We had the Bulldogs preseason No. 5; that was three transfers ago…
A few years back, Breathitt was coming off a soft, eight win campaign in 3A which would see them win some tight games and bow out in round two of the playoffs, 40-7, on the Riverbank courtesy of Dudley Hilton and his Bobcats from Bell County. Breathitt picked up some huge transfers and went 13-1 the following season, losing to the state champion, on the road, in the semis. The point is, a few transfers can make a huge difference. Enjoy this look at the Hazard Bulldogs who may likely end up being even better than we predicted a couple months back.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Hazard, KY: We released the top teams in the six (6) classifications of play in the KHSAA back in June. Our reflections were sufficiently well received enough that none other than the spectacular podcast, “Cleats 2 Whistle,” picked up our projections and based an entire preseason show on them.
Thank you boys. We love the show, by the way.
Now there is one thing we never considered as far back as June. We didn’t factor in transfers. There are reasons for that reticence.
We have found through the years outlets like ours shouldn’t talk about transfers until their status has been determined by the KHSAA and they either are or aren’t cleared for immediate play. We never know how these things will resolve.
We never want to be the reason some young man has to sit a year just because we wanted to “scoop” some other publication, digital or print. It just isn’t worth the risk.
With the season right upon us, we would like to revisit Hazard and tell you why the Bulldogs may be better than we thought they would be just a few months ago.
Here is what we said then…
No. 5, Hazard Bulldogs
8-5 in 2024, lost to Raceland in the regions
This will be Matt Chandler’s second year at the helm at Hazard. What a job he did in his first season.
Hazard was a two point loss on the road to Breathitt (2A) from a nine (9) win campaign. Hazard knocked an always tough Williamsburg squad out of last year’s playoff, and convincingly.
Max Pelfry has graduated and that will be a huge miss (196/312, 2,444-yards, 26-TDs, six (6)-picks, 11-rushing TDs). William Shoptaw was a freshman a year ago and threw five (5) TDs to 0-INTs and the job may be his to lose. Memphis Blankenship will be another big loss as he was a thousand yard ground gainer in ’24.
in the KHSAA’s ’27 class in
our opinion
Now for the good news, Gavin Johnson (’27) returns and he may be a “Mr. Football” candidate in a few years. Johnson caught 85-balls for 1,069-yards and 13-TDs in ’24 as only a sophomore.
Johnson scored 108-points in ’24 to lead the team and scored in all three (3) phases of the game (two (2) TDs rushing, 13-receiving, a KO return, six (6) two (2) point conversions). Johnson also had 51-tackles, a-FF, a-FR, and a pair of INTs.
Conner Holbrook (’27) housed a pick-six (6) from 51-yards out in ’24 and registered 92-tackles on the year with four (4) sacks.
Race Lindon returns. Lindon led the club with 127-stops, a-FF, and two (2)-FRs. Caden Brewer has a bright future as the ’28 prospect registered three and a half (3.5) sacks in limited run a year ago.
Before you point out Hazard made this poll position based largely on the strength of the Johnson kid, we would point out a kid like that, who is a three (3) phase contributor, makes a huge difference in 1A football. The Bulldogs have more than just Johnson. However, having one Gavin Johnson will get a bunch of lower classification type teams a preseason ranking.
What we didn’t say at the time…
Gavin Johnson is even a freakier athlete than we knew. He has worked this offseason with a speed trainer and has his vertical up to 43-45-inches. This kid has to be clipping off 40s in the 4.4s. Wow!
Hazard loaded up this offseason on three (3) quality transfers. Korbin Fletcher has transferred in from Leslie County and been cleared for play. Fletcher is really explosive and has shown an ability to lock down his side of the field at corner.
Fletcher is 5’10,” and weighs 175 so the ’26 prospect has good size for where he deploys. Fletcher had 20-tackles a year ago with three TFLs and audacious numbers in the passes broken up department. Fletcher’s best football is still ahead of him and Hazard will get the benefit of that fact.
Hazard got Chris Partin to come over from 4A Perry County Central. Partin was a starter for the Commodores and measure in the 6’0″ to 6’1,” 325 range. Partin is a ’28 kid and this isn’t a misprint. Partin had 24-tackles and a couple of TFLs as a freshman nose guard playing on a 4A football team.
Partin bench presses over 400-pounds. Partin is a legitimate 600-pound squatter. He is the most powerful player in the KHSAA among rising sophomores, period.
Partin will start at left guard and play nose. This past summer a Division I OL coach told KPGFootball about Partin, “He’s among the best linemen, technique wise, we saw all summer.” Wow, again!
Partin was a huge get for the Bulldogs, both figuratively and literally.
The third transfer was Jackson Deaton and he also came over from Perry County Central. Deaton is a 5’10 185 senior (2026). Deaton made 79 tackles in 11 games at Perry Central last season.
Deaton has locked down the outside linebacker position but could also play inside linebacker situationally. It is expected Deaton will be a 100 tackle guy this coming season.
What it means…
You are taking three two-way players, all three of whom starred at programs playing at larger classifications than Hazard, and adding them to a young roster which won eight games a year ago and have many, many weapons returning.
burg are on the schedule
for Hazard in ’25
Hazard opens at 5A MoCo (Montgomery County). MoCo ain’t no joke.
Coach Michael Caba’s Indians are coming off a five win season in ’24. The Indians lost in the first round of the 5A playoffs, in overtime, to North Laurel.
Hazard will have to play an 11-win Prestonsburg team from a year ago returning relatively in tact and a Breathitt team which beat the Bulldogs last season and return one of the more explosive offensive backfields in 2A football (Miles Hollon, ’28 QB). In other words there are plenty of schedule challenges awaiting Hazard in 2025, just as there were a year ago.
Hazard will also play traditional 1A powers Campbellsville, Raceland, and Pikeville. The Bulldogs get to travel to Paintsville then come home and play Somerset.
So, tie it all together, and we believe the Bulldogs may be a challenger for the 1A title in 2025. We believe them to be a real threat to get to Lexington.
The matchup with Pikeville on October 25, 2025 may be really, really key. That game is in Hazard and mastering the Bulldogs at the Dog Pound is a daunting task for any team no matter how talented, no matter how good.
It won’t be easy. Then again, anything worth doing is never easy.
With apologies to the Beetles and their hit song “The Long and Winding Road” from 1970, Hazard will travel a long and winding road in 2025. If they handle it right, with the mix of returning stars and transfers it has assembled, let’s hope it leads to the championship’s door.
I’ve seen that road before…and it can lead you there!
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball and KPI Newspaper Group, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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