’29 specialist will be called upon early and often in 2026
Lexington Christian Academy (LCA) played a murder’s row type schedule in 2025 and still won the 2A title and finished 12-3. Of course, not all three (3) loss seasons are similarly situated. This particular three loss worksheet also boasted an opening weekend victory over a ranked 6A team in North Hardin and a win in the “Holy War” over 3A rival, Lexington Catholic. LCA will have a target on its back the entire ’26 Fall and it would be unwise to overlook the pride of Lexington’s 2A classification regardless of how large of an enrollment from which your school may benefit. Enjoy this look at a rising sophomore specialist (PK) who can make a tremendous difference for his team and was on an Eagle team playing its best football at exactly the right time of year, last season. While this guy had a small role in 2025, it is expected his role will expand exponentially 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’s Big Man on the eCampus feature is Lexington Christian Academy’s rising sophomore PK, Brandon Shackelton (’29).
Brandon Shackelton made the most out of his single game appearance on the varsity in 2025, nailing both of the PATs he was called upon to execute. Shackelton backed up senior, Dean Hester, a season ago and Hester came off an All-State caliber season.
While Hester is graduating, Shackelton will likely be a critical, point-producing, piece of one of Kentucky’s premier high school football programs in 2026. The Eagles ability to defend its second title successfully may come down to Shackelton’s being able to assume the role Dean Hester occupied a season ago.
Lexington Christian Academy (LCA) perennially competes for KHSAA championships at its level of play. Players driving the defense, like Aiden Lyons, are among the reasons why.
Lexington, KY: Brandon Shackelton was only called upon a single game for varsity action playing behind steady, all-state caliber senior, Dean Hester during the 2025 championship run. Shackelton made that one time count by converting both of the PATs his team needed.
LCA won the title in ’25. The title was the program’s second ever. Now the Eagles get to experience being the hunted over being the hunter.
The fact is this…the Eagles were young in 2025. Many believed LCA was (at least) a year away from contending in ’25.
Where they weren’t young was at PK. Dean Hester was a tried and true performer at that slot and converted 65 of his 70-PATs and was two (2) for four (4) on FGs. Hester scored 71-points in 2025, rushed the ball from scrimmage once for eight yards and even chipped in a handful of tackles.
That won’t be easy to replace. However, to win a title a team has to be a successful hit in all three phases of the game. Replacing Hester, therefore, will be quintessential to repeating.
Their winning it all in ’25 makes the Eagles a definite threat to repeat in ’26. The Eagles have the pieces, both in place and returning, to do it.
The one question mark may be at PK. Shackelton didn’t get many opportunities his freshman year.
The ’29 rising sophomore got a single game of varsity run. He was asked to convert a pair of PATs and he successfully did that. There is something to be said about guys who make the most of opportunities.
Like so many successful athletes at the high school level, football isn’t Shackelton’s only strong suit. We have learned Shackelton is a promising member of LCA’s wrestling program. Having a multi-skilled athlete trot on the field to attempt a winning place-kick for you is much preferable to the alternative.
Competitors know how to compete. Being able to compete at all of the three phases of the game is the recipe for championship success.
We believe all Shackelton needs is opportunity. His getting consistent reps in practice and games will benefit his team’s bottom line. We still believe the Eagles’s best football may still be yet to come. That is a scary thought.
Like we constantly mention, PKs don’t score points without a stout front line keeping defenders from running free to block and obstruct attempts. The success of any PKer is directly related to the play of the guys around him, particularly the guys with their hands in the dirt.
PK can only convert PATs and FGs if unmolested by marauding, penetrating defenders
Friday Night Fletch
Against a gauntlet of football powers at different classes in the middle of playing one of the more difficult schedules in the KHSAA last year, Brandon Shackelton proved himself among the more versatile, multiphase weapons in the game for the limited amount of opportunities presented him. It was fine production, indeed, for any Freshman. Shackelton figures to only increase that output as a Sophomore.
We recognize LCA will have to continue to play well if the program is to continue to experience the success it had in its second championship season. That being said, we are still predicting it likely the Eagles challenge for the title in ’26 like the program customarily does annually.
We see Shackelton as a next level kid or future college football player. We aren’t sure if it will be as a specialist or an every down guy and the level at which he figures to play will depend on how his frame finishes and how well his speed and “quicks” continue to develop.
We’re sure Shackelton, like a lot of kids at his stage of physical development, could use another few inches and the addition of some good weight gained during a productive offseason. Couldn’t we all?
We know this, Shackelton’s performance on “Friday Nights,” as a 9th-grader, only strengthened (in our minds) our prediction concerning his future college prospects. We also know Shackelton, like Lyons, like Matthew Montgomery, about whom we persistently write, are all strong academic performers with excellent class standing and almost assuredly will be “full qualifiers,” in the NCAA clearinghouse, when the time comes.
For now, Shackelton is one other thing in addition to all the other skills and assets we have highlighted. Shackelton is among the very best PKs in the KHSAA’s ’29 graduating class. Shackelton is also our eCampus.com, Big Man on the eCampus, Feature of the Week!
Join us next week as we feature another eCampus.com, Big Man on the eCampus. Until then, from any classroom to every field, eCampus.com delivers an easy, fast, and affordable way to order textbooks for students everywhere.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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