’28 two way lineman excelling in the classroom and on the field
Lexington Christian Academy (LCA) plays a murder’s row type schedule pretty much every year. Not all three loss campaigns are the same. This last one, in ’25, ended up with a 2A title and 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. Catholic was coming off consecutive wins over 4A Boyle County and 6A Great Crossing. The Eagles also beat a resurgent Danville, on October 17 at home, and entered the playoffs 7-3 before going on a five (5) game win-streak to the title. Enjoy this look at a young lineman who has been making a tremendous difference for his team right where the difference is most critical…upfront.
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 is Lexington Christian Academy’s OG/DT, Matthew Montgomery (’28; 6’1, 235).
Matthew Montgomery is entering his third year in the lineup of one of Kentucky’s premier high school football programs. Lexington Christian Academy (LCA) perennially competes for KHSAA championships at its level of play and will again this coming season.
Lexington, KY: Matthew Montgomery has already done something in his young, football career many would have thought unlikely. Montgomery played in 13-varsity games, on an 11-3, 2A football team with a starting five, upfront, who all signed to play college football at the Division I level when he was just a freshman. Montgomery’s sophomore campaign would see him start upfront again and help lead his team to a 12-3 finish and a 2A title.
First of all, it isn’t commonplace for a freshman or even a sophomore to crack the lineup, even at 2A schools, where that school is routinely and annually in the title hunt. Montgomery did that and enters his junior season a fixture along the offensive interior.
LCA is routinely and annually in the hunt for 2A championships. That includes this year (’26), coming off a ’25 title and 12-3 mark. We will get to that point here in just a minute.
Matthew Montgomery is just a rising junior but already a steady and consistent superstar at the varsity level. Montgomery plays along the all-important OL. Against its cross-town rival (Lexington Catholic), the Eagles prevailed in its annual “Holy War,” 28-21. That isn’t all the ’25 Eagles did.
In scoring 28-points against Catholic, Nash Whelan (also a rising junior in ’26) completed 13 of 19-passing attempts for 116-yards and gained nearly 100-yards (90) on 19-carries, three (3) of which he carried across the goal line. Quarterbacks don’t complete nearly 70% of their passing attempts, in the biggest game of the year, without protection.
Quarterbacks don’t score three (3) TDs rushing without optimal blocking. Tyler King (’26) doesn’t catch seven (7) targets without excellent blocking and time in the pocket for Whelan to find him down the field.
The boys upfront, the unit Montgomery was anchoring, was getting it done
Friday Night Fletch
Against a gauntlet of football powers at different classes and among the more difficult schedules in the KHSAA last season, Nash Whelan had over 1,000 total yards, with 11-TDs, running or throwing. These type of things don’t happen in a vacuum.
The boys upfront, the unit Montgomery was anchoring, was getting it done. We have no problem predicting the Eagles look likely to challenge for another title in ’26.
That Danville High game in Lexington, October 17, last season didn’t turn out to be as tough as we expected it would be. New coach, Steve Stonebreaker, had done an excellent job restoring the Admirals (5-1, at the time the two played) to its prior luster.
Montgomery is 6’1,” 235-pounds and has grown some since last season with more growth bound to occur. Montgomery is a rising junior. Lots of rising juniors continue to develop physically.
Montgomery has a strong academic standing. Athletically, Montgomery has demonstrated the versatility to play DT in addition to his responsibilities at OG.
We see this kid, next level, at either offensive center or defensive tackle, we aren’t sure which and depending on how Montgomery’s frame finishes. Montgomery has the intelligence, burst, and twitch to play upfront in college on either side of the line right now. Montgomery can add additional power, strength, and size.
For now, Montgomery is one other thing in addition to all the other skills and assets we have highlighted. Montgomery is among the very best interior offensive linemen in the KHSAA. Montgomery is also our eCampus.com Big Man on the eCampus this week!
Join us next week as we return to honor 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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