We are running through our preseason, yearly ritual of forecasting the finish in each of Kentucky’s six (6) classifications before the season kicks-off. Today we will run through a particularly talented classification, Kentucky 5A. There are lots of teams which could challenge this year as there are some excellent teams at this level of play with awfully good players and particularly good coaching. We wouldn’t be at all surprised to see “Mr. Football” get crowned from out of this classification. We have provided below our predicted order of finish and why. Enjoy the analysis. It is what makes us “KPGFootball” and singular in the football industry in the commonwealth of Kentucky.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
All Points, KY: We have been running articles detailing how we see each of Kentucky’s six (6) classifications fleshing out this coming Fall. Football season is literally right around the corner.
Today we look at a class of football which appears particularly talented both in playing and coaching talent. We like them in the order you see listed, but to be fair, some of the teams we listed under “Look out for” could surprise some people come the second, third, or even fourth rounds of the playoffs.
Watch particularly the running squads. That ball gets slippery and hard when the temperature drops around late November. However, that being said, these guy have to be able to throw it around a little or a defense will just crowd the box and take away the run.
The 5A classification doesn’t appear as deep as either 2A or 4A but it is awfully top heavy and the teams we have listed here can beat any of the others on any given night. We believe Scott County will take the title this year, largely owning to the Dantzler kid transferring into an already well stocked roster.
However, Owensboro cannot be discounted as a likely repeat. The Red Devils have plenty coming back for another run at the title. In the end, a slip here or a fall there, and the entire picture could get considerably foggier.
Here is our take. This is why we make the big money!
No 1, Scott County, 9-4 in ’25, losing to Woodford County in the Reginal Championship;
This is a crazy good staff with three members of the staff with their own Chapters in my book, Kentucky’s All-Time Football Coaches & A Few More I Liked. Jim McKee is a Hall of Fame future inductee as are Ray Graham and Marvin Dantzler.
Charlie Ellison (’28) returns at QB and threw for 20-TDs a year ago and ran for another eight (8) scores. Skyler Way (’27), Timmy Emongo (’27), and Jayden Garrett (’27) give the Cardinals the most formidable backfield returning in all of the KHSAA at any level of play. The triumvirate gained 3,095-yards on the ground a year ago, in 350-combined carries, with 35-rushing TDs to their combined credit.
Emongo may be a “Mr. Football” candidate as he also lead the team in receiving (21-catches, 660-yards, 10-TDs), scoring (174-points), FRs (2), and was tied for second with three (3) INTs with 41-IRNYs. Emongo registered 20-tackles and registered a “scoop and score.” He could have sold concessions and directed the marching band; but, otherwise, what more could he have done in ’25?
Isaiah Elliot (’27) is a weapon at PKer. He converted 94.6% of his PATs (70 of 74) in 2025 and his only FG attempt.
The defense returns four top defenders in Asher Brewer (’27), Ju Ju Harmon (’27), Riley Colvin (’27), and Parker Adkins (’27). Those four alone accounted for 13-TFLs, faced a pair of fumbles (Harmon), picked seven (7) passes (Harmon-three, Asher-four), and housed one INT for the team’s lone pick six (Harmon).
In addition to all of the above, the Cardinals added a valuable transfer in the offseason out of Louisville Central in Jalen Dantzler. Jalen Dantzler is one of the fastest, more coveted, and dangerous players playing football anywhere in Kentucky today.
Can’t coach speed. Dantzler has it in spades.
Dantzler also has height (6’2″) and length, two other attributes one can’t coach. Dantzler registered 54-tackles and forced a fumble in ’25. Dantzler housed a pair of kicks and scored a safety for his team.
This guy took a kick back in 2025 almost the entire length of the field, easily separating from Christian Academy-Louisville’s pursuit. If you can run away from that many D-1s, you should make All-State football teams just for that play.
Dantzler also gives his new team one of the more lethal returners in the game, averaging nearly 50-yards a kick return (49.57) with a long of 90-yards and a second kick he returned 82. This team looks mighty from our present vantage point.
Owensboro has a ton returning too, though Mr. Football, Evan Hampton, has taken his talents to the SEC (Vanderbilt). However, that being said and with the coaching staff McKee has assembled, this Cardinal team will make a ton of noise in 2026.
