In ’26 we give you a top-five (5), some dark horses, and a few more to monitor
Lexington Christian Academy (LCA) played a murder’s row type schedule in 2025 and still won the 2A title and finished 12-3. We believe it entirely likely the Eagles repeat, they have a ton of pieces returning to include one of the better offensive fronts in KHSAA football. One has to figure Beechwood, with Noel Rash returning to the helm, will be tough. Owensboro Catholic has Jason Morris at the helm and a “Mr. Football” candidate at QB. Belfry should be in it (like every year). Breathitt boasts one of the more explosive tandems in its offensive backfield (Miles Hollon, Eli Thoms, both ’28s) imaginable. One would have to figure “Mighty Mayfield” will be heard from and Caldwell County has a ton returning to include three impact transfers from 6A in Bryson “Cowboy” Ford (’29) an All-State LB/TE; Ty Palmer (’29), a top-notch Slot/CB; and Kam Wells (’29), a stout, powerful, and accomplished OG/NG. Don’t forget Somerset 11-2 in ’25; Danville, 9-3 in ’25; Prestonsburg, 12-1 in ’25; and Martin County, 9-3 in ‘25 all of which may make 2A the toughest classification in Kentucky football outside of 6A in 2026.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
eCampus.com was built on a simple idea: make textbooks affordable, convenient, and accessible for every student. Founded in 1999 in Lexington, KY and backed by visionary investors like Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas, the company has grown into a premier online textbook retailer for high school and college students nationwide.
Their mission has always been supporting student success both on and off the field through affordable access to the course materials they need. eCampus.com is excited to invest in our student-athletes through Kentucky Prep Gridiron (KPGFootball) which was founded to promote and assist young high school football players get promoted to “next level,” college football opportunities.
That is why eCampus.com sponsors the KPGFootball, Big Man on the eCampus series. This week we are doing something a bit different. In stead of giving you a feature, we are going to predict the order of finish in the 2A classification for the ’26 season.
We aren’t sure how many of you remember this, but KPGFootball may have been the only Kentucky-wide publication which came out on the record and picked the Eagles to win the title last season (2025). We didn’t panic when the team came out of the gates losing three of its first four.
Iron sharpens iron. We knew the tough early season schedule would pay off dividends when it got to playoff time. We were right.
The 2A classification will be a tough league in 2026 and boasts as many top-flight, top-notch teams as any other class in the commonwealth. There are literally 11-teams who could take home the title with four to five at the top capable of beating the other depending on factor as simple of location of the game.
All points, KY: Here is how we see the 2A classification shaking out in 2026. We like LCA to win it again this year, there is certainly an abundance of talent returning, especially in the ’28 class, but things will still have to fall the Eagles way for them to return to the Promise Land. Enjoy our take:
No. 1, LCA, 12-3 defending state champs;
Championships are won upfront, that is largely why LCA was able to break through with the program’s second title a year ago. We called this one early last year and there weren’t too many who agreed.
Nick Greer (’28) and Matthew Montgomery (’28) comprise the best interior duo, upfront, in the KHSAA. Fellow ’28 prospect Nash Whelan returns under center. In ’25, Whelan threw for 2,526-yards and 28-TDs against only six (6) picks. Whelan ran for over a thousand yards and scored 16-TDs rushing. When your QB is getting that amount of time to operate, the boys upfront, like Greer and Montgomery, are getting it done.
Tyler King will be missed but Sam Pearson (’27) and Dawson Farmer (’28) return and the 48-receptions and 10-TDs the pair contributed. Whelan and Daven Hood (’27) paced the club in scoring and Brandon Shackleton (’29) will get the first shot to replace Dean Hester at the PKer slot.
The top defenders, Aiden Lyons (’27), Thomas Sizemore (’28), and Bode Darland (’28) are all back and Darland contributed 14.5 TFLs, a FF, and a pair of FRs while Sam Pearson picked off four (4) of the opponent’s aerials a year ago. Look out for John Simon Bertram (’29). Bertram had a 61-yard “pick-six” a year ago demonstrating his playmaking ability.
Not a better coaching staff in Kentucky. The school boasts enviable administrative support, facilities, academic support and unparalleled tradition in the central-KY surrounding area.
