Will Trinity make it title number 30 or will St. Xavier, Male, or even a Ryle or McCracken get in the race?
It is tough, any pre-season, to predict who will do what from a standpoint of ranking KHSAA teams. Trinity is always the sexy and easy pick in 6A and that has been born out over 29 previous state titles at Kentucky’s largest classification. St. Xavier is always tough, as is Male High, and Ryle looks as tough as ever. This year expect to see some strides out of teams like McCracken (which has a ton of talent returning) and Henry Clay (Lexington) which has hired a proven program builder in Phil Hawkins. Keep an eye on Winchester, KY as Joe Chirico has great facilities, is a great coach, and is developing some talent on the roster coming around and looking better and better. Here is our take; this, plus a dime, may not buy you a cup of coffee.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Trinity High (Louisville), Number One
’24 Record: 13-2; Reining 6A Champions
Zane Johnson will be starting his third year at the helm of the mighty Shamrock offense. Johnson is the class of the ’27s across the state, especially at QB, and threw for over 2,000-yards a year ago and had a nearly 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio (18-TDs, 10-INTs).
Jamaurion Berry gained close to 800-yards in ’24. The ’27 RB scored 12-rushing TDs and scored another two (2) TDs swinging out of the backfield in pass routes. Berry was the team’s leading scorer a year ago as only a sophomore.
Jason Hagan figures to be among Johnson’s top downfield targets and he is a ’27 like so many other stars on this roster. Hagan caught 23-passes, five (5) of which were for TDs.
Carson Hilbert graduated and that is a big miss for the ‘Rocks. Hilbert made 47-PATs and 12-FGs a year ago.
It appears Christopher Kehdy (’27) is poised to take over. He was 100% on PATs in ’24 (five for five). Carson’s little brother Peyton Hilbert (’28) was four (4) for four (4) on PATs so he isn’t surrendering the job to Kehdy or anyone else for that matter.
Trinity suffered some heavy losses defensively. Bailey Vance, in ’24, had 10-TFLs and nine and a half (9.5) sacks but is out of eligibility. Keandre Thompson will lead the defense in ’25 and the rising senior (’26) had 12.5-TFLs and five (5) QB-sacks his junior season. Thompson also recovered a fumble.
Look out for Sebastian Blue. Blue, a ’27 guy, had seven (7) sacks and a pair of TFLs, forced a pair of fumbles, and recovered one, among his 21-stops in limited action in ’24. This kid is flying under the radar but won’t be for long.
Jahbarri Frost (’26) as superstars go is the worst kept secret in the commonwealth. Frost is 6’2,” 270 and holding offers from Eastern Michigan, Iowa State, and Western Illinois. Frost had over seven TFLs and four sacks a year ago fighting every form of double and triple team the opponent could throw his way.
Myles Howze is another ’27 guy who is killing it at Trinity. Howze had five picks in ’24 with 66-IRNYs, among his 29-tackles and four and a half (4.5) TFLs. Sonny Bratcher Gray, a ’26 DB, also returns and he picked four (4) passes last year. Gray also had 29-stops, three and a half (3.5) TFLs, a QB-sack, and a FR to sort of top it all off his junior year.
Over all, this is Louisville Trinity. If history has taught us anything, it has taught us Trinity will be in the title hunt even in years following way more defections than the ball club experienced last spring to graduation. Like Beechwood, these guys are picked to finish first, preseason, till someone proves to us the ‘Rocks can be beaten.
Ryle High, Number Two
’24 Record 12-3, State 6A Finalist
Mike Engler’s Raiders were tough all last season and no one was surprised when they ended the year in Lexington playing for the 6A title. They have some key components back for another tour of duty and should be very stout, yet again.
Nathan Verax returns for his senior year and, provided he has a year similar to his junior season, looks to be a solid “Mr. Football” candidate. Verax completed close to 60% of his passing attempts (186/317) and threw 30-TDs against only 12-INTs. Verax threw for close to 2,400-yards while running for another 600 or so and scoring seven (7) TDs rushing. Verax is a dual threat weapon.
Jacob Savage returns and he scored 22-TDs rushing in ’24. Savage gained over a thousand yards and caught 29-passes swinging out of the backfield for another four (4) scores.
Savage led the team in scoring with 158-points or over 10 a game. Savage is also the team’s top defender, something you see very rarely at the 6A level.
Last season, Savage registered 141-tackles, nine and a half (9.5) TFLs, three (3) sacks, and an INT to go along with his offensive numbers. Jacob Savage has a message for you…Nathan Verax isn’t the only “Mr. Football” candidate playing for the Raiders.
Dylan Lee returns to fill the shoes of the departed Landon Lorms. Lee caught 46-balls in ’24 for 608-yards and seven (7) scores. That isn’t all Lee did. Lee also picked off six (6) passes and racked up 173 IRNYs and a pick-six along the way.
Gavin Moses is back at PK and Moses converted four (4) FGs and 60-PATs for 72-total points on the board. Moses is a difference maker in the all-important third phase.
Mason Clark, ’28 PK, may be the heir apparent to Moses. He was two (2) for two (2) on PATs and converted his only FG attempt. This man needs more opportunities.
Bo Gay is tough on defense for the Raiders. Gay registered 15-TFLs and nine (9) QB-sacks among his 42-total tackles.
The Raiders ain’t going no where soon. Engler’s crew will challenge again in ’25.
