2026, preseason, top five 1A teams and a few more to monitor…
Every year we come out of “Dead Period” with a head first, headlong, lunge toward the opening of the season. This usually entails our publishing our preseason top-teams polls for each classification. Today, we look at the 1A classification. After having studied all the relevant data, and consulting with our “experts” back at the magazine, here are the teams in 1A we believe will thrive in the coming season and why we feel this way. Enjoy!
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, KPGFootball
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The logo is the rear of a donkey (Fanny) swishing its tail back and forth. The trademarked logo is among Kentucky’s more celebrated and well known corporate identities across the commonwealth and has come to represent commitment to quality, cutting-edge innovation, and product reliability.
Our product is a Kentucky Comfort Creator. These days, isn’t that exactly what Kentucky needs?
This week our feature details who we see coming out of the 1A classification as the best football teams in the coming season. We will discuss the top teams and the returning personnel and intangibles we believe makes them the best in their classification. Enjoy the ride!
“Fanny” is among Kentucky’s more celebrated and well known corporate logos
Friday Night Fletch, “KPGFootball”
All Points, KY: The following are who we believe to be the best 1A teams in Kentucky entering the season, and some others who should be closely monitored, and (most importantly) why we feel this way:
- Pikeville, 10-4 in 2025, lost 17-10 to Raceland in the semis
We like Pikeville to win it all in 2026 in 1A. There are tangible reasons we feel this way.
First, JJ Reynolds (’27 QB) returns and passed for 1,903-yards and 25-TDs against only 6-picks in ’25. Jayden Justice (’27) returns and gained 1,163-yards rushing and 16-ground scores, led the team in scoring, and registered 105-tackles with 13-TFLs, 2-FFs, 2-FRs, and a pair of picks.
Harrison Fields (’28) caught 40-balls a year ago with seven (7) TDs, registered 3-picks with a pick six, and registered 43-tackles with a TFL to his credit. Cole Slone (’27) still patrols the defensive back third with his 3-picks and a pair of pick-sixes.
Gage Burgett (’28) and Ean Ratliff (’27) are the leading sack-masters returning. Jeremiah Anderson returns with his 148-stops, 11-behind the line, with a FF, a FR, and a pair of INTs.
Rumor Mill: It has been the long-standing policy of this magazine to not comment on transfers until such time as they have applied for and been granted KHSAA, immediate eligibility clearance. That being said, there are two players rumored to be headed to Pikeville for the Fall and both would be immediate contributors/instant starters and All-State candidates.
One of the rumored transfers is perhaps the best LB/FB combo player in the commonwealth of Kentucky from a season ago and a ’28 kid. His family has moved to Pikeville, owing to his father getting a better/higher paying job, so this player’s gaining eligibility in light of this shouldn’t be a problem; but, you don’t count chickens until they hatch. The LB/FB kid is an All-State caliber player.
This kid played 4A football a year ago; and, were we to name him, you would know exactly who he is. Just saying…
The second player is a three-phase guy and also an All-State caliber player who is as lethal on defense as on special teams, running the football, and in the down field passing game. The second player is a ’27 kid and the 1A school from which he is transferring is kicking up some degree of fuss. We don’t know how this one will turn out.
We like Pikeville to win 1A the way the roster sits, right now. If one or both of the rumored transfers should gain eligibility, Pikeville may morph into a 1A team resembling the doppelgänger of a Trinity (6A) or a Christian Academy-Louisville (3A). Have you ever heard the term cod-lock cinch?
- Raceland, 12-2, lost to KCD (State Champs) by four points in the semis
It is Raceland. Aren’t they always in the race?
It seems they have been over Michael Salmon’s tenure. Raceland has a ton of pieces returning.
Jacob Waller (’27) threw for 1,775-yards and 27-TDs against only four (4) picks while running for over 300-yards and another pair of scores. Landen Stiltner is among the best football players in Kentucky, rushing for nearly 1,500-yards and 23-TDs, catching a TD, leading the team in scoring (144-points), while recovering a fumble and making significant contributions to special teams units.
Four of the Rams top defenders return and Joseph Arnett picked a pass, returned it for a TD, all while registering 80-tackles with five (5) TFLs. Jacob Waller (’27) may be the best PKer in the KHSAA with his 52-PATs and four (4) FGs from a year ago.