No 2, Beechwood, 11-2 lost to Owensboro Catholic by one in Regional Championship
The 2A Classification was packed at the top a year ago with a bunch of teams any one of whom could beat the other on any given night. Beechwood, Owensboro Catholic, and Belfry were practically indistinguishable a year ago.
Noel Rash is back at the helm in Fort Mitchell. If you don’t know what that means, you haven’t read my new book, “Kentucky’s All-Time, High School Football Coaches & A Few More I Liked.”
Beechwood won 11-games in 2025. At a place like Fort Mitchell, bowing out at the Regional Championship level will warm your seat. These guys have won 18-KHSAA titles. Rash was at the helm for eight (8) of them.
Tyler Fryman (’27) is a “Mr. Football” candidate and may be the best athlete playing KHSAA football today at any level. Fryman threw a TD, scored four (4) rushing, caught 23 TDs among his 62-receptions, returned three (3) punts in leading the team in scoring 180-points last year, registered 35-tackles, 2.5-TFLs, a FF, a FR, with a pair of picks all to his considerable credit.
Emmett Queen (’27) threw for 2,710-yards and 39-TDs and returns. Queen only threw two picks all year in ’25.
Nathan Pabst (’27) is the leading returning rusher and scored 12-TDs over his junior season. Jack Mercer (’29) will likely earn the PKer duties. He was a back up a year ago but still converted 94.4% (34 of 36) of his PATs and a pair of FGs on two opportunities. Mercer was the best freshman PKer we saw last year across KY.
The defense lost Chase McDaniel but returns many key performers. Caleb Arrasmith (’27, two pick sixes), Anderson Durrett (’27), Pabst (a pick six), and Fryman are nine (9) of last year’s 17-picks and three of the four pick-sixes.
No. 3 (tie), Owensboro Catholic 13-2, lost in the finals to LCA by five
There isn’t a head coach in Kentucky doing any finer a job making the most of the hand he is dealt than Catholic’s head man, Jason Morris. Morris has his Aces in the hunt, year in and year out, and has developed quite a bit of talent there over time he has been at the helm.
Dremail Carothers is a “Mr. Football” candidate and putting up “Gameboy” type numbers. In ’25, Carothers (’27) threw for over 4,000-yards with 49-TDs against only eight (8) picks. Leading rusher, Miles Edge, is at Murray State now, but Shaiden Mitchell (’27) gained close to 300-yards with three rushing TDs as a junior and has talent and skills.
Catholic graduated its top five receivers. Catholic also graduated its top six scorers. Catholic also graduated the commonwealth’s top PKer and a guy who converted 51-PATs and was six for six in FGs in ’25.
There are plenty of defenders returning. Jude Evans (’28) registered 130-tackles, 10-TFLs, 2.5-sacks, a pair of FFs, a FR, and an INT. Noah Grant (’28) returns with his three picks and will patrol the backend in the absence of Jude Cecil and Nick Sims, both of whom are out of eligibility.
The defense in ’25 registered 79-tackles behind the line and 30-sacks. These guys will get after an opponent.
The bottom line here is as long as Catholic has Morris and staff, the Aces will be in the mix.
No. 3, Belfry, 12-2, lost to LCA by five in the semis
Matt Varney is doing a heck of a good job steering the Pirate ship in the absence of its late, great, all-time football coach, Phillip Haywood. Varney had the boys at 12-2 a year ago and right in the mix, losing to the state title team by five in the semis.
Belfry graduated its QB from off the ’25 roster. However, Belfry’s “bread and butter” will always be the pound the ground game. Belfry returns its top pair of rushers and three of its top four. With Woolum, Dante Davis (’27), and Kane Caudill (’27) all returning Belfry returns 2,237-yards rushing and 40 rushing TDs from the 3,736-yards its gained a year ago and 66-TDs it scored over the ground.
Speaking of Woolum, JB Woolum (’27) looks like a “Mr. Football” candidate to us at the magazine. He rushed for over a thousand yards as a junior, led the team with 20-rushing TDs, led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and TDs receiving. Woolum lead the team in scoring (164-points, including a housed kick). Woolum registered 50-tackles and four (4) INTs to boot.
