Looks like a two-team race for the title, Boyle Co. and Cov. Cath.
It is tough, any pre-season, to predict who will do what from a standpoint of ranking KHSAA teams. The 4A classification looks particularly deep and stout this coming season and adding a team with the tradition of Fort Thomas Highlands will do nothing but make the classification even harder. We believe Boyle County and Covington Catholic figure to be the class of 4A. After those two, it gets a bit harrier as the other teams sustained significant losses to graduation. Now programs graduate seniors every year. However, not all losses equate. Some programs can overcome defections to the graduation stage better than others. If your team isn’t listed, it is because we studied the roster and felt there were some glaring deficiencies it would be hard to overcome. Cheer up! We’re far from perfect. Here is our take; this, plus a dime, may not buy you a cup of coffee.
HB Lyon, Chief Scout, “KPGFootball”
Boyle County, Number One
’24 record, 12-1, lost to Covington Catholic at home in the regional championship game by three points (31-28).
Baylor Murphy (’26) was solid under center in his junior campaign. Murphy completed 77% of his passing attempts (135/176) for over 2,000-yards with 30-TDs against a lone INT.
Murphy has the best TE prospect in the South/Midwest, in the ’27 class, to target down the field in Randy Driver’s son, and Tony Driver’s nephew. His name is Seneca Driver and he is a grown man.
Driver is 6’7,” and weighs 240-pounds. We were told Driver stuck the landing on a back flip at practice the other day just for giggles (because he wanted to try it).
Driver caught 24-balls in ’24 for 353-yards and seven (7) TDs. Driver also scored 50-points.
Driver played defense too. Driver registered 36-tackles, seven (7) TFLs, a pair of sacks, and forced a fumble. Many people believe him to be Kentucky’s top rated prospect in any graduating class.
Driver has 37-FBS offers presently. Driver is a 5.8-rated, Four (4)-Star on most all the national recruiting services.
Driver has an 80-inch wingspan, 10” hands, runs the 40 in 4.66-seconds, and shuttles in 4.5-seconds. Driver has a broad jump of 9’9.”
Nathaniel Schepman is a “big play” threat. As a sophomore, he averaged over 16-yards a reception and scored a TD every 4.5-receptions.
Cliffton Yocum (’26) looks ready to lead defensively. Yocum registered 43-tackles, five (5) TFLs, and five (5) sacks. Kain Logan (’27) pitched in a pair of TFLs and Jakeem Ray and JiDyn Smith-Hisel each contributed a pair of INTs.
There is no way around this single fact which keeps putting Boyle in yearly championship discussions. Justin Haddix is among the best in the business in Kentucky’s coaching fraternity.
Haddix has compiled a 145-42 record with four (4) titles (2020, ’21, ’22, ’23) in six (6) attempts (Corbin, played for the title in 2017, 2018). Any team which trots out onto the field with Justin Haddix as its head football coach has a chance, a very good one.
Covington Catholic, Number Two
’24 record, 11-3, lost to Franklin County in the semis
There can’t be a better dual threat guy, at QB, than Covington Catholic’s Cash Harney. This guy is 5’10,” 170-pounds of dynamite and a solid “Mr. Football” candidate.
Harney threw for 1,303-yards and 13-TDs in ’24 and rushed for 1,476-yards and 19-TDs. Cash led the team in scoring with 116-points and none of his 13-TDs passing were credited to him. Harney even recovered a fumble.
Most importantly, Harney led his team to an 11-win season and a berth in the semi-finals. Harney is “Lexington or Bust” in 2025.
Dylan Gaiser (’26) is back to form a potent 1-2 punch in the offensive backfield with Harney. Gaiser gained 1,378-yards from scrimmage with 15-TDs on 131-carries. Gaiser played a little defense too. Gaiser had 35 stops and three (3) INTs.
We like Owen Pitzer (’27) a great deal as an up and comer. In addition to his work at RB in a limited capacity, 65-yards and five (5) rushing TDs, one TD swinging out of the backfield and a two-point conversion; Pitzer did some outstanding work on defense registering 57-tackles and a sack.
Logan Sanning (’26) is back for the ’25 defense and Sanning had a productive junior season. Sanning registered 47-stops, half a sack, a FF, a FR, and three (3) INTs. Matter of fact, the Colonels in blue picked 25-passes a year ago and approximately 20 of those picks return in ’25. Thrown on them if you wish, but you do so at your own peril.
Corbin, Number Three
’24 record, 12-2, lost to Tilghman (Paducah) in the semis
Much like Paducah Tilghman’s losing Jack James, Corbin lost Kade Elam and he (also) was a once in a generation-type talent at the QB position for the Redounds. Elam passed for 3,411-yards and 40-TDs, in ’24, while completing 75% of his passes (200/268). Elam only threw three (3) picks.
Elam rushed for nearly 500-yards and 16-rushing TDs. You just need to fully appreciate what losing a Kade Elam actually means and how good Elam actually was.
We get tired of fans critiquing our preseason polls with “We’re coming of a 12-2 record and we lost to Freddy D and Tilghman. How can you rank us third, or fourth, or whatever?”