No. 2, Owensboro (Senior) High, 13-2 in 2025, won 5A football championship;
Damarcus Ganaway Sr. hit the ground running in his first season, stewarding a Mr. Football in Evan Hampton and taking the Red Devils to the 5A winner’s circle (13-2, 5A State Champions). Hampton is out of eligibility but don’t cry for Ganaway’s boys. There is plenty left in the tank for ’26.
Damarcus Ganaway, Jr. returns and he threw for 2,706-yards and 36-TDs against only five (5) picks in 2025. Ganaway also ran for five (5) TDs. Omarian Tee Green ran for seven (7) scores in ’25 and that is not too shabby considering there was a feature back in Hampton getting fed 173-carries a year ago.
Green was a heck of a defender for the Red Devils too. Green registered 66-tackles, registered a TFLs, two (2) FFs, three (3) FRs, and picked-off four (4) passes.
Ty Ashley (’27) was a top-notch defender in 2025. Ashley registered 148-tackles, 10-TFLs, three (3) sacks, four (4) INTs, 74-IRNYs, with three (3) FRs. Ashley also scooped a fumble up and took it back some 50-yards to the end zone for the team’s lone scoop and score on the season.
Kingston Dillard (’28) is a real weapon split out wide. Dillard caught 58-balls a year ago for 1,294-yards and 18-TDs. Dillard scored 108-points and is the team’s leading returning player in that all-important, statistical category.
Cooper Ellis (’29) may have been amongst the highest scoring freshmen in the commonwealth in 2025. Ellis converted 81-PATs and has plenty of time remaining in his prep career to up his PAT percentage and add some FGs to the mix.
Keep an eye on Kameren Payton (’28). The defense lost quite a bit of pass-rushing threat to graduation but Payton registered 22-tackles with four (4) coming behind the line and another four (4) being sacks. This kid has shown a penchant for getting “down hill” and meeting plays in the offensive backfield.
Owensboro registered 80-TFLs and 39-sacks a year ago. That is one way to win a championship. Allowing only 180-points in 15-games (12-points per) while scoring 643 (42.46 per) will ALWAYS lead to seasonal success and championships at some level or another.
No. 3, Woodford County, 12-2 in 2025, lost to champions Owensboro (Senior) in the semis;
Dennis Johnson’s “Yellow Jackets” are as well situated at QB as any team can hope to be. Foxx Coons (’27) is a Mr. Football candidate and is coming off a year where he threw for 3,331-yards, 41-TDs, threw only eight (8) picks, while running for a couple scores. Coons completed over 62% of his passing attempts (228/366) and that is right efficient for a high school signal caller.
Darrian Tomlin (’27) returns and he was special in ’25. Tomlin gained 1,550-yards, scored 19-TDs, and averaged close to eight (8) yards a carry (7.79-yards per or there-abouts). Tomlin also scored 128-points which included two (2)-TDs receiving and a two-point conversion to go with the rushing output.
Omari Jointer (’27) and Greyson Hodge (’27) are both back in ’26. Jointer caught 50-balls for 895-yards and 15-TDs, scoring 92-points; while Hodge snagged 61-receptions for 763-yards and 9-TDs. Kael Rihtar was pretty fair a season ago, snagging 36-balls for 625-yards and five (5) TDs. One of the better receiver rooms in the commonwealth.
Cash Wolfe (’29) was outstanding at PKer. Wolfe converted nearly 92% of his PATs (57 of 62) while converting all three (3) of his FGs attempted.
Jordan Holman (’27) and Elias Tackett (’27) were top defenders. Holman registered eight (8) TFLs, 2.5-sacks, forced two (2) fumbles while recovering one. Tackett had 10.5-TFLs, three (3) sacks, and forced a fumble.
Christopher Reed, Jr. is back to hold down the deep third. Reed had a pair of INTs, a pick-six, 58-IRNYs, 37.5-tackles, two (2)-TFLs, half a sack, a FF, and a FR. Jalen McKinney is also back there and he housed a 65-yard pick-six, 43-tackles, six (6) TFLs, a sack, two (2) FFs, and a FR.
This is a very talented team, year in and year out. This is a very well coached team, year in and year out.
