[Bull got out!]

Class 5A

1.Bowling green
2.Cooper
3.Owensboro
4.Atherton
5.Woodford
6.Scott County
7.Pulaski
8.Southwestern
9.Conner
10.South Oldham


Submitted by anonymous BGR member.

[Shogun]

I don't have the evidence to argue against it, but Atherton at #4 seems a bit ambitious at this point.

[Landsten88]

I don't have the evidence to argue against it, but Atherton at #4 seems a bit ambitious at this point.

atherton has a few players on their team who feature offers from Bama, Norte dame, Michigan, Clemson and many more. They have the star power just have to see if it all meshes together.

[Shogun]

I don't have the evidence to argue against it, but Atherton at #4 seems a bit ambitious at this point.

atherton has a few players on their team who feature offers from Bama, Norte dame, Michigan, Clemson and many more. They have the star power just have to see if it all meshes together.

Are those new guys to the program or were they on the roster last year? The only real point of contention that I would have at this point is having them over Woodford and Scott County with Woodford clocking them and then Woodford and Scott County playing each other close last year.

[Landsten88]

I don't have the evidence to argue against it, but Atherton at #4 seems a bit ambitious at this point.

atherton has a few players on their team who feature offers from Bama, Norte dame, Michigan, Clemson and many more. They have the star power just have to see if it all meshes together.

Are those new guys to the program or were they on the roster last year? The only real point of contention that I would have at this point is having them over Woodford and Scott County with Woodford clocking them and then Woodford and Scott County playing each other close last year.

Big transfer grabs by Atherton in the off season. They may not be better than wofo or Scott county both teams look impressive right now. We’ll see how they play Dupont in a month or so to determine where they are truly.

[Glory_Days]

I agree with Shogun. Although I'm very excited to see the 2025 version of Atherton, I think #8 would be a more suitable spot.

They'll need to come out against Central Hardin and make a statement. The matchup should be favorable if the defense is as good as they showed against Boyle Co. Central Hardin has been known to push teams like this around, in the past. Atherton's athleticism will be superior is this game but will it translate to success. Discipline could be their biggest weakness.

Also, they need to show they can go outside of the area and remain focused. These non-traditional Louisville teams tend to have trouble going on the road and playing well. The trip distance is average or below for the majority of teams in the state, but the metro teams don't have to veer from the friendly confines very often.

They'll need to have improved significantly to be in the 5A hunt. They had a historic season last year but those wins were against lower level teams. Beat two 1A teams, lost to a mid tier 6A team. More importantly, they were dominated by top tier 5A teams Woodford Co and Bowling Green.

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing new teams rise up. I'll be pulling for the Ravens all season.

[bucslover68]

Pulaski 7th in 5 A and 13 in the state? These don't line up at all with the top 25 rankings.

[Gridiron_Raid]

Deuce Bailey graduated, there is no way Bowling green is still better than Cooper. Over 50tds back to back years and 40 the year before. Started every game since covid.

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Deuce Bailey graduated, there is no way Bowling green is still better than Cooper. Over 50tds back to back years and 40 the year before. Started every game since covid.

Even with Strautman who is going to become a great QB with plenty of chances, but its a drop off at least. Strautman threw 20tds and 11 ints on 50% completion and isnt truly a dual threat. He is going to continue to get better but even with multiple D1 pieces everywhere around him like both Talberts, Peyton Smith, chenault, and that line, he was not a game wrecker like Bailey has been for three years with much less. 

I think Strautman is going to be a great QB for the Purples and they will be a good team, but like KSR having them 3rd in the state crazy. Barber and Smith are great athletes and will put up great numbers again, but how can one say that they are BETTER without deuce.

[Fade]

Cooper lost Isaiah Johnson and Austin Alexander. Along with many more starters. They return Cam OHara, sure, but they have a lot to figure out before saying they are better than Bowling Green. Besides, one thing that’s been consistent is that BG has always out coached Cooper. Even when Cooper had high end D1 talent. Not a single time did they play BG to a one score game in the 3 title games they played. In other words, it hasn’t been close.

