my six
years, so youre going to have some
guys with some nice numbers, coach
Jeff Barth said.
Senior fullback Mason Compton
has amassed 1,682 rushing yards for
Walton-Verona, in its seventh season.
Senior tailback Will Latimore has
rushed for 1,364. The career record is
held by Nolan Brown, who ran for
2,063.
Its a 1-2 punch, coach Barth said
of his backfield tandem. Theyve
both had huge years. Latimore had a
huge sophomore year, but last year
was a disappointment. Compton
stepped in and had a huge junior year.
Now, theyre both seniors. Latimore is
a changed guy, and Comptons still
Compton.
Last year, Compton challenged
Andrew Baumgartners school single-
season record of 1,220 yards while
churning for 1,155. Latimore ran for
961as a sophomore with less than 100
carries. He had 331as a junior, and
added 211yards receiving in five
games.
As a small school, we may not
have a ton of guys. But weve got some
really good players, and there are
more backs behind us, Compton said.
With the return of four starting
linemen, including fourth-year starter
David Carr, and the presence of re-
turning starting quarterback Justin
Kline, who last season became the
programs first 1,000-yard passer, the
Bearcats are primed to better last
years team single-season record of
4,044 offensive yards.
As for Brown, the former Bearcat,
hes about to be overtaken with a
heavy bombardment. The assault will
begin in earnest game four at home
against Holmes. Compton should
shatter the all-time rushing mark, and
challenge the single-season rushing
record, Barth said. Latimore should
have a big year, and could also surpass
the career rushing record.
Compton needs 382 rushing yards
to pass Brown, who graduated in 2012.
If he maintains his 2013 average of
96.4 yards per game, hell have 385
yards after four games, good enough
for the record. Latimore needs 700
yards. If he passes Brown, itll be a
friendly battle with Compton for the
new standard.
Its going to be a lot of fun, Barth
said. We dont want teams coming in
and saying theyre going to stop
Compton or theyre going to stop Lati-
more. Theyll have to stop both, the
whole game. And weve got one to
keep the other fresh without losing
anything.
The rugged Compton and speedy
Latimore are more than a bash-and-
dash combo, the coach added. Togeth-
er, the duo portend doom for unpre-
pared defenses. Compton softens up
opponents like a meat tenderizer then
Latimore hands them their lunch.
Latimore has totaled 556 career re-
ceiving yards, averaging 24 per catch.
He averaged 35 yards per catch last
season. In his career, hes up to 1,920
combined rushing and receiving
yards, about 200 ahead of Compton
for now.
According to KHSAA statistics,
Compton has averaged 5.6 yards per
carry in his career, with a penchant
for redzone scoring. Latimore has
been twice as productive, averaging a
whopping 11.2 yards per carry. Its a
fair race to catch Brown. Maintaining
their per-carry averages, Compton
would need 68 carries to surpass
Browns career rushing total. Lati-
more, at his pace, would need 62 car-
ries.
Those arent the only Walton-Vero-
na records within Comptons grasp.
With 22 rushing touchdowns after
scoring 14 last season, Compton has
nearly twice as many as Latimore and
needs 11to break Chris Latimores
mark of 32.
The record they all want most?
That would be 11wins. The Bearcats
won 10 games in 2012, two in the post-
season. Three playoff victories this
year would be a program first.
Thatd be a dream season, Comp-
ton said. m
Duo running for Walton record
By Marc Hardin
Enquirer contributor
Quarterback Justin Kline, left, and fullback Mason Compton return for a Walton-Verona squad that set a new school record with
4,044 yards of offense last season. TONY TRIBBLE FOR THE ENQUIRER
(listed in order of 2013 district finish)
Gallatin County
2013 record: 10-3, 4-0 district (lost to
Newport Central Catholic, 34-12 in regional
final)
Head coach: Tim Browning (ninth year
at Gallatin County, 44-44)
Key losses: WR/DB Nate McCoy, OL/DL
Matt First, QB Austin Chapman
Key returnees: Sr. RB/DE Chris Brown
(1,078 yards rushing, 8.1 yards per carry, 15
TDs, 93 tackles, 4.5 sacks), Sr. OL/DL Parker
Duryea (50 tackles), Sr. DB Kevin Bisson (118
tackles)
Outlook: The Wildcats are rebuilding
with a pair of starters returning to the
multiple offense after the best year in
school history brought them their first
district championship and first appearance
in the regional final.
We lost 16 seniors, all of which played
major roles, Browning said. So, this will
be a major rebuilding year for us. We have
our leading rusher returning in Chris
Brown. Our offense will revolve around
him. Were only returning one starter on
the line. Defensively, we will have many
holes to fill in the 4-3/5-2, with three re-
turning starters on that side of the ball.
