[dodger]

Here's the first look of what 2018 Kentucky high school football might look like if it was still the 4-class system with only the top two advancing to the playoffs out of each district that many of us grew up with. Here's Class A and I'll try to get the other three classes up the rest of this week.

The enrollment numbers used are the ones used for the 2019-22 realignment. Each district has six or seven teams. Classes were split evenly among the 221 schools and teams were not placed higher than their enrollment.

It will never happen, but I miss these days when district championships meant something and making the playoffs was an accomplishment.

Class A
District 1: Ballard Memorial, Crittenden County, Fort Campbell, Fulton County, Mayfield, Murray
District 2: Caverna, Clinton County, Hancock County, McLean County, Metcalfe County, Owensboro Catholic, Russellville
District 3: Bethlehem, Campbellsville, Danville, Fort Knox, Frankfort, Green County, Washington County
District 4: Carroll County, Eminence, Louisville Holy Cross, Gallatin County, Kentucky Country Day, Trimble County, Walton-Verona
District 5: Bishop Brossart, Beechwood, Covington Holy Cross, Dayton, Ludlow, Newport, Newport Catholic
District 6: Berea, Bracken County, Lexington Christian, Nicholas County, Paris, Fairview, Raceland
District 7: Harlan, Hazard, Leslie County, Lynn Camp, Middlesboro, Pineville, Williamsburg
District 8: Betsy Layne, East Ridge, Jenkins, Paintsville, Phelps, Pikeville, Prestonsburg

Playoff matchups according to latest H-L Rating the State:
Murray (D1-2nd) at Owensboro Catholic (D2-1st)
Hancock County (D2-2nd) at Mayfield (D1-1st)
Walton-Verona (D4-2nd) at Danville (D3-1st)
Campbellsville (D4-2nd) at Louisville Holy Cross (D4-1st)
Newport Catholic (D5-2nd) at Lexington Christian (D6-1st)
Raceland (D6-2nd) at Beechwood (D5-1st)
Williamsburg (D7-2nd) at Pikeville (D8-1st)
Paintsville (D8-2nd) at Hazard (D7-1st)

[Westside]

I preferred the old playoff system and just having 4 classes, but I doubt we will ever see either again.

[PHS DYNASTY]

I preferred the old playoff system and just having 4 classes, but I doubt we will ever see either again.

Agree. Imo, it was a better system all around at that time.

[E's Army]

Would make scheduling a lot easier for 1A schools. But you get to point were large 1A schools are substantially larger than the bottom schools. I think it would be better to keep 1A and 4A smaller to keep the schools more similar in size

[pjdoug]

everything changes

[Pulp Fiction]

I preferred the old playoff system and just having 4 classes, but I doubt we will ever see either again.

Agree. Imo, it was a better system all around at that time.

I've done several posts and threads about this.


I agree, the 4 class system was better, BUT every other KHSAA sport allows every eligible team at least one post-season game. No matter their record, teams win zero wins still get to participate in post-season play.

The KHSAA would have to change the criteria for every sport to make this happen. The premise of the 6 class system was to allow more teams in the post-season. Football was the only sport that district records determined what teams made it to the playoffs. That still holds true for some classes, but only a very small number of teams are left out. Some people have argued this was in response to the "every child gets a trophy" era..... no matter if you agree with that or not, I think post-season play should be, in the words on Brad Calipari's chest, "Earned Not Given".

[bo67]

I agree. No more of this weak sister games

[Orange Blaze]

I've done several posts and threads about this.


I agree, the 4 class system was better, BUT every other KHSAA sport allows every eligible team at least one post-season game. No matter their record, teams win zero wins still get to participate in post-season play.

The KHSAA would have to change the criteria for every sport to make this happen. The premise of the 6 class system was to allow more teams in the post-season. Football was the only sport that district records determined what teams made it to the playoffs. That still holds true for some classes, but only a very small number of teams are left out. Some people have argued this was in response to the "every child gets a trophy" era..... no matter if you agree with that or not, I think post-season play should be, in the words on Brad Calipari's chest, "Earned Not Given".

