The ’24, 1A, Preseason Top-Five (5) @PikevilleHSFB, @lexsayrefb, @estes_coach, @Cville_Ath, @barstoolmboro, @racelandramsfb, @AlPopsFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @840WHAS

The Golden Boy with the Golden Arm...Luke Pennington, Sayre High

Can Pikeville make it four in a row and five in six years or will Sayre break through?

Trying to predict where a team will finish, preseason, is often an act of futility. One preseason, there was a team we didn’t think would fare very well owing to a lack of a running game. This team, a lower level team by the way (below 4A), got an offseason transfer from the best RB in one of the higher classifications the year prior, and ended up with a 2,500-yard rusher, faring quite well. We didn’t know about the transfer which is how we so mightily missed. Just because we missed, that year, doesn’t mean we will stop trying. Here are the five teams we believe will vie for the 1A championship as well as a few others who should be carefully watched.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”

Projected 1A Football Preseason Champion: Pikeville High School, '23 record, 12-2, '23 1A Champions, Coach Chris MacNamee

Here’s why the Panthers are our pick: With Pikeville High, they have kind of entered the Boyle County territory in the KHSAA among their peer group. Show me you can beat them before I pick you to beat them.

Stanley, photo credited on image

QB, Isaac Duty, returns. Duty completed 107 of 160-passing attempts (67% completion rate) for 1,255-yards and 13-TDs.

Leading rusher, Brendan Anthony, is also back. Anthony gained 1,418 yards and 19-rushing TDs in 137-carries.

Blake Caudill also returns. Caudill chipped in 430-yards and 4-scores on the ground a year ago to go along with 11-TFLs, 7-QB sacks, with a FR on defense.

PK, Keyton Looney returns after converting 85% of his PATs and a whopping 100% of his FGs.

Isiah Stanley returns on defense where he contributed 72-tackles, 23-solos, 3-TFLs, a sack, a FR, and a “pick-six” he housed from 33-yards out. There are too many important pieces back from a roster which plowed through the classification a year ago to not pick them for the four-peat.

Could also win it: Sayre High School, '23 record, 12-1, lost in the Regional Finals, Coach Chad Pennington

Sayre was 12-1 a year ago and lost to Raceland in the Regional Championship game in Lexington. Chad Pennington, arguably Marshall’s all-time QB and long-time NFL QB, is at the helm and has built the team into a 1A power.

Charlie Slabaugh, Sayre

Luke Pennington is back and he has committed to dad’s alma mater. The “younger” Pennington completed 171 of 252-passes (67% completion rate) for 2,555-yards and 50-TDs against zero (0) INTs. How is that even remotely possible?

Travis Smith has graduated, leaving Charlie Slabaugh to carry the load. Slabaugh (’25) was also the second leading receiver with 44-grabs for 632-yards and 13-TDs. Caden Jones (’26) can help him with the heavy lifting as he is entering his junior year.

Brock Coffman (’25) returns as Pennington’s favorite target. Coffman, a ’25 guy, caught 67-passes a year ago, 24 of which went for scores. Coffman also tallied 1,193-yards receiving.

Carson Graves (’26, PK) converted 56-PATS and a couple made FGs and he returns with a 86.2% conversion rate on PATs and hitting half his FG attempts. Slabaugh and Kemonte Braxton (’25) are the top-two returning defenders.

Coffman patrols the back-third, snagging 9-picks in ’23 for 193-IRNYs and a pick-six. Sayre has a ton of returning production and feel due to break through and challenge for a title.

Could also win it: Campbellsville High School, '23 record, 11-2, lost in the Regional Finals, Coach Dale Estes

Cambellsville may have ended ’23 the second best team in 1A. These guys gave Pikeville a real scare in the Regional Finals, dropping that contest 28-21 in Campbellsville.

Campbellsville may have the best QB in 1A not named Pennington. Kace Easteridge (’26) had a monstrous sophomore season as the dual threat threw for 1,885-yards and 19-TDs while rushing for 798-yards and 14-ground scores.

Daniel Forbis will be missed, but Devin Kinser (’25) made the most of his limited opportunities averaging nearly nine  (9) yards a rushing attempt. Gabriel Noyola (’26) will be the leading returning target among the receivers.

The defense will have to find a way to replace departing seniors Forbis and Keondre Weathers. The pair had 17-sacks and 41-TFLs between them.

It is hoped Landon Colvin and Devin Kinser can tighten some of the resulting slack left by the defensive departures. Braylon Beard led the DBs in INTs (4) and he is a 2026 prospect just entering his sophomore season. 

These guys can't be discounted: Middlesboro High School, '23 record, 9-3, lost in the second round to the 1A Champion, Coach Larry French

Cayden Grigsby, the best dual threat QB at this level of play a year ago, is headed to Carson-Newman to resume his playing career there. While he will be missed, there are still plenty of weapons remaining to make a nine (9)-win Middlesboro team quite formidable in ’24.

Vincent Smith will be the leading returning rusher. Smith (’25) gained close to 600-yards in ’23 and scored 7-rushing TDs. Smith was the ball club’s leading defender in ’23, registering 108-tackles, 10-TFLs, and a sack to go along with a FF and 2-FRs.

Joseph Killion (’26) picked a pair of passes in ’23 and, owing to graduation, will be the leader in the defensive back-four this coming season.

The most important returner regarding the fortunes of this ball club is Larry French, its Hall of Fame head football coach. French is the third winningest coach in KHSAA history. French has won a pair of titles, in three (3) attempts, and 372-wins (by our count) along the way. 

These guys lost a ton of production in all three phases; but hey, they are still Raceland: Raceland High School, '23 record, 11-4, lost in the Championship Game to the 1A Champion, Pikeville; Coach Michael Salmons
The Raceland Rams, Photo: Michelle Hutchins-The Courier-Journal

Raceland was a senior laden lineup a year ago and one which beat Pikeville in the regular season. There is no reason to believe they will be as good as they were in ’23 except Michael Salmons is still coaching them and they are still Raceland. We are traditionalists. 

Look out for: Paintsville, Williamsburg, Hazard

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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About Fletcher Long 1613 Articles
Two-time winner of Kentucky Press Association awards for excellence in writing and reporting news stories while Managing Editor of the Jackson (KY) Times-Voice

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