Fans don’t like to acknowledge graduation. Not all these guys who walk across the graduation stage are easily replaced.
Cole Stevens (’26) is back at RB and he came close to gaining a thousand yards a year ago. He also scored 10-rushing TDs.
Cam Estep (’26) returns and he is as talented as any pass-catcher across the commonwealth. Estep caught 63-passes for 1,027-yards and nine (9) TDs a year ago. Estep also caught five (5) passes not even targeting him (INTs). Estep registered 43-tackles in ’24.
Eli Pietrowski (’26) and Cole Stevens (’26) both return and they will keep defenses from doubling Estep. Pietrowski faced a pair of fumbles last year.
Pietrowski’s unafraid to hit. Pietrowski’s 37-registered tackles, three (3) TFLs, and four (4) sacks tells me my impression is entirely accurate.
Bryson Hopkins (’28) is a young guy who should be monitored this coming year. Just a word to the wise, this kid is a playmaker.
Noah Cima will be a huge miss. Cima scored 13-TDs receiving, converted a FG, converted 76-PATs to contribute 157-points to the team in ’24. Add him to the list of talent, with Kade Elam, which may be hard to replace.
Mason Salmons (’27) looks to be a star in the making. Salmons had 76-tackles a year ago with a TFL and a sack. Salmons forced a fumble and recovered a pair.
Malachi Brown (’27) is one of the better players in Kentucky at his slot and in his graduating class. Brown registered 46-tackles, 10-TFLs, and eight (8) sacks. You don’t see young guys get “down hill” like Brown very often.
This isn’t last year’s team. They won’t be quite as good this year as last. That said, they are still the Corbin Redhounds. That is a name we have come to fear, around the KHSAA, and with good reason.
Paducah Tilghman’s “Blue Tornado,” Number Four
’24 record, 15-0, won the 4A title
Sure, “The Blue Tornado” touched down in Lexington last December. Sure, Tilghman High (Paducah) polished off a 15-0 overall record and a 4A title in ’24. However, that was then…this is now.
Say whatever you want, but graduating a QB who threw for over 4,100-yards, 57-TD passes against only nine (9) picks, and completed close to 70% of his 438-passing attempts (304) all in one season will be far from simple. Quarterbacks like Jack James don’t come around too often in a coach’s career.
There is still some talent on “The Blue Tornado” roster. We don’t bring up linemen enough but Jarvis Strickland (’26) may be among the best OL I have seen since I began covering KHSAA football.
Strickland has the size (6’6,” 290) and disposition to take over ball games from his tackle slot. Strickland is the highest rated recruit in Kentucky.
Demarkus Wilson (’26) gained 828-yards rushing in ’24 and scored 11-rushing TDs to go with his 66-points he put up on the scoreboard. Avery Thompson (’28) is a budding super star in the receiver corp. Thompson caught 36-balls in only nine (9) games for 454-yards receiving and eight (8) TDs.
Russell Hancock and Tate Kirchoff were both seniors a year ago. Between them, they made 90 of 94-attempted PATs for a conversion rate approaching 96%. Hancock made a FG. That is quite a bit of scoring which will have to be found elsewhere.
Defensively, look for Brady Sanderson (’27) to answer defensive coordinator’s Steve Lovelace’s call for service. Sanderson registered 61-tackles, six (6) TFLs, and a sack last season.
Keep an eye on Isaac James (’28). James was only a freshman and played in 9-games.
Limited playing time aside, James register 23-tackles, a TFL, recovered a fumble, and picked a pass. You don’t see that type production from a freshman defender on a roster which went 15-0 and won it all in the 4A classification that often.
Gae’lon Spivey-Nunn (’28) was a freshman in ’24 too. He only saw run in four (4) varsity games in ’24. However, Spivey-Nunn registered five (5) tackles and a pair of INTs. We call that making the action count.
If we are being honest, and we strive to be, Tilghman lost quite a bit from off of last year’s team. That being said, they are still excellently coached and have enough pieces remaining to warrant this preseason ranking.
Paul Blazer High, Ashland, KY, Number Five (tie)
’24 record, 11-2, was pasted by Corbin in the Regional Championship
Like so many teams listed herein, there isn’t a person left on this roster who has ever completed (nor thrown) a varsity forward pass. On top of that, leading rusher Braxton Jennings also graduated.
Between LaBryant Stader’s 25-TD passes a year ago with Jennings 20-rushing TDs, that is a ton of scoring the Tomcats will have to find somewhere else. If I were going to have to come up with that level of offensive production, I would like to have Chad Tackett coaching my team.
Paul Blazer High will feed the ball to Cameron Davis (’26) and Maverick Ashby (’27). Davis gained over 500-yards last yard and scored nine (9) TDs rushing while Ashby gained close to 500 (452) on only 73-carries, scoring six (6) rushing TDs while catching eight (8) passes swinging out of the backfield.
Davis also contributed 47-tackles, a TFL, and picked off six (6) INTs. Davis maybe the most versatile player in 4A.