No. 4, Atherton High, 12-2 in 2025 losing to Pulaski County in the semis;
Anthony White has done a great job developing, branding, and marketing his program. Atherton is a Big Dawg in 5A football across Kentucky and has historically struggled but for a few years under the great Dan Goble and over the course of White’s present tenure.
Lamar Sistrunk, Jr. (’28) is an athlete at the QB position. Sistrunk threw for over a thousand yards and 15-TDs, only threw two picks all year, ran for a touchdown, and (most importantly) led the team to a 12-2 finish. Deairus Smith (’27) may assume much of the running duties as it appears Garyon Hobbs has moved along to other pastures.
Jason Briscoe (’27) is back at WR in ’26. Briscoe snagged 30-balls a year ago for 649-yards receiving and nine (9) TDS. Briscoe also scored 66-points and will be the leading returner in that category. Briscoe played a little defense too. Briscoe registered 26-tackles, six (6) TFLs, a sack, and a pair of INTs. Where ever he aligns, Briscoe is a player!
Bruce Leisten (’27) is a capable PKer. He converted 47-PATs in ’25 and a pair of FGs. His 53-points proved pivotal by year’s end.
Zai Vion Meads (’27) is among the better defenders in Kentucky. Meads registers 17-TFLs and nine (9) sacks amongst his 72-stops last season. Keep an eye on Eli Blanton (’27). Blanton registered 15-TFLs and six (6) sacks a year ago amongst his 39-stops. That appears to be a defender aware of getting penetration and wreaking havoc.
No. 5, Bowling Green (Senior) High 6-7 in 2025 losing to Atherton in the regional championship;
Bowling Green Senior only won six (6) games a year ago, losing seven (7), but still played for a regional championship. Good coaches have their teams playing its best football when it counts. Mark Spader is a future Hall of Fame coach.
Bowling Green was young a year ago and has plenty of weapons back with valuable experience and development under the belt. I wouldn’t be looking for the Purples to pop another six (6) win campaign in ’26 if I were you.
Anthony Davis (’29), a freshman a year ago, still threw for right at 2,000-yards (1,971) and 21-TDs. Unlike most freshmen thrust into action, Davis only threw four (4) picks meaning he made good decisions with the ball in his hands and either had good protection or was adept at avoiding pressure, perhaps a little of both.
Look for Davis to be a menace this coming season. As Davis goes, so goes the Purples.
Nick Graham (’27) is steady at RB. Last year, Graham gained 531-yards with five (5) rushing TDs. Graham snagged 13 balls out of the backfield and had a TD receiving too. The receiving corps was the most hit by graduation. They will be looking for some playmakers there.
Watch out for Bode Knee (’29). He was a freshman a year ago who made the most out of five games of PT. He will be vastly improved this coming Fall.
Kale Phelps (’28) is the heir apparent at PKer with the departure of Oliver Gonzales. Phelps converted all 18 of his PATs in ’25. He hasn’t tried a FG yet, but the time is fast approaching.
Bode Knee can kick a little too. You will find the “Knee” family has plenty of athleticism.
Embree Dotson (’27) is ready to step up and lead the defense. Dotson had 69-tackles, five (5) TFLs, a sack, a FF, and a FR in ’25. He also snagged himself an INT and rumbled back with it some 53-yards.
Keep an eye on Kyle Sledge (’28). Sledge registered 47.5-stops, a TFL, and recored a pair of fumbles as a sophomore a year ago. Not easy for any sophomore to find the field playing for a Bowling Green, much less record the numbers he did.
Look out for:
Madisonville North-Hopkins, 8-3 in ’25, lost to Greenwood in the first round;
Madisonville North-Hopkins lost quite a bit of talent in Markezz Hightower, Jayden Travis, and Travion Stafford off an eight (8) win team which many thought would hang around the playoffs much, much longer. The Maroons lost some critical pieces from off that roster but the cupboard isn’t completely barren. There is plenty returning upfront.
Kadence Price “KP” (’27, OL/DL) at 6’2,” 265 is as good of a combo, two-way lineman as you will see. He is also as technically sound as any young player you are likely to encounter. Being the son of a coach (Chris Price, himself a former Hilltoppers great) doesn’t hurt a young man’s understanding of the finer points of the game.
