The time is fast approaching where we will stop featuring ’26s and move on to the graduating years with remaining eligibility. However, that time isn’t now and there are still a few ’26 guys we missed that we would like to feature while we still can. Lira is one of those. Lira is a guy who was the unsung hero of Logan Smith’s record setting season at RB, Coby Lewis’s first year as the HFC, and the Lakers program’s turnaround. Lira has been described as a “true leader” by his leader, head coach Coby Lewis. We honor this young man today by giving him this weekly distinction.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Big Ass Fans Large School Football Team Reveal Show
The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company, based in Cadiz, Kentucky, was founded August 7, 1970. The bank obtained trust powers in 1978.
It is a locally owned, independent bank which has expanded, through the years, to locations in Hopkinsville and Murray in addition to Cadiz. The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company has focused on community finance and dealing face-to-face with both families and small-business owners while fulfilling customer needs and the dreams of area families and businesses regardless of size or construct.
We, like our area schools, strive for high performance and finding ways to prosper in an ever-changing economic environment. The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company remains committed to superior performance goals coupled with an exceptional quality of customer service.
’26 lineman, Luis Lira was among the local, young, high school athletes who also rendered a superior performance while achieving exceptional quality this past season. What will this star guard pull off in his next phase of life/academics/athletics?
Well, that is the reason Lira is our featured player of the week. Whatever it turns out to be will be special.
The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company…committed to superior performance with an exceptional quality of customer service
Friday Night Fletch
Murray, KY: Coby Lewis engineered quite the impressive turnaround during the ’25 campaign. It is a long way from 0-10, what the Lakers were the year prior to Coby’s arrival (’24), to 6-5 or what they were this past season (’25).
Coach Lewis would be the first to tell you any coach has to have some players to be successful. The Lakers had a few of those with two studs, Brayden Winchester and Logan Smith, making the Big Ass Fans Large School All-State FB Team this past year.
None of these events, whether it be season to season turnarounds, coaching honors, or teammates making all-star teams, happened in a vacuum. Lewis would also be the first to tell you that. Smith and Winchester would agree, we would wager.
Luis Lira was the type of player around whom turnarounds are accomplished and on whom coaches and stars are constructed. We had an opportunity to talk with Coby Lewis about his out-going, senior OG.
Lewis told KPGFootball, “Lira was the unsung hero of everything Smith and Winchester accomplished as players (particularly Smith) and everything I was able to get done in my initial season at the helm of the Laker program. Lira also is a wrestler, a skill set particularly designed to developed the skills requisite for interior OL play.”
Lewis concluded, “Lira was, this past season, and remains a true leader who stabilized our performance, upfront, from his left guard post. Smith owes his 21-rushing TDs (record setting) to Lira and his line mates laying it on the line for him, and Smith would certainly agree.”
Smith owes his record setting career and season to Lira and his line-mates…
Friday Night Fletch
The Lakers brace for an all-important offseason. Seasons aren’t constructed in-season.
Coaches will tell you the games are test-day. It is the days leading up to “test day” that reveal whether you have prepared, whether you have done the work.
Game day, like test day, is when we discover whether or not you studied. Right now, the offseason, is the time to develop and prepare for in-season success. Right now is when the future test will be either passed or failed, not the Thursday “walk-through.”
We have an idea, though can’t say for certain, exactly who will step up for the Lakers in ’26. Matthew Briedwell (’27) returns at QB and he is coming off a terrific year. Walker Bell (’29) did some impressive things for a freshman.
It is hoped Bell may help fill Smith’s shoes but, truthfully, programs don’t benefit from Logan Smith-types yearly. Logan Smith-types aren’t too easily replaced.
Brayden Winchester (’27) returns. Having an All-Stater returning, who is also a D-1, college prospect, isn’t a bad place from whence to start out any season.
We know this, the Lakers will be excellently coached and excellently prepared. We like this program’s trajectory.
This offseason will go along way in answering questions. Regardless, seeing the answers revealed should prove entirely interesting.
Let’s just hope between us there are some Luis Liras on net year’s roster. That would really get this program off on the right foot in 2026!
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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