[Bull got out!]

The latest realignment based on enrollment shuffled defending Class 5A champion Frederick Douglass up to Class 6A and sent two-time 5A champion Covington Catholic down to Class 4A. For the new Class 5A, it’s not about what teams aren’t in the division any more. All that matters is now. TOP VIDEOS Who’s left? A boatload of teams who’ve won multiple crowns and dozens more itching for the chance. Bowling Green, a seven-time state champion who finished runner-up last year, tops the Herald-Leader’s 2023 Class 5A preseason top 10 survey, garnering 20 No. 1 votes from the 25 coaches who participated. “As always, there are championship expectations for our program,” Bowling Green Coach Mark Spader said. “Our underclassmen got a taste of Kroger Field last season and have trained hard this offseason in order to give ourselves a chance to return.” Scott County got two No. 1 votes, with Owensboro, Woodford County and Pulaski County each netting one. Here are the preseason top 10 teams in Class 5A as voted on by coaches in the division. 

1. BOWLING GREEN Head coach: Mark Spader (sixth season). Last year: 12-3. District and region champions. Lost 28-7 to Frederick Douglass in the state finals. Quick look: Each of the Purples’ top skill players returns on offense led by junior quarterback Deuce Bailey who threw for 3,136 yards and 34 TDs and ran for 424 yards and three scores. Running back Javen Huddleston (1,184 yards, 16 TDs rushing) and wideout Easton Barlow (1,008 yards, 12 TDs receiving) are both seniors. Then there’s sophomore wideout Trevy Barber (737 yards, nine TDs receiving). Spader has concerns bolstering a depleted offensive line, but has DeMarcus Elliott, a 6-2, 300-pound senior to build around. The defense lost seven starters, but retained one of its top tacklers in junior strong safety Grayson Newman (126). Marquee matchups: Aug. 19 vs. Lexington Christian (at Western Kentucky University); Aug. 25 at Owensboro; Sept. 2 vs. Bryan Station (at Lexington Christian); Sept. 15 vs. Central Hardin; Oct. 13 at South Warren; Oct. 20 vs. Greenwood; Oct. 27 vs. St. Xavier. Quarterback Deuce Bailey (2) led Bowling Green to the state finals at Kroger Field last fall where the Purples were defeated by Frederick Douglass for the Class 5A title. Bailey returns this season but Douglass won’t be an obstacle since the Broncos have been moved to 6A. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com 

2. SCOTT COUNTY Head coach: Jim McKee (27th season). Last year: 11-2. Lost 23-22 to Southwestern in region finals. Quick look: McKee’s bunch looks primed to put some fresh hardware in the old trophy case before Scott County opens its new school next fall. The recruiting charts have caught notice of junior defensive back Buddy Collins (29 tackles, one interception) and senior defensive end JaSante Harmon (45 tackles, 4.5 sacks). They are two of seven starters back on defense. On offense, McKee returns his entire backfield — junior QB Andrew Hickey (1,037 yards, 10 TDs passing) along with fullback Jacob Fryman (977 yards, 15 TDs) and running backs Ellis Huguely (784 yards, 11 TDs, and Thomas Feickert (748 yards, 10 TDs), all seniors. Marquee matchups: Aug. 25 at Great Crossing; Sept. 8 at Boyle County; Sept. 15 at Madison Central; Oct. 13 at Woodford County; Oct. 27 at Lexington Catholic. 

3. OWENSBORO Head coach: Jay Fallin (ninth season). Last year: 11-3. District and region champions. Lost 14-2 to Frederick Douglass in the semifinals. Quick look: The Red Devils begin their 100th season playing in historic Rash Stadium and are seven wins from 800. Five starters return on each side of the ball, including an offensive line that features Southern Illinois commit Jak Lindsey, a 6-4, 300-pound center. Junior running back Deion Winstead had 546 yards and 11 TDs rushing in a secondary role and was among the leading tacklers at defensive back. Speedy sophomore Kentucky baseball commit Evan Hampton is expected to make an impact. Senior Javion Robinson had three special teams TDs and tied Winstead for the team lead in interceptions (three). Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99 Only 44¢ per day SUBSCRIBE NOW Marquee matchups: Aug. 18 at Christian Academy-Louisville; Aug. 25 vs. Bowling Green; Sept. 1 at Daviess County; Sept. 8 vs. Owensboro Catholic; Oct. 20 at Madisonville; Oct. 27 vs. Henderson County. 

4. SOUTH WARREN Head coach: Brandon Smith (11th season). Last year: 6-6. Lost 34-0 to Bowling Green in the second round. Quick look: The Spartans took a step back after winning the state championship in 2021, but their offense returns six starters, including dual-threat quarterback Bryce Button who threw for 2,021 yards and 16 TDs to go with 438 yards and six TDs rushing as a sophomore. Top running back Jimmy Sales (905 yards, seven TDs receiving) and top wideout Bailey Shoemaker (516 yards, one TD) are seniors. Senior safety Dameon “Zay” Rigsby (42 tackles, two interceptions) and junior linebacker Ethan Reynolds (66 tackles) lead a defense that has five starters back. Marquee matchups: Aug. 19 vs. North Hardin (at Campbellsville); Aug. 25 vs. Henderson County; Sept. 1 at Southwestern; Sept. 15 at Manual; Sept. 22 at Greenwood; Oct. 13 vs. Bowling Green.

