The Murray High Tigers figure to be in the mix in ’26
Murray was in the mix a year ago, polishing off a 14-1 mark and appearing on Kroger Field for the 3A title game. Murray’s senior QB got hurt in the Semis, didn’t get to play in the title game, and the game with Christian Academy-Louisville didn’t exactly go as planned. Well, ’26 is a new year and hope springs eternal as they say. Today we will break down the 3A classification and how we see this fleshing out in the coming months. Enjoy!
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Christian Academy of Louisville football team celebrated after winning their third straight 3A title beating Union 42-21 in December of 2024.
The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company, based in Cadiz, Kentucky, was founded August 7, 1970. The bank obtained trust powers in 1978.
It is a locally owned, independent bank which has expanded, through the years, to locations in Hopkinsville and Murray in addition to Cadiz. The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company has focused on community finance and dealing face-to-face with both families and small-business owners while fulfilling customer needs and the dreams of area families and businesses regardless of size or construct.
We, like our area schools, strive for high performance and finding ways to prosper in an ever-changing economic environment. The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company remains committed to superior performance goals coupled with an exceptional quality of customer service.
This week we are focusing on the top teams across Kentucky in the 3A classification. One of our area favorites, Murray High, played for the championship a year ago and will figure prominently (again) in the race for supremacy.
Enjoy this look at the classification’s likely order of finish from your friends and neighbors at the Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company!
The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company…committed to superior performance with an exceptional quality of customer service
Friday Night Fletch
All points, KY: It seems like a cop-out to pick the Christian Academy-Louisville to win the title this coming season. After all, Coach Cantwell’s Centurions have won four straight entering this coming season.
However, when you have players like Jackson Burke under center and JaHyde Brown virtually everywhere else; it gets darn hard to pick anyone else. Still, we believe the Centurions will have to earn it this coming season as there are some teams out there who figure to give CAL a run for its money.
Who are those teams? We have them for you, spelled out, right here!
Here is how we see 3A shaking out, if you will:
No. 1; Christian Academy-Louisville (CAL), ’25 record 15-0, 3A State Champions
Hunter Cantwell’s Centurions may be unbeatable. They have won six (6) titles overall and the last four (4) consecutively.
Jackson Burke (’28) was a sophomore a year ago. He completed 214 of 257 passing attempts for 3,526-yards, 53-TDs against only a single INT. That is completing a smidgen over 83% of one’s passing attempts for those wondering.
JaHyde Brown (’27) is a “Mr. Football” frontrunner and caught 98-balls a year ago for 1,566-yards and 24-TDs. That is insane. Brown also scored 156-points, including housing a punt and a KO along the way.
Madden Miller (’27) is among the commonwealth’s best at PKer. He converted 51-PATs last season and was a super solid five (5) for six (6) in FGs.
Defensively, Micah Newsome returns. He had 140-tackles, 19.5-TFLs, three (3) sacks, a FR, and an INT in ’25. Gaines Howard (’27) is still patrolling the deep third as he co-led the ball club, in ’25, with three (3) picks. Jason Ruffin (’27) and Eric Jones (’27) also return and the pair had a pair of picks each when we last saw them play.
Vazzana and Stoner have graduated so there are some questions at RB; but, other than that, CAL is still the team to beat in the 3A classification. This will remain true for as long as Burke aligns under center at the very least.
Rumor Mill: Garyon Hobbs (ATH, 5’11, 198; ’27) is one of Kentucky’s top prep assets and is committed to play for Indiana. Hobbs was on CAL’s ’24 title team and transferred to 5A Atherton for the ’25 season where he absolutely “studded out.” The rumor is Hobbs has transferred back to CAL and will be a Centurion in ’26. If true, this makes the Centurion roster and lineup ridiculous. Just saying…
No. 2; Bell County, ’25 record 12-2, lost in the semis to CAL
When you’re coached by Dudley Hilton, you will always be in the race for a title. Hilton is closing fast on Phillip Haywood’s 491-career wins with his win total in the mid-450’s (455-138, 3-titles).
Kaleb Miller graduated and was a 2,000+ guy out of that backfield but Bell County always seems to come up with a marquee running back. The name of the game for Bell County is generally in the trenches.
Look out for Spencer Phipps (’27, 6’4,” 270-pounds). He is coming off an all-state season where he was also the district lineman of the year within a district which produces hoss linemen.
Phipps helped lead a line which cleared the path for 3,650-yards on 389-carries with 53-rushing TDs. That comes out to around 9.4-yards per carry and a TD every seven and a half rushing attempts.
Phipps isn’t just an offensive lineman either. According to Coach Hilton, “he’s a heck of a defensive linemen too.”
Also, look out for Logan Greene (’28). Greene plays outside linebacker and is a pure football player.
Last year, Greene registered 84-tackles and six (6) TFLs. Greene forced a pair of fumbles and recovered a pair.
Greene also rushed for four (4) TDs, scored a TD receiving, and caught 10-passes for 86-yards. That is a ton of versatility (and production) out of just one player.