That is not me bagging on Cooper. Every season is different. But to be the man you have to beat the man. Since 2011, Bowling Green has won 8 state championships and have 9 appearances. They deserve the benefit of the doubt at #1 because they proven they consistently reload. Now if they stumble, of course you adjust accordingly. Let’s face it though, Very few who have stepped up to challenge them have been able to do it. The burden of proof is on the rest of the class to prove they can get to the mountain top, but let’s call a spade a spade… it’s going to go through Bowling Green. Because it usually always does.

[Gridiron_Raid]

Cooper lost Isaiah Johnson and Austin Alexander. Along with many more starters. They return Cam OHara, sure, but they have a lot to figure out before saying they are better than Bowling Green.  Besides, one thing that’s been consistent is that BG has always out coached Cooper. Even when Cooper had high end D1 talent. Not a single time did they play BG to a one score game in the 3 title games they played. In other words, it hasn’t been close.

That is not me bagging on Cooper. Every season is different. But to be the man you have to beat the man. Since 2011,  Bowling Green has won 8 state championships and have 9 appearances. They deserve the benefit of the doubt at #1  because they proven they consistently reload. Now if they stumble, of course you adjust accordingly. Let’s face it though,  Very few who have stepped up to challenge them have been able to do it. The burden of proof is on the rest of the class to prove they can get to the mountain top, but let’s call a spade a spade… it’s going to go through Bowling Green. Because it usually always does.

Very well it could go through Bowling green. All I know is I have seen the same starting QBs in the 5A state championship game back to back years, one of them returns and the other doesnt. 

Austin Alexander was a beast, but he was Ohara's third target. They return Maher whos a 1400yd rusher and had 25tds. Outside of Alexander whos impact isnt really shown in stats, the defense returns most of their studs as well. 

The last 2 titles, they had a top 5 QB in the state under center and a really good defense. The title in 2020, they had an ELITE defense. In 15/16 they had a great defense, A GREAT QB, and MR FOOTBALL. In 11-13, they had a great defense, great QBS, and another MR football. 


All Im saying is that this year they do not have the ELITE defense, thats evidence over the last few seasons. They will have a good defense, but its nothing like the teams of the past. They will have good QB, but hes not as dynamic as Bailey, Payne, or Hayes. They have a guy who is good enough to be a MR football candidate possibly, but he will have to show he can do it without a MR football candidate throwing him the ball. 
Theres 3 pieces of the puzzle to win a state championship, have a great defense, great QB, and a star athlete. Right now Bowling Green has one piece and Cooper has all of them. 

Like you said spade is a spade. They are gonna meet in 14 or 15 weeks anyways so we get 4 fun months of arguing over it.

[Fade]

Just to counter some of your points here, because they deserve atleast a little perspective…
You made no comment about Johnson, why, I don’t know. But don’t tell me that’s not significant. Bowling Green does this to Cooper not because of some grandiose QB play… While Bailey is a stud, They absolutely whip them up front. Always have. One look at film and a stat book will tell you that. I agree though, Deuce Bailey is a big loss. Jaxon Strautman will not be as dynamic as Payne, Hayes or Bailey. Agree. But I can assure you he will operate much better than Campbell Gott and Conner Cooper. One of those two won a title.

As far as their defense goes, they just played Male in a scrimmage, and looked like a Bowling Green defense to me. But hey, I’ll be interested to see how many times Cooper loses this year saying this “3 pieces to the puzzle” jazz. It’s nice to hear they have it all figured out though. Maybe the fourth time is the charm!
Howeve, it’s not just Bowling Green that Cooper needs to concern themselves with. Scott County, Owensboro, and Woodford are not people to dismiss. As for it all, time will tell, but I’ll need to see it to believe it.

[Glory_Days]

I feel it's a 6 team race this year as to the past years of 2 or 3 team races.

[Real Badman]

Its a 3-4 team race. Everyone else is FUBAR

[Bull got out!]

Its a 3-4 team race. Everyone else is FUBAR