If it comes down to the battle of the kickers, and championships often do, the Rams might be tough to beat.
- Holy Cross (Lou.), 5-7 win 2025, Lost to KCD (State Champs) in round two
Okay, we concede Holy Cross had a tough 2025 in a year where the Holy Cross in Covington came through with an 11-win campaign. However, Holy Cross in Louisville usually competes in 1A for supremacy and we believe the Cougars will be stout in ’26.
One reason is the return of dual-threat, stud signal caller, Jerek Hoover (’27). Hoover threw for 1,719-yards and 16-TDs, ran for 838-yards and 12-ground scores, and led the team in scoring.
Jeff Burke (’29) showed promise in limited opportunities at PK and many of the top defenders return including Malachi Watkins (105-tackles, a TFL, a FF, two FRs, and an INT he returned 56-yards). Colton King (’27) patrols the deep third and had 99-stops, six (6) TFLs, and three (3) picks.
This is among the better teams, coaching-wise, at the 1A level of play. Look for them to make a serious move.
- Middlesboro, 11-1 in 2025, lost to Pikeville in round two
Larry “Legend” French (All Time HFC) retired and that is a huge loss for any program. However, one can’t deny the Yellow Jackets have plenty of talent returning.
Deakon Partin (’27) will be among the best QBs at the 1A level. Partin threw for 2,223-yards and 30-TDs against a paltry five (5) picks.
Partin also ran for five (5) scores and has a little brother on the team (Kordell, ’28) who is a pretty darn good defender (59-stops, 3-TFLs). Colby Lawson (’28) returns defensively bringing his 84-registered tackles, 11-TFLs, 3-sacks, 3-FFs, 2-FRs, 2-INTs and a pick-six.
Amari Houston (’27) is one of the premier backend guys in the commonwealth. Houston registered 4-picks for 154-IRNYs and a pick-six to go along with 28-tackles and a FR.
- Holy Cross (Covington), 11-1 in ’25 lost to Newport in the second round
Two Holy Crosses in the preseason top-five? Have we lost our minds? Nope.
Curt Spencer’s Indians have a ton returning but they won’t sneak up on anyone this season. Brian Ferguson (’28) is an accomplished dual threat QB who led the team in scoring, threw for 1,128-yards and 19-TDs, and rushed for 705-yards and 15-TDs a year ago as a sophomore.
Leading rusher, Charles Oglesby (832-yards, 12-TDs), returns and Braylon Thornberry (’27) led the team in receptions, yards receiving, and TDs receiving. Gabriel Romito (’27) is a solid PKer who will win you some games if given the opportunity. Romito converted 40-PATs and a pair of FGs last year.
Dustin Wilson (’27) led the team in tackles while Garrett Frederick (’28) registered 9-sacks to his classmate’s eight (8) sacks (Jacob Rieselman, ’28). Xavier Thornberry (’28) and Dustin Wilson (’27) each recorded three (3) INTs.
This team was young last year. They aren’t young now.
Look out for: Sayre High School, Eminence High School
Sayre, with Chad Pennington at the helm, may be as well coached as any team in 1A or any other classification for that matter. The Spartans aren’t but a few years off a title and were a nine (9) win team a year ago. Gage Pennington (’27 QB) returns and, as long as there is a Pennington around to operate the offense, the Spartans are never really out of it. Paul Miller (’27) will be the most reliable target returning. There were heavy losses almost everywhere else, especially on defense.
Eminence, the Warriors are coming off a four (4) win season in 2025 but have brought on Garry Mcpeek to champions the cause in 2026. Tavion Chambers returns and was the leading receiver, among the top scorers, among the top tacklers, and picked five (5) passes in 2025 including 70-IRNYs with a pick six. Schools don’t hire Mcpeeks to lose ball games.
…and a couple more “dark horses”
Cambellsville always seems to be in the mix. The Eagles are coming off an 11-win campaign but have lost a ton of production. Still, as long as Dale Estes is at the helm, the Eagles can’t be totally discounted.
Newport Central Catholic with Stephen Lickert at the helm is coming off an 8-win campaign where the roster (last year) was laden with senior talent at many key positions. Still, the Thoroughbreds are traditionally tough since the Bob Schneider days. Call us traditionalists.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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