Davis was the leading receiver in ’24, catching 35-balls for 615-yards and eight (8) TDs receiving. Davis will get “Mr. Football” attention this Fall.
Sam Lyons (’26) returns and he caught 35-balls for 514-yards and five (5) TDs to go along with his pair of INTs he snagged on defense. Lyons forced a fumble, recovered a pair, and logged 32-tackles with three (3) TFLs to augment his offensive production.
Troy Barnett (’26) has a final year of eligibility and that is huge for the Tomcats. Barnett converted 46-PATs, of his 53-attempted, and was perfect in FGs, although he only attempted one. Hey, better to make the single attempt than miss it, right?
Seth Morris (’28) is waiting in the wings. He made seven of his 13-attempted PATs. To see much action, Morris has to improve on that 54% conversion rate.
Keyshawn Newman (’26) registered 56-tackles, six (6) TFLs, and four (4) QB-sacks a year ago. Newman will figure prominently in the Tomcats’s defensive plans in ’25.
The bottom line is this, Blazer will be in the hunt because they are Blazer and the coach is Chad Tackett. However, that aside, we can’t just pretend they didn’t suffer significant losses. They most certainly did.
Fort Thomas Highlands, Number Five (tie)
’24 Record: 11-3 in 5A, Lost in the Semis to Cooper
The Bluebirds are among the more decorated programs in KHSAA history. While Fort Thomas Highlands has won 23-titles, they haven’t won a title since 2014.
Man, that is over 10-years ago (not counting ’25 which we haven’t yet played). If you would have told me in 2014 Highlands wouldn’t win another title over the next decade or so, I would have walked away from the conversation thinking you’re crazy.
The Bluebirds have a chance this season, coming off an 11-win campaign and semis loss to state finalist, Cooper. They are sliding down to 4A and 4A may end up being an even tougher nut to crack than 5A, particularly this season. Not easy to get through any classification that hosts teams like Boyle, Paducah Tilghman, Covington Catholic, Corbin, Franklin County, Paul Blazer, etc.
QB Rio (Mario) Litmer (’26) is another of those 4A “Mr. Football” candidates. Litmer threw for nearly 3,000-yards in ’24 with 33-TDs while rushing for another five (5) scores. Litmer completed 69% of his passing attempts and had a smidgen over 4:1 touchdown to interception ratio.
Gabe Williams will be the top returning rusher and the ’27 prospect had a decent enough year for a kid getting on the field for Highlands as only a sophomore. Williams rushed for 344-yards and four (4) touchdowns and looks to improve on those numbers dramatically. Gabe Williams paced the DBs with five (5) INTs in ’24.
Tayden Lorenzen is a ’27 guy with an eerily familiar surname. He caught 31-balls in ’24, eight (8) of which were for TDs. Lorenzen also scored 74-points a year ago.
Kai Anderson (’27) appears to be the heir-apparent at PK. Anderson was a perfect seven (7) for seven (7) in PATs a year ago.
Isaac Neimann will be counted on to lead the defense. Neimann had 57-tackles last year with seven (7) TFLs, three (3) sacks, six (6) FFs, and a pair of FRs.
How much better is Highlands than Franklin County, Johnson Central, DeSales, and Perry County Central? At the end of the day, I suppose will shall see. I believe the line to be rather thin though
Rounding out the Top-10
Franklin County, No. 7, had huge losses on defense and will have many untested players on that side of the ball. Knox Barrett (’28) should improve quite a bit and Jack Oldham will get the lion’s share of the carries. This is an excellently coached ball club (Eddie James, HFC) which could easily slip up into the top five.
Johnson Central, No. 8, is coming off an 8-4 worksheet in ’24. Losing a 2300-yard rusher in Zack McCoart won’t be easy as this offense depends more on RB than QB. Logan Music is very, very good. Seth Davis is a huge loss on defense.
Perry County Central, No. 9, just kind of fell apart a year ago, plummeting to four (4) wins on the year. That won’t happen again is our wager. Mark Dixon is as good as it gets as a head football coach and the Johnson brothers, Aaron David “AD” (’26) and Bryson (’28), are both heady, knowledgeable, and talented ball players who both worked extensively with a speed trainer this offseason. Bryson Johnson is as good of a young LB as you will ever see at the HS level.
North Oldham, No. 10, and its head football coach, Brock Roberts, has the Mustangs hitting on all cylinders coming off a nine (9) win campaign. QB Colin Daniels (’26) is a really fine player and last year threw for over 2,300-yards with 30-TDs against five (5) INTs. Daniels completed a smidgen over 67% of his passes (184/274). Lucas Thompkins is a “Mr. Football” candidate and led his team as a junior in scoring. Additionally, Thompkins caught 50-passes for 887-yards and 14-TDs, scored four (4) TDs rushing, and converted three (3), two-pointers on special teams. Thompkins played defense and picked five (5) passes and accumulated 90-IRNYs. We call that three (3) phase utility and it is a prized commodity at the 4A, 5A, and 6A levels.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball and KPI Newspaper Group, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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