08-07-2023, 08:29 PM
1. PIKEVILLE Head coach: Chris McNamee (15th season). Last year: 12-2. State champions with a 41-9 win over Raceland. Quick look: Quarterback Isaac Duty, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior, has been starting since sophomore year and has a championship ring to his credit. He threw for 1,506 yards and 21 TDs with a powerful running game at his back. Tayvian Boykins, a 5-10, 160-pound senior, should improve on his 475 yards and seven TDs rushing and 375 yards and three TDs receiving. “He’s worked extremely hard this offseason,” McNamee said. Brenden Anthony (120 tackles, three sacks) and Sam Wright (74 tackles, one interception) will lead the defense. Marquee matchups: Aug. 18 vs. Pulaski County (at Corbin); Aug. 26 vs. Johnson Central; Sept. 2 at Lexington Christian; Sept. 8 vs. Raceland; Sept. 15 at Belfry; Oct. 13 vs. Paintsville; Oct. 20 at Hazard. The Pikeville Panthers celebrate their 41-9 win over Raceland in the Class A state championship game at Kroger Field in Lexington last fall. Pikeville won its third state title in the last four years and its seventh overall and is ranked No. 1 by the state’s coaches to kick off the 2023 season. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com
2. RACELAND Head coach: Michael Salmons (10th season). Last year: 13-2. District and region champions. Lost in state finals to Pikeville. Quick look: The Rams lost 15 seniors to graduation, but “the goal never changes,” Salmons said. “Get back to the same game from a year ago and change the outcome!” Senior quarterback Logan Lundy (2,372 yards, 35 TDs passing, 445 yards, 12 TDs rushing) returns as one of Class A’s top dual-threats. He has his leading rusher and second leading receiver in tow: seniors Noah Wallace (883 yards, 12 TDs rushing) and Parker Fannin (569 yards, nine TDs receiving). Wallace was also the team leader in tackles with 105 at safety. Marquee matchups: Aug. 18 at Ashland Blazer; Sept. 8 at Pikeville; Sept. 15 vs. Highlands; Sept. 22 vs. Newport Central Catholic; Sept. 29 at Hazard; Oct. 27 vs. Lexington Christian.
3. NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC Head coach: Stephen Lickert (sixth season). Last year: 11-3. District and region champions. Lost 50-14 to Pikeville in state semis. Quick look: The Thoroughbreds have been to two Class A semifinals since joining this division in 2019, including last year. “We think we have some guys that can get it done,” Lickert said. “We want to finish the job this year and win the state title.” Kolton Smith returns at quarterback (1,371 yards, 15 TDs passing, 285 yards, five TDs rushing) and linebacker (43 tackles), as does RB/LB Demetrick Welch (1,346 yards, 17 TDs rushing/56 tackles, two sacks) and junior LB Kaleb Cole (92 tackles, one sack). Marquee matchups: Aug. 17 at Lloyd Memorial; Aug. 25 vs. Walton-Verona; Sept. 22 at Raceland; Oct. 6 vs. Newport.
4. HAZARD Head coach: Daniel Howard (fourth season). Last year: 8-5. Lost 17-14 to Raceland in region finals. Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99 Only 44¢ per day SUBSCRIBE NOW Quick look: The Bulldogs have just five seniors and four starters back on each side of the ball, but Howard says “we have a much stronger team this year. They have worked in the weight room.” Junior QB Max Pelfrey (1,821 yards, 21 TDs passing, 193 yards, four TDs rushing) looks to build on a strong sophomore campaign. Jayvon White, a junior WR/DB, popped for 254 yards and five TDs on just 20 catches in 2022. Fellow juniors Memphis Blankenship (88 tackles) at linebacker and Gaige Logan (66 tackles) on the line ranked among the team’s defensive leaders. Marquee matchups: Sept. 15 vs. Breathitt County; Sept. 22 vs. Corbin; Sept. 29 vs. Raceland; Oct. 6 at Paintsville; Oct. 20 vs. Pikeville.
5. CAMPBELLSVILLE Head coach: Dale Estes (12th season). Last year: 7-4. District champions. Lost 28-19 to Louisville Holy Cross in the second round. Quick look: A number of Estes’ top players are going on their fourth year starting at the varsity level, including RB/LB Konner Forbis (637 yards, eight TDs/81 tackles), WR Deondre Weathers (560 yards, five TDs receiving, 350 yards, three TDs rushing) and FB/LB Landon Colvin (six rushing TDs, team-high 135 tackles and four sacks). “We are an experienced team with good depth,” Estes said. Kace Eastridge had an impressive freshman campaign at quarterback (1,220 yards, 11 TDs passing, 376 yards, seven TDs rushing). Marquee matchups: Sept. 1 at Metcalfe County; Sept. 15 vs. Somerset; Sept. 28 at Danville; Oct. 13 at Louisville Holy Cross; Oct. 20 vs. Kentucky Country Day; Oct. 27 vs. Hart County.
6. KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY Head coach: Matthew Jones (12th season). Last year: 9-3. Lost 28-21 to Newport Central Catholic in region finals. Quick look: With nine starters back on offense and eight on defense, KCD could be poised for a run to the state finals like it had in 2020. Jones calls senior quarterback Ethan “ET” Harris “one of the fastest and best athletes in the state in Class A.” Harris had 1,718 yards and 21 TDs passing and 224 yards and six TDs rushing. Second leading receiver Cam Edwards (359 yards, seven TDs) has length at 6-4 and also plays cornerback where he led the team in interceptions (four). Senior linebacker Lawson Cantley led the defense with 67 tackles and three sacks. Marquee matchups: Sept. 8 vs. Walton-Verona; Oct. 6 vs. Louisville Holy Cross; Oct. 13 vs. Bethlehem; Oct. 20 at Campbellsville.
7. MIDDLESBORO Head coach: Larry French (fifth season). Last year: 7-4. Lost 28-21 to Shelby Valley in the Class 2A second round. Quick look: Realignment puts the Yellow Jackets back in Class A for the first time since 2003. Nine starters return, including the skill positions where dual-threat QB Cayden Grigsby (1,475 yards, 17 TDs passing, 1,089 yards, 17 TDs rushing) leads the swarm. He has leading receiver Kameron Wilson (687 yards, 10 TDs) among his targets. Wilson also scored on defense last year with two big interceptions for a touchdown. Senior linemen Trey King (40 tackles) and Landon Coffey (35 tackles) lead the defense. Marquee matchups: Sept. 8 vs. Shelby Valley; Sept. 29 at Harlan; Oct. 6 at Pineville; Oct. 12 vs. Williamsburg.
8. LOUISVILLE HOLY CROSS Head coach: Eric Dick (fourth season). Last year: 10-4. Region champions. Lost 49-6 to Raceland in state semis. Quick look: The Cougars return 14 starters, but they’ll need someone to step up at quarterback where junior Aiden Dewees and sophomore Jamie Jones are competing for the starting spot. Jayse Hardesty, a senior WR/DB, had 457 yards and four TDs receiving to go with 203 yards and one TD rushing. Hardesty also notched 45 tackles and a team-high four interceptions on defense. Leading tacklers Michael Wortham (70 tackles, seven sacks), Dewees (66 tackles, one sack), Cam Henderson-Reed (63 tackles, eight sacks) and Logan McClellan (40 tackles/367 yards and three TDs receiving) all return. Marquee matchups: Oct. 6 at Kentucky Country Day; Oct. 13 vs. Campbellsville; Oct. 20 at Bethlehem.
9. WILLIAMSBURG Head coach: Jerry Herron (18th season). Last year: 7-3. District champions. Lost 29-0 to Hazard in the second round. Quick look: Williamsburg has tapped last year’s top wide receiver, junior Nate Goodin, as its new quarterback, filling a role that had a very productive dual-threat player there last year. Goodin also stood out on defense with 40 tackles and three interceptions. Second leading rusher Hunter Thomas (527 yards, four TDs) should help. Thomas also led the team in tackles at linebacker with 76 tackles. The eight returning defensive starters include Williamsburg’s top four tacklers, Thomas, Mason Powers (76), Peyton Tye (73) and Cooper Prewitt (58). Marquee matchups: Sept. 1 at Clay County; Sept. 29 vs. Pineville; Oct. 13 at Middlesboro; Oct. 20 at Harlan.
10. SAYRE Head coach: Chad Pennington (sixth season). Last year: 5-6. Lost 42-7 to Harlan in the first round. Quick look: The Spartans make their first Herald-Leader preseason top 10 appearance in only the sixth year since the program was revived from dormancy. With 17 starters back, nine on offense, Sayre looks to be a contender in District 5 where it was aligned with Berea, Eminence and Frankfort. Junior quarterback Luke Pennington (1,785 yards, 25 TDs passing) has his leading rusher and receiver back and they’re all juniors. Charlie Slabaugh had 425 yards and one TD rushing to go with 478 yards and eight TDs receiving while Brock Coffman caught for 853 yards and nine TDs. Slabaugh also led the team in tackles at linebacker with 92. Marquee matchups: Aug. 25 vs. Bracken County; Sept. 22 at Nicholas County; Sept. 29 at Bourbon County; Oct. 6 vs. Berea; Oct. 13 at Frankfort; Oct. 20 vs. Eminence; Oct. 27 at Bethlehem.