Frederick Douglass, Number Three
’24 season 9-5, lost to Trinity in the Semis
There may not be a roster in Kentucky which has more D-1 talent routinely cycle through its rolls with any more regularity than the Broncos from Frederick Douglass. Nate Mcpeek has built a consistent challenger in Lexington in the KHSAA’s largest classification.
To our point, the Broncos had a down year in ’24 and still made the 6A semis. The Broncos conceivably ended last season the second best team (arguably) in 6A.
Jaxon Strautman returns at QB. Strautman (’26) threw for 20-TDs and ran for three (3) more as a junior. He’s starting to figure this whole thing out and that is very bad news for the rest of the KHSAA.
Dakari Talbert gained close to 850-yards a year ago and scored 11-rushing TDs and he was only a sophomore (’27). Talbert was the team’s second leading receiver out of the backfield and registered a receiving TD to go with his rushing numbers. Talbert scored 72-points last year.
Kenoxie “Tay Tay” Allen has a lot of promise. Allen is among the better athletes on the roster.
Cionne Conn looks to be a rising star. The ’27 defender had 38-tackles, a pair of TFLs, half a sack and forced a fumble as a sophomore. Conn also picked a pair of passes.
Tacori Fields is another talented ’27 prospect who registered 51-tackles, half a sack, and picked a pass. Look out for cornerback Elijah Ward (’26). He is diminutive, at 5’8,” 145, but he is holding a Louisville offer and is fast as greased lightening.
St. Xavier, Number Four
’24 record, 7-5, lost to Ryle in round two
St. Xavier had what amounted (for that program) to an uncharacteristically poor season a year ago. Kevin Wallace, the Hall of Fame worthy head coach of the Tigers, says he is bowing out at the end of the season. St. Xavier wouldn’t dare send him out any other way than in a 6A title hunt.
QB Mason Trimble (’26) is returning for his senior year. Trimble threw for 2,300-yards and 21-TDs in ’24 as a junior. Trimble also ran for 315-yards and four (4) more scores.
Marlon Harbin III (’26) was the leading rusher a year ago and scored 12-TDs on the ground while catching 47-balls for 639 and another 6-scores. Harbin accounted for 1,343-total yards and 18-TDs leading the team with 108-points scored. He played defense too, leading the ball club with three (3) INTs.
Lucas Shelton (’26) is returning. Shelton caught 38-passes a year ago.
Karsten Busch, 6’3,” 223 LB committed to Louisville and is Kentucky’s highest regarded LB. Busch (’26) registered 59-tackles, 12-TFLs, and seven (7) sacks in ’24.
Luka Bentz isn’t a bad defender in his own right. He lead the Tigers with 71-tackles, nine (9) TFLs, and three (3) sacks.
Look out for Benjamin Pinkston (’26). Pinkston had 50-tackles, three (3) TFLs, and a pair of QB-sacks all while playing with his hand in the dirt.
St. Xavier was a seven win team in ’24. However, they lost to Manual by one score and were in most of their games until late in the second half; so, they weren’t just any seven win team. Any team coached by Kevin Wallace has a chance.
You can bet that, partner!
McCracken County Mustangs, Number Five
’24 record, 6-6, lost to Central Hardin in round two
We believe in “Jimmies and Joes” as far as studying who is likely to do what around the KHSAA. We think this is a year one might see a team come from no where to have a banner season and possibly contend. That team might well come from the first district.
The Mustangs return Maddox O’Neal at QB and the ’26 prospect had quite the junior season. O’Neal threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 41-TDs against 16-INTs.
Sure the 16-picks is a lot. However, a 2.5:1, touchdown to interception ratio, is nothing at which to sneeze. O’Neal picked up over 200 yards rushing so O’Neal can’t be discounted regarding his feet, speed, elusiveness in the pocket, and overall athleticism.
All three (3) of the Mustangs top rushers are back for another go. Landon Newman, Dawson Hayden, and Kayden Wahl were all juniors in ’24 and gained a combined 1,600 rushing yards and 16-rushing TDs between the three.
Jude Lanier was a freshman (’28) in ’24 and was the ball club’s third leading receiver. He will make tremendous strides and the club will need it. Cooper Falconite and Daivon Dunbar both graduated.
Brock Wilson is a weapon at PK. Wilson, a rising Jr., converted 52-PATs and made all four (4) of his FG attempts. This cat is money in the bank kicking a football through uprights. That will win you ball games, trust me.
Charlie Higdon (’27) understands the concept of “getting downhill.” Higdon had 15-TFLs with five and a half (5.5) QB-sacks in ’24. Higdon forced three (3) fumbles, recovering two (2).
Hunter Neely (’26) added 53-tackles with 4-TFLs. Sam Goodman (’26) had seven (7) stops behind the line of scrimmage.
Keep your eye on Jaxon Schackleford. He is a ’27 DB and registered 67-tackles, four and a half (4.5) TFLs, a sack, a FF, and a pair of FRs.
Schackleford flies around and makes big defensive plays. There is always room on any defense for a guy like that.
Coaching wise, Tyler Brooks has impressed us. Brooks arrived with a pretty barren cupboard left by his predecessor and has inspired the McCracken squad to exceed expectations.
This team scores a ton of points (438 in 12 games last season). If the Mustangs can stop some people, look out! They may not even have to stop opponents; just slow them down a bit.
The next five
6. Male High (Louisville
7. duPont Manual (Louisville)
8. George Rogers Clark
9. Bullitt East
10. North Hardin
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball and KPI Newspaper Group, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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