Walton-Verona
2013 record: 9-3 overall, 3-1 district (lost
to Newport Central Catholic, 36-0 in sec-
ond round of playoffs)
Head coach: Jeff Barth (6th year at
Walton-Verona, 37-21)
Key losses: RB Chris Latimore, RB/DB
Jake Higgins, OL/DL Benjamin Whelan
Key returnees: Sr. G/DE David Carr (58
tackles, 6.5 sacks), Sr. RB Mason Compton
(1,155 yards rushing), Sr. QB Justin Kline
1,061 yards passing, 12 TDs, 7 INT), Sr. OT/
DT Joey Coomer, Sr. DE Cody Catlett (53
tackles), Sr. RB Will Latimore, Sr. OT Danny
Martin, Sr. DB Ryan Martin (45 tackles), Jr.
C Noah Martin, Jr. DB Noah Richardson, So.
ILB Hunter Ruber (57 tackles)
Top newcomers: Fr. LB, Noah Ham-
mond, Fr. WR Zach Clinkenbeard
Outlook: The districts most veteran
team, the Bearcats welcome back seven
defensive starters, at least two in each
position area. There are seven starters
returning to the hybrid Wing-T offense,
where theres depth in the backfield with
emerging junior Halsey Page. The team
takes its lead from Carr, a 6-2, 235 college
prospect who becomes the schools first
ever four-year two-way starter.
The main leader of our football team,
our heartbeat, Barth said of Carr, the
teams strongest player and one of its
fastest, and whos been invited to play in
the Blue-Grey All-Star Game at Raymond
James Stadium in Tampa in January. His
size is an issue with some Division I schools,
but his performance at the Blue-Grey
combines at Paul Brown Stadium put him
in elite status for defensive linemen, earn-
ing an invite to the combine in Canton,
Barth said.
Carroll County
2013 record: 6-6 overall, 2-2 district
(lost to Gallatin County, 49-26 in first
round of playoffs)
Head coach: Michael Weedman (eighth
year at Carroll County, 37-37)
Key losses: QB John Adams, RB Keifer
McIntyre, RB Blake Newby, WR Jacob Wise
Key Returnees: Sr. OT/DE Caleb Guenthn-
er (86 tackles), Sr. FB/LB Dean Taylor, Jr. RB
Kyle Prosser (332 yards rushing, 10.2 yards
per carry), Jr. RB Cameron Rose, Jr. RB/DB
Logan McIntyre (3 interceptions), Sr. OL/LB
Ramsey Gordon
Top newcomer: Jr. QB Isaiah Hogan
Outlook: Theres momentum after the
team outscored its last three regular-sea-
son opponents and the first postseason foe
by an average score of 40-9, but this is the
fewest seniors (10) Weedman has had.
Although five of the top seven rushers
graduated, the Panthers remain committed
to the running game after amassing 2,845
yards on the ground with five players over
300 yards but none with 100 carries. There
is a new quarterback after the team passed
for 691 yards last season. Prosser has recov-
ered from a knee injury. The 6-3, 270-
pound Guenthner is one of the districts
top players.
Owen County
2013 record: 2-9 overall, 1-3 district (lost
to Newport Central Catholic, 47-14 in first
round of playoffs)
Head coach: Adam Fowler (seventh
year at Owen County, 27-40)
Key losses: LB Logan Lowe, WR Logan
Webster, DT Jesse McCracken
Key returnees: Jr. FB/LB Garrett Cobb,
Sr. QB/FS Tanner Smith, Sr. RB/SS Brady
Young
Top newcomers: Fr. WR/DE Dominick
Barnett, Fr. C/LB David Gray
Outlook: There is continuity with seven
starters returning to the Pistol Spread
offense, including Young, the leading
rusher, and Smith the quarterback. Six
return to the 4-4 defense.
We are excited to start this season,
Fowler said. Garrett Cobb has returned
from a dislocated knee and will be our
fullback. Brady Young will be our best
speed back. Tanner Smith returns at quar-
terback after starting as a junior. We also
return all of our offensive line with the
exception of the center.
Trimble County Raiders
2013 record: 0-10, 0-4
Head coach: Justin Franklin (third year,
1-19)
Key losses: WR/DB Devin Drury, OL/DL
Chad Hemingway, OL/DL Aaron Lloyd, QB
Tevin Taylor
Key returnees: Sr. RB/DE Bo Hawkes, Jr.
WR/S Justin Isaac, Sr. QB/DB T.J. Payton
Outlook: Nowhere to go but up for the
Raiders after a winless season in which
they were outscored 358-66 with just four
seniors on the roster. This year, there are 16
seniors.
CLASS 2A,
DISTRICT 5
By Marc Hardin
Enquirer contributor