Eli Caudill (’27) may be the best DB patrolling the deep third in any defense in KY. Caudill had six picks among his 90-tackles and a TFL, 132 IRNYs, and a pair of pick-sixes last season. Jayden Muncy (’27) returns and he picked three (3) passes.
This is an excellently coached ball club built to have cold-weather, late season success. The Pirates will be in the hunt, we promise.
No. 5 Breathitt, 10-3 lost to Belfry in regional championship
Here is something about Breathitt I bet you knew before reading this. The Bobcats are a great offensive team. They scored 557-points a year ago in 13-games throwing for over 2,000-yards and rushing for another 2,751.
Miles Hollon (’28) returns at QB and there isn’t a better QB in the mountains. Hollon threw for 1,974-yards, 25-TDs, against just six (6) picks while rushing for another 238-yards and four (4) ground scores. Hollon has lengthened and added height since last season and makes good decisions with the ball. He is a next level/no doubt quater-backing prospect.
Eli Thomas (’28) is among the better running backs in his class in the mountains. Thomas gained right at 1,400-yards in ’25 with 21-TDs while catching another four TDs swinging out of the backfield. Jason Combs (’28) looks to be a fine WR prospect. Combs caught 5-TDs a year ago and averaged 22.8-yards per reception.
Wyatt Spencer converted 45-PATs last season. He converted on 83.5% of his opportunities.
Jagger Burton (’28) maybe the top returning defender. Burton registerer 74-stops with six (6) TFLs a year ago. As he ages he will play more downhill than sideline to sideline.
Kylen Combs (’27) made our All-State football team last year at safety returning from serious injury. As he continues to get healthier and healthier, Combs’s play is reminding people of the play we saw from him when he was Kentucky’s premier safety in his class a few years back.
Adam Spencer (’28) is the best backend guy on defense. Spencer registered 42-stops, a FR, while picking four (4) passes. Look out for Jake Fugate (’29). In limited run as a freshman a year ago he registered a couple stops while picking a pass. Fugate makes his PT count.
Look out for…
Mighty Mayfield, 10-2 in ’25; Mayfield has made back to back, second round exits. That doesn’t get it done at one of Kentucky’s winningest programs. Josiah England (’27) is back at running back. Two years ago, when fully healthy and able to play an entire season, England gained 1,568-yards and 17-TDs in only 12-games. England maybe the best RB in the Jackson Purchase. That can take a team a long way.
Caldwell County, 6-5 in ’25; The Tigers look to have the strongest team it has fielded since David Barnes passed away to his ultimate reward. Daelyn Lander (’27) is a capable and multi-faceted threat at QB and Kameron Wilson (’27), at 235-pounds, is a load of a three-phase guy for the Tigers. Look out for young phenoms, Bryson “Cowboy” Ford (’29, All-State LB/TE), Kam “Ox” Wells (’29, OG/NG), and Ty Palmer (Slot/CB). All three of these transfers figure to get major PT, are transferring down from 6A, and promise to mesh well with the talent on hand to form a dark horse, 2A contender.
Also will be in the running…
Somerset, 11-2 in ’25, losing Kris Hughes will not be an easy fix but Clay Clevenger knows what he is doing and Somerset always seems to produce top-flight talent. Corban Cimala (’27) is a terror defensively and registered 5.5-sacks last season.
Danville, 9-3 in ’25, Stonebraker is among the better coaches in the industry. His first season was a solid success. All-State RB, Jayvian Meaux (’29), may be the premier RB in his class, at any level, and keeping his 1,869 rushing yards/31-TDs away from that bunch across town was no easy task, let me assure you.
Prestonsburg, 12-1 in ’25, Wes Hager has the Blackcats rolling. Alexander Johnson (’27) is a dual threat weapon who returns and is as dangerous with his feat as with his arm. His best weapon may be his head!
Martin County, 9-3 in ‘25, Josh Muncy’s Cardinals were hot for much of last season. Brayden Fannin (’28) is a defender to watch. Fannin registered 70-tackles, eight (8)-TFLs, four (4) sacks, a 45-yard pick six, three (3) FFs, and a FR. This kid can flat play.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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