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES In order of votes received: Paintsville; Bethlehem; Russellville; Bishop Brossart; Harlan; Paris; Frankfort; Pineville; Lynn Camp; Dayton; Holy Cross (Covington); Nicholas County; Newport; Eminence; Ludlow.
https://www.kentucky.com/sports/high-sch...76948.html
2. RACELAND Head coach: Michael Salmons (10th season). Last year: 13-2. District and region champions. Lost in state finals to Pikeville. Quick look: The Rams lost 15 seniors to graduation, but “the goal never changes,” Salmons said. “Get back to the same game from a year ago and change the outcome!” Senior quarterback Logan Lundy (2,372 yards, 35 TDs passing, 445 yards, 12 TDs rushing) returns as one of Class A’s top dual-threats. He has his leading rusher and second leading receiver in tow: seniors Noah Wallace (883 yards, 12 TDs rushing) and Parker Fannin (569 yards, nine TDs receiving). Wallace was also the team leader in tackles with 105 at safety. Marquee matchups: Aug. 18 at Ashland Blazer; Sept. 8 at Pikeville; Sept. 15 vs. Highlands; Sept. 22 vs. Newport Central Catholic; Sept. 29 at Hazard; Oct. 27 vs. Lexington Christian.
3. NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC Head coach: Stephen Lickert (sixth season). Last year: 11-3. District and region champions. Lost 50-14 to Pikeville in state semis. Quick look: The Thoroughbreds have been to two Class A semifinals since joining this division in 2019, including last year. “We think we have some guys that can get it done,” Lickert said. “We want to finish the job this year and win the state title.” Kolton Smith returns at quarterback (1,371 yards, 15 TDs passing, 285 yards, five TDs rushing) and linebacker (43 tackles), as does RB/LB Demetrick Welch (1,346 yards, 17 TDs rushing/56 tackles, two sacks) and junior LB Kaleb Cole (92 tackles, one sack). Marquee matchups: Aug. 17 at Lloyd Memorial; Aug. 25 vs. Walton-Verona; Sept. 22 at Raceland; Oct. 6 vs. Newport.
4. HAZARD Head coach: Daniel Howard (fourth season). Last year: 8-5. Lost 17-14 to Raceland in region finals. Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99 Only 44¢ per day SUBSCRIBE NOW Quick look: The Bulldogs have just five seniors and four starters back on each side of the ball, but Howard says “we have a much stronger team this year. They have worked in the weight room.” Junior QB Max Pelfrey (1,821 yards, 21 TDs passing, 193 yards, four TDs rushing) looks to build on a strong sophomore campaign. Jayvon White, a junior WR/DB, popped for 254 yards and five TDs on just 20 catches in 2022. Fellow juniors Memphis Blankenship (88 tackles) at linebacker and Gaige Logan (66 tackles) on the line ranked among the team’s defensive leaders. Marquee matchups: Sept. 15 vs. Breathitt County; Sept. 22 vs. Corbin; Sept. 29 vs. Raceland; Oct. 6 at Paintsville; Oct. 20 vs. Pikeville.
5. CAMPBELLSVILLE Head coach: Dale Estes (12th season). Last year: 7-4. District champions. Lost 28-19 to Louisville Holy Cross in the second round. Quick look: A number of Estes’ top players are going on their fourth year starting at the varsity level, including RB/LB Konner Forbis (637 yards, eight TDs/81 tackles), WR Deondre Weathers (560 yards, five TDs receiving, 350 yards, three TDs rushing) and FB/LB Landon Colvin (six rushing TDs, team-high 135 tackles and four sacks). “We are an experienced team with good depth,” Estes said. Kace Eastridge had an impressive freshman campaign at quarterback (1,220 yards, 11 TDs passing, 376 yards, seven TDs rushing). Marquee matchups: Sept. 1 at Metcalfe County; Sept. 15 vs. Somerset; Sept. 28 at Danville; Oct. 13 at Louisville Holy Cross; Oct. 20 vs. Kentucky Country Day; Oct. 27 vs. Hart County.
6. KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY Head coach: Matthew Jones (12th season). Last year: 9-3. Lost 28-21 to Newport Central Catholic in region finals. Quick look: With nine starters back on offense and eight on defense, KCD could be poised for a run to the state finals like it had in 2020. Jones calls senior quarterback Ethan “ET” Harris “one of the fastest and best athletes in the state in Class A.” Harris had 1,718 yards and 21 TDs passing and 224 yards and six TDs rushing. Second leading receiver Cam Edwards (359 yards, seven TDs) has length at 6-4 and also plays cornerback where he led the team in interceptions (four). Senior linebacker Lawson Cantley led the defense with 67 tackles and three sacks. Marquee matchups: Sept. 8 vs. Walton-Verona; Oct. 6 vs. Louisville Holy Cross; Oct. 13 vs. Bethlehem; Oct. 20 at Campbellsville.
7. MIDDLESBORO Head coach: Larry French (fifth season). Last year: 7-4. Lost 28-21 to Shelby Valley in the Class 2A second round. Quick look: Realignment puts the Yellow Jackets back in Class A for the first time since 2003. Nine starters return, including the skill positions where dual-threat QB Cayden Grigsby (1,475 yards, 17 TDs passing, 1,089 yards, 17 TDs rushing) leads the swarm. He has leading receiver Kameron Wilson (687 yards, 10 TDs) among his targets. Wilson also scored on defense last year with two big interceptions for a touchdown. Senior linemen Trey King (40 tackles) and Landon Coffey (35 tackles) lead the defense. Marquee matchups: Sept. 8 vs. Shelby Valley; Sept. 29 at Harlan; Oct. 6 at Pineville; Oct. 12 vs. Williamsburg.
8. LOUISVILLE HOLY CROSS Head coach: Eric Dick (fourth season). Last year: 10-4. Region champions. Lost 49-6 to Raceland in state semis. Quick look: The Cougars return 14 starters, but they’ll need someone to step up at quarterback where junior Aiden Dewees and sophomore Jamie Jones are competing for the starting spot. Jayse Hardesty, a senior WR/DB, had 457 yards and four TDs receiving to go with 203 yards and one TD rushing. Hardesty also notched 45 tackles and a team-high four interceptions on defense. Leading tacklers Michael Wortham (70 tackles, seven sacks), Dewees (66 tackles, one sack), Cam Henderson-Reed (63 tackles, eight sacks) and Logan McClellan (40 tackles/367 yards and three TDs receiving) all return. Marquee matchups: Oct. 6 at Kentucky Country Day; Oct. 13 vs. Campbellsville; Oct. 20 at Bethlehem.
9. WILLIAMSBURG Head coach: Jerry Herron (18th season). Last year: 7-3. District champions. Lost 29-0 to Hazard in the second round. Quick look: Williamsburg has tapped last year’s top wide receiver, junior Nate Goodin, as its new quarterback, filling a role that had a very productive dual-threat player there last year. Goodin also stood out on defense with 40 tackles and three interceptions. Second leading rusher Hunter Thomas (527 yards, four TDs) should help. Thomas also led the team in tackles at linebacker with 76 tackles. The eight returning defensive starters include Williamsburg’s top four tacklers, Thomas, Mason Powers (76), Peyton Tye (73) and Cooper Prewitt (58). Marquee matchups: Sept. 1 at Clay County; Sept. 29 vs. Pineville; Oct. 13 at Middlesboro; Oct. 20 at Harlan.
10. SAYRE Head coach: Chad Pennington (sixth season). Last year: 5-6. Lost 42-7 to Harlan in the first round. Quick look: The Spartans make their first Herald-Leader preseason top 10 appearance in only the sixth year since the program was revived from dormancy. With 17 starters back, nine on offense, Sayre looks to be a contender in District 5 where it was aligned with Berea, Eminence and Frankfort. Junior quarterback Luke Pennington (1,785 yards, 25 TDs passing) has his leading rusher and receiver back and they’re all juniors. Charlie Slabaugh had 425 yards and one TD rushing to go with 478 yards and eight TDs receiving while Brock Coffman caught for 853 yards and nine TDs. Slabaugh also led the team in tackles at linebacker with 92. Marquee matchups: Aug. 25 vs. Bracken County; Sept. 22 at Nicholas County; Sept. 29 at Bourbon County; Oct. 6 vs. Berea; Oct. 13 at Frankfort; Oct. 20 vs. Eminence; Oct. 27 at Bethlehem.
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES In order of votes received: Paintsville; Bethlehem; Russellville; Bishop Brossart; Harlan; Paris; Frankfort; Pineville; Lynn Camp; Dayton; Holy Cross (Covington); Nicholas County; Newport; Eminence; Ludlow.
https://www.kentucky.com/sports/high-sch...76948.html