 5. HIGHLANDS Head coach: Bob Sphire (third season). Last year: 9-3. District champions. Lost 29-23 to Scott County in the second round. Quick look: The Bluebirds ended a nine-game losing streak to Covington Catholic last season but with realignment putting the Colonels in Class 4A, the storied northern Kentucky rivalry carries less weight for the playoffs. Nine offensive starters return, including QB Brody Benke (2,170 yards, 24 TDs passing; 232 yards, seven TDs rushing), leading running back Cam Giesler (641 yards, 13 TDs rushing) and receiver Carson Class (460 yards, eight TDs receiving), all seniors. Seniors Nate Welch (46 tackles) and Carson Shelton (31 tackles, 3.5 sacks) are among the top defensive returnees. Marquee matchups: Aug. 18 at Lexington Catholic; Aug. 25 vs. Covington Catholic; Sept. 8 vs. Ryle; Sept. 15 at Raceland; Sept. 22 at Cooper. 

6. WOODFORD COUNTY Head coach: Dennis Johnson (ninth season). Last year: 11-2. District champions. Lost 21-7 to Frederick Douglass in region finals. Quick look: Woodford has seven starters back and only two on the defensive side, but Johnson said “most of our skill kids got playing time last year and should be a strength for our team.” The most heralded among them might be three-star junior Makhi Smith, a wideout/defensive back who had 671 yards and eight TDs receiving and four interceptions and 40 tackles on defense. Andrew Nason, a 6-2, 185-pound junior dual-threat QB, threw for 1,623 yards and 20 TDs with 872 yards and 12 TDs rushing. Linebacker Dayvion Sturgis led the team in tackles (84.5) as a sophomore. Marquee matchups: Aug. 19 vs. Bullitt East (at Mercer County); Aug. 25 vs. Simon Kenton; Sept. 15 vs. Pulaski County; Oct. 13 vs. Scott County; Oct. 27 vs. Ballard. 

7. SOUTHWESTERN Head coach: Jason Foley (fifth season). Last year: 13-1. District and region champions. Lost 47-20 to Bowling Green in the semifinals. Quick look: With four starters back on the offensive line and three on the defensive line “experience up front will be one of our biggest strengths,” Foley said. That suits the Warriors’ punishing style. Senior running back Christian Walden was one of two 1,000-yard backs last season. He scored 15 TDs. Senior Collin Burton (644 yards and six TDs passing) split time at QB last season. Senior tight end Caden Cunnagin “can do it all” and had 311 yards and a TD. Senior linebacker Ben Coomer is the team’s top returning tackler with 110 and four sacks. Marquee matchups: Aug. 18 vs. Ballard (at Campbellsville); Sept. 1 vs. South Warren; Sept. 8 at Belfry; Sept. 21 vs. North Laurel; Oct. 20 at Pulaski County. 

8. PULASKI COUNTY Head coach: John Hines (25th season). Last year: 9-3. Lost 49-28 to Woodford County in the second round. Quick look: With just eight starters back and most of the offensive production graduated, Hines acknowledged his inexperienced team will have to “grow up fast.” Zak Anderson, a 6-4, 195-pound sophomore, takes over at quarterback. Second-leading receiver Harris Denmyer, a junior wideout, had 771 yards and eight TDs last season. Top returning defensive players include senior defensive end Jay Bales (92 tackles), junior linebacker Ethan Idlewine (51 tackles) and senior cornerback Zander Simpson (51 tackles, three interceptions). Marquee matchups: Aug. 18 vs. Pikeville (at Corbin); Aug. 26 at Danville; Sept. 8 vs. Corbin; Sept. 15 at Woodford County; Sept. 29 vs. Madison Central; Oct. 20 vs. Southwestern. 

9. COOPER Head coach: Randy Borchers (16th season). Last year: 6-5. Lost 56-20 to Scott County in the first round. Quick look: The Jaguars must break in a new offensive line, but return key offensive skill players and their top tacklers from last season. Cam O’Hara threw for 2,018 yards and 21 TDs as a freshman. He’ll have his top receivers back — juniors Isaiah Johnson (673 yards, eight TDs) and Austin Alexander (522 yards, six TDs). Senior linebacker Jack Lonaker racked up a team-high 148 tackles while Alexander in his defensive end role brought in 11 sacks and a second-best 85 tackles. Marquee matchups: Aug. 18 at Bardstown; Sept. 1 at Ryle; Sept. 22 vs. Highlands; Oct. 20 vs. Dixie Heights. 

10. GREENWOOD Head coach: William Howard (fifth season). Last year: 9-3. Lost 27-21 to Owensboro in the second round. Quick look: Playing every season in a buzzsaw district with Bowling Green and South Warren can either wear you down or build you up. The Gators favor the latter. “It’s extremely hard to get to the top of the mountain quick, so we’re just climbing it a little bit at a time,” Howard said. Twelve starters return, including Tel Tel Long, who led the team in rushing and receiving (869 yards, four TDs rushing; 391 yards, four TDs receiving) and two-way players Gray Price (234 yards, two TDs rushing; 65 tackles) and Elmo Stewart (321 yards, four TDs receiving; 61 tackles). They’re all seniors. Marquee matchups: Aug. 18 vs. Hopkinsville (at Allen County-Scottsville); Sept. 25 vs. Warren East (at Barren County); Sept. 1 at Owensboro Catholic; Sept. 22 vs. South Warren; Oct. 20 at Bowling Green; Oct. 27 vs. Union County. 

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES In order of votes received: Madisonville, South Oldham, North Laurel, Fairdale, Graves County, Collins, Dixie Heights, Anderson County, Madison Southern and Seneca. Survey method: These rankings reflect the participation of coaches from 25 of the 39 Class 4A teams (64.1%). Every coach in the division was given the opportunity to participate in the @HLpreps annual survey via email. Multiple attempts were made to contact each coach.

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