Look out for Ryder Sandidge (’27). Sandidge, in 2025, rushed for 347-yards and six (6)-TDs, caught 26-balls for 378 and three (3) TDs, finished third (3rd) in scoring (66-points) including housing both a KO and an INT, while registering 74-tackles, 1-TFL, 1-FR, and 3-picks with the aforementioned “pick-six.” Sandidge is also one of the better baseball prospects in the KHSAA in addition to his being among western KY’s more versatile and skilled football stars. In fact, this guy should be challenging for Mr. Football this Fall.
Is this enough to rank the Maroons? Maybe not; but, it is enough to declare them dangerous!
Pulaski County; 12-3 in 2025, played for a 5A title losing to Owensboro…
Pulaskit County lost its football coach, Travis Burns. Burns led them to a title game and then headed off to Mercer County in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Still, Burns is leaving behind a very capable ball club with some talent remaining off last year’s squad.
Kasen Brock (’27) returns. He gained 1,808-yards and scored 22-TDs in 267-carries a year ago to go along with 28-receptions out of the backfield with four TDs receiving. Leading receiver Winston Ford (’28) was just a sophomore. He caught 47-balls a year ago, registered 89-tackles, 10-TFLs, and forced a fumble.
South Laurel; 9-3 in 2025, losing to Pulaski County in round two…
Perhaps the greatest thing coming back for South Laurel is future Hall of Fame head coach, John Hines. Hines led the Cardinals to a 9-win season a year ago.
Hines will have to break in a new QB and a new premier RB as two really good ones have graduated. Malachi Smith (’28) is a heck of a player and registered 137-stops, 11-TFLs, 2-FFs, and 3-FRs a year ago. Caleb Roark (’28) picked five (5) passes in 2025, so opposing QBs can’t lose him in their coverage read.
South Oldham; 5-6 in ’25, lost to Cooper at Cooper in the first round of the playoffs…
South Oldham isn’t accustomed to struggling. What they are accustomed to is thriving and hanging around the playoffs quite a few rounds. Watch the progression of Adrian Miles (’27) at QB this season under the tutelage of Coach Brandon Meredith. Coach Meredith is a QB’ing guru especially capable of getting the most out of the talent under his care and charge.
Miles will make plenty of progression this coming season. So will the Dragons!
Also should be fun to watch:
Muhelenberg County; 5-5 in ’25, missed the playoffs. The Mustangs have assembled an excellent coaching staff led by head football coach, Josh Staples, and defensive coordinator, Matt Day. Having a Matt Day on staff is a real boon as DC’s just don’t come any better.
Dual threat, Klay Wilken (’27) is a real versatile athlete and led the team in passing and rushing in 2025. Ethan Jones (’29) is an all-state caliber specialist and Karson Lynch (’28) is a stud defender coming off a year where he registered four (4) sacks in only 9-games. Look out for Daylen Hocker (’28) in the deep third!
The Mustangs could slip up on some folks in 2026. Coaches like what is on the Mustang staff always give teams a chance.
Montgomery County (MoCo Indians); 3-8 in 2025 losing to South Laurel in the first round. The new head football coach at Montgomery County High School in Mt. Sterling, KY, is Joe Chirico. Chirico took over the Indians program after previously spending five seasons as the head coach at rival George Rogers Clark in Winchester, KY, a 6A team.
Chirico won a 1A state football title at Paintsville (’20). Getting coaches who have formerly won titles at any level of play is a real find for any program.
The roster was hit pretty heavy by graduation. However, it has been KPGFootball’s experience Big-Timers, like Chirico, find ways to make it happen!
Anderson County; 3-7 in 2025, missed the playoffs. David Buchanan is among the best to have ever done it in the football industry in Kentucky. Winning three (3) games isn’t bad at all from where the Bearcats have been in recent seasons.
The team was pretty young a year ago and has a bunch of its skill players returning. The top three statistical players on defense also return. We believe this team will be much improved.
Hudson DeGarmo (’27) picked three (3) passes in ’25, returned two (2) of them for pick-sixes, wracked up 138-IRNYs, led the team in tackles, while leading the team in both scoring and rushing. This guy is a one-man band for the Bearcats and a talented prep player on whom Buchanan will lean heavily for the team to make steps toward being the type program it has before been.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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