No. 3; Lloyd Memorial, ’25 record 13-1, lost the semis to finalist Murray High
The Juggernauts are aptly named. Kyle Niederman has resurrected a storied program and has them annually contending in 3A.
Lincoln Tomlinson (’28) is a stud. There is just no other way to describe it.
Tomlinson rushed for 726-yards and 16-TDs, caught a pair of TDs, scored 120-points to lead the team to include six (6) two-pointers on special teams, led the team with 149-tackles, led the team with 16-TFLs, registered 2.5-sacks, forced a fumble, and intercepted a pass. Trying saying all of that five times, really fast!
Avery Conrad (’27) returns in the backfield to help the Juggernauts enjoy one of the better one/two punches in any offensive backfield in the KHSAA. Conrad gained 736-yards as a junior with 14-TDs, a TD receiving, scoring 92-points, while registering 116-tackles, 5-TFLs, a sack and a half, a FF, a FR, and a pick.
There is a question mark under center with Kaleb Evans gone. Ryan Miller will have to be replaced at PKer too. Otherwise, Lloyd Memorial has a really good team returning for another run.
No. 4; Murray High, ’25 record 14-1, lost to CAL in the 3A title game
Melvin Cunningham has taken the Murray High Tigers up a notch or two since his arrival. That can’t be legitimately questioned.
Last year the team made it to Lexington but didn’t have its senior QB for that game as Wyatt Robbins succumbed to injury in the semis against Lloyd Memorial.
Robbins plays for the Murray State Racers now. He will be missed.
Kenyon Cunningham (’29) will get a shot at being his replacement when the season commences. Cunningham played very well when Robbins was lost in the Semis.
Gage Chapman (’27) looks like he will be the primary ball carrier in 2026. Chapman is coming off a 529-yard season in only 58-carries with nine (9) TDs rushing to his credit. Chapman is also the leading returning scorer.
Chapman plays defense too. Chapman registered 149-tackles in 2025, recovered three (3) fumbles, forced one (1), sacked the QB five (5) times, and picked a pass he took 35-yards to pay dirt.
Logan Stanger (’29) will take over the kicking duties and he converted 88.9% (8 of 9) of his PATs a year ago, which is quite good.
Trendon Curd (’27) looks like he will anchor the back third defensively. He had a pair of picks in 2025.
If we are being honest here, this team was hit rather hard by graduation, particularly in its receiving corp and among its top point producers. However, this team is excellently coached and will develop (by season’s end) into a contender.
No. 5; Lexington Catholic, ’25 record 10-3, lost in the regional finals to Murray High (20-14)
David Clark’s Knights will literally play anyone. One can never count them completely out of a title race either as they always seem to flourish and find the players needed to compete. This team, a year ago, beat 4A state champion, Boyle County, and by 10 points! That kind of says it all.
Brady Wasik’s graduating will hurt, no lie there. However Gannon Rudacille (’27) looks likely to get a chance to fill those shoes.
Eric Smith (’28) made the most of his 50-carries in ’25, gaining 270-yards and scoring three (3) rushing TDs. Smith is handy out of the backfield in the passing game too, catching five (5) balls for 40-yards and a TD.
Jack Vanover (’29) will get a shot at PKer. He converted his lone PAT of the season.
Ben Schlarman (’28) is a top-notch defender for the Knights. Schlarman registered 55-tackles, nine (9)-TFLs, a pair of FRs, and an INT he took 41-yards to the house.
Baird Woodall (’28) may be among the better young DBs in his class in the commonwealth. Woodall picked four (4) passes, accumulated 80-IRNYs, housed a pick-six, and registered 32-tackles, with five (5) TFLs over the course of his sophomore season.
Ethan Bradford (’27) is quite formidable too in the deep third. Bradford picked three (3) passes, housed a pick-six, registered 41-tackles with a pair of TFLs.
Look out for:
Glasgow- The Scotties were 11-1 a year ago. As long as Jackson Arnett is at the helm, and with the tradition they enjoy around Glasgow, KY, the Scotties can never truly be discounted from any statewide race.
The Rock- Rockcastle County has some “Larkeys” on the sideline and that usually spells disaster for opponents. The Rockets are coming off a 10-win campaign. Caden Lovell (QB, ’27) and Xavier Leger (’27 RB) both back will give the offense a firm foundation on which to build.
Lawrence County- Alan Short’s Bulldogs are coming off an 11-win season. Cavin Williams and Kaden Johnson, a pair of ‘27s, will help but Fetherolf’s graduating leaves somewhat of a hole to be filled under center. Gray Derifield at WR (’28) is a player, as his 796-yards receiving and 15-TD catches would suggest.
Central High (Lou.)- The Yellow Jackets were 5-7 a year ago which is an uncharacteristically poor season for a team which has six (6) KHSAA football titles. Phillip Baker (’27) will be back directing the attack. Damontre Cherry (’28) looks to take over the primary responsibilities at RB. Khalen Hadley (’28) will lead the receiving corps while Destin Basemore and Cherry (Four INTs and a pick-six) will lead a stout defense. Don’t look for Central to struggle in 2026. Lightening generally doesn’t strike but once!
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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