’25 season just ahead; what should we expect?
If we are being honest, the Storm had a really tough ’23 season. The team boasted some “program all-timers” slotted around the field. Notwithstanding some really good personal, the Storm still experienced some “hard-luck” breaks and bounces which turned what should have been a seven (7) or eight (8) win season into a four (4) win season and a “…home for the playoffs” at year’s end. Last year was one where the team should have struggled. Last year was supposed to be the rebuild. Surprisingly, and thankfully, the Storm made the playoffs and performed better than expected. A sign of good coaching you ask? We think so. So, what should we expect in ’25? The Storm has some important pieces and some young talent which has yet to prove anything but has “promise.”
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Morton’s Gap, KY: For those of you wondering, it is that time. High school football is fun and games until you hit the Dead Period.
June practices are volitional. July practices are mandatory.
Today is the day the preparation for the ’25 season begins in earnest. Today, it is real, very real.
How will our Storm fare in ’25? In this article we will go over some position groups and attempt to predict what we hope and believe will be the answer to your questions.
Who will lead the offense?
Sylas Gunn (’26) will get the go at QB. He brings a ton of athletic skills to such a deployment.
We were talking to a 6A head coach the other day and he told us, “Hey, nothing wrong with taking the best athlete on the team, aligning him behind the Center, and snapping him the football.” We agree.
Apparently, so does Chris Manning. That appears to be the direction he will go.
Gunn took over at QB in ’24 to move Isac Earl out to the slot and free him up to utilize more of his skill set. Earl is redeployed, more than likely. Gunn is game experienced.
Gun threw for 668-yards and nine (9) TDs a year ago while rushing for another 263-yards and a score. Gunn also caught 12-passes though those days appear over until he gets to college where he is being recruited as a slot WR.
Gunn returns among the leading scorers for the season and offense wasn’t his best side of the ball in ’24. Defensively, Gunn registered 104-tackles, six (6) TFLs, a sack, and a pair of INTs.
He is the most versatile player on the team. Gunn is a three (3) phase contributor. He will be again in ’25.
Isac Earl (’26) can play some QB too, if needed. Earl threw for 690-yards and six (6) scores a year ago. Earl rushed for 460-yards and seven (7) scores, led the receiving corp with 27-grabs, 363-receiving yards, and another seven (7) TDs scored. Earl was the leading scorer with 92-points.
Earl is a multi-phase performer too. He registered 27-stops, a pair of TFLs, and recovered a fumble.
The one-two punch of Gunn/Earl will be potent in ’25. It will carry this team.
The one-two punch of Gunn/Earl will be potent in ’25
Friday Night Fletch
There are eight (8) or nine (9) guys who will challenge to play upfront in the rotation. If we were pressed to put together a lineup for an opener, and had to do it, RIGHT NOW, we would slot Kristian Scott (’26), Jaden Jones (’26), Joel Murrah (’28), Conner Miles (’27) and, possibly, Aaron Wells (’27).
Overall the OL boasts plenty of talent capable of giving the team valuable snaps. The starting five averages (and this is an informed guess) approximately 6’0,” 255-pounds. That is plenty of beef to grade some road in KHSAA 3A, District 1 football.
Jeremiah Groves (’26) and Kaijain Hayes (’28) will see expanded roles in ’25. Both players should provide valuable speed, quicks, and explosion for the offense and the special teams, together with what they appear destined to add to the defense.
Special teams often get overlooked. That phase can win you games or lose them. Having an accomplished PK returning is worth its weight in gold.
What about the kicking game?
Blaze Whitaker (’27) returns in ’25 for his junior year. Blaze converted a dozen PATs in ’24 and finished among the club’s leading scorers in spite of only getting seven (7) games of run. If there is a guy who will see his role and performance expand, it will be this guy. Remember we said this!
The beauty of 3A…many kids play both ways
Friday Night Fletch
What about the defense?
The beauty of 3A football is many kids play both ways or even play in all three of the game’s phases. We have talked about Gunn and Earl.
Issac McKnight (’27) played in 8-games over his sophomore season. In spite of this, he still finished with 52-tackles, a TFL, and two and a half (2.5) sacks. McKnight also recovered a fumble.
Kamran Harrison (’26) was a leader of the unit a year ago and will be in ’25. Harrison registered 39-tackles, four (4) TFLs, a sack, all while recovering a fumble.
Gage Brasher (’26) had 28-stops and a TFL in 8-games played. Kaijain Hayes (’28), who also played offense and special teams, registered 27-stops and a pick in his seven (7) games of action.
Who’s going to punt the ball?
We don’t know who will be punting the ball as that has yet to be decided. We have heard Gage Brasher can do it. We believe either Gunn or Earl could do it too if the need arises.
When a bad play occurs in the punting game, it usually decides a game. I can’t stress enough how important it is for the Storm to be able to align and execute a punt. Here’s to hoping we find someone.
What it all means
According to what we found online, Central opens hosting Caldwell County and ends the year with at Webster County and hosting Crittenden. Between those three games, the Storm travels to play Todd County, entertains North (Madisonville-North Hopkins), travels to Fort Campbell, hosts Kentucky Country Day (KCD), travels to Russellville, and hosts Union County.
The opener and the final two games are winnable games. Todd County, at Fort Campbell, and at Russellville are too. It really comes down to how the Storm handles North at home, KCD at home, and Union County at home.
The good news is they are all at home. The bad news is Union County is the defending 3A state finalist (and the classification’s runner-up) while KCD is picked to contend for a state title in 1A and coming off a 10-3 record in ’24 while North has been preseason picked in the top five (5) in class 5A and boasts an All-State TE in Jayden Travis and a “Mr. Football” candidate in the backfield at RB in Markezz Hightower.
We believe in this coaching staff, particularly head coach Chris Manning. We are going to predict six (6) regular season wins. Thereafter we will need to settle in for a long playoff run.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball and KPI Newspaper Group, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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