Imo the 6 class system has benifited 1A more than any other class. If you look at 1A in the 4 class system it was basically what is now 2A with a few exceptions. I know whenever I played at Raceland making it to the title game was never in the conversation simply because it was so top heavy and we also played in a very strong NKY region which limited our success in the playoffs. In those days if we just won the district that was considered a good year and winning a playoff game was a great year.

[Pulp Fiction]

Imo the 6 class system has benifited 1A more than any other class. If you look at 1A in the 4 class system it was basically what is now 2A with a few exceptions. I know whenever I played at Raceland making it to the title game was never in the conversation simply because it was so top heavy and we also played in a very strong NKY region which limited our success in the playoffs. In those days if we just won the district that was considered a good year and winning a playoff game was a great year.

Several good EKY teams got knocked out by the NKY powers before the six class system.

EKY owns 7-8 more state titles had the six class system been adopted about ten years sooner.

[Jarons]

Would make scheduling a lot easier for 1A schools. But you get to point were large 1A schools are substantially larger than the bottom schools. I think it would be better to keep 1A and 4A smaller to keep the schools more similar in size

North Carolina plays with 4 classes during the regular season. In the playoffs, each class is split in 2. The 16 smallest schools in each class that earn a playoff berth in each class are split into 1 class (1A, 2A,3A, 4A). And 16 largest schools in each class that earn a playoff berth are split into another class (1AA, 2AA, 3AA, 4AA). Teams in the same district (conference in NC) can play in different classifications in the playoffs. I like it. With exception of the 1 vs 16, 2 vs. 15, 3 vs.14, 4 vs. 13 games all the first round games are competitive.

[Orange Blaze]

Several good EKY teams got knocked out by the NKY powers before the six class system.

EKY owns 7-8 more state titles had the six class system been adopted about ten years sooner.

Playing against Highlands and CovCath every year for sure didn’t help you guys much but I do think those experiences did pay off long term in regards to the level you are at now.

[Pulp Fiction]

Imo the 6 class system has benifited 1A more than any other class. If you look at 1A in the 4 class system it was basically what is now 2A with a few exceptions. I know whenever I played at Raceland making it to the title game was never in the conversation simply because it was so top heavy and we also played in a very strong NKY region which limited our success in the playoffs. In those days if we just won the district that was considered a good year and winning a playoff game was a great year.

Several good EKY teams got knocked out by the NKY powers before the six class system.

EKY owns 7-8 more state titles had the six class system been adopted about ten years sooner.

Playing against Highlands and CovCath every year for sure didn’t help you guys much but I do think those experiences did pay off long term in regards to the level you are at now.

Off the top of my head.

2000 JC - 4A; 10-0 regular season, lost to Tates Creek in the 2nd round.
2001 Paintsville - 1A; lost to NewCath in the state semi-finals.
2006 JC - 3A; 10-0 regular season, lost to Cov Cath in the semi-finals.

I'm pretty sure Pikeville & Paintsville lost to some NKY powers (Beechwood, NewCath) in the 80's & 90s.

[Orange Blaze]

In 2006 Raceland was lost to the eventual state champion NewCath in the regional championship. Going into that game we were 11-1. That was actually the last time we faced an NKY power until we played Beechwood last year.

[PHSFAN]

Even though it would immensely reduce the chances of a state title for my alma mater I really miss the 4 class system and wish it was still in place.

[Cakebattermatters]

If there were 4 classes, my understanding is that Highlands and Covington Catholic would be in 2A and 3A, resulting in 2 state championships for NKY each year. EKY would be shutout once again. Football would be enjoyable in the state of KY once again!

[Panther Thunder]

I miss these days. Also miss pre-consolidation.

[KYHSFBFan]

Imo the 6 class system has benifited 1A more than any other class. If you look at 1A in the 4 class system it was basically what is now 2A with a few exceptions. I know whenever I played at Raceland making it to the title game was never in the conversation simply because it was so top heavy and we also played in a very strong NKY region which limited our success in the playoffs. In those days if we just won the district that was considered a good year and winning a playoff game was a great year.

I think there should be some sort of grading system, where teams get so many points for wins, playoff wins, wins vs higher classes, etc and at the end of every 4 year period, the top 3 or 4 teams during that run is moved up a class.. In the case of 1a, you could have the 3 or 4 weakest move down a spot. That way, you get rid of the same ole, same ole winners every year..