Is it Frederick Douglass’s turn or will the Shamrocks repeat?
These are the “Big Boys” of Kentucky High School football. It is hard to predict this classification, from year to year, because these lineups are often populated by “Seniors” and it would be unwise to assume a new starter filling the lineup will be a drop down from the last guy. We are going to do the best we can with the data we have. Here is how we see it!
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, KPGFootball
Our pick for '24's 6A Champion...
Frederick Douglass
8-5 in ’23
lost to the 6A champions (Trinity)
14-7 in the Semis
Is it finally Frederick Douglass's day in 6A?
Returning:
Jaxon Strautman, ’26 QB, completed 116-passes as a sophomore for 1,505-yards passing with 18-TDs; scored 3-times on the ground, averaging around 5-yards a carry over 43-carries.
Allen (22) Timothy D. Easley/ Special To
“The Courier-Journal” with the photo
Kenoxie “TayTay” Allen, leading rusher in ’23 while only a sophomore (’26) looks to return and have a big junior year.
Derion Talbert, ’25, leading receiver in ’23 with 38-grabs, 591-yards and 7-TDs
Aveion Chenault (’25, WR) was the second leading receiver in ’23 and also had 7-TD receptions
Kayden Clay, ’25 LB, 8.5-TFLs and 4-sacks, 2-FFs, 1-FR, 2-picks, 1-pick six
Logan Busson, ’25, LB, 11.5-TFLs, a sack
Gone:
Cooper Ranvier (WR,PK), 3rd leading receiver, 2nd leading scorer, converted 30-PATs and a pair of FGs
JaQuan Rufus, 8.5-TFLs, a sack, a FR
Darion Neal, 12.5-TFLs and a sack from the LB post
Runners Up: Trinity
12-3 in ’23
6A champions
Can Zane Johnson led the Rocks back to the Promised Land?
Returning:
Zane Johnson, ’27 QB, completed 173 of his 296-passing attempts for 2,289-yards and 30-TDs against 8-picks
Jeremiah Lynn, ’25 RB, caught 58-passes for 1,050-yards and 14-TDs, 3rd leading scorer in ’23
Carson Hibert, ’25 PK, 11-FGs and 57-PATs for 90-scored points; 100-percent on PATs and 84.6% on FGs (11 of 13); best kicker in Kentucky; Huge weapon
Sonny Bratcher Gray, ’26 DB, 2-INTs, 1-FR
John Wilson, ’25 DL, 3-TFLs and 5-sacks in limited action, he will be called upon plenty over the ’24 season
Gone:
Clinton Sansbury, leading rusher and leading scorer
Lucas Sasser, 2nd leading receiver, 42-grabs and 8-TDs
Bradey McEnaney, LB, 13.5-TFLs and 10-sacks, 2-FFs, 2-INTs in ’23
Lincoln Mitchell, 5-INTs
Robert Morrow, 4-INTs
Gabriel Mingus, 3-INTs
William Tronzo, DL, 5.5-TFLs, 6.5-sacks, a FF, 3-FRs
No. 3, Bryan Station (Lexington)
11-4 in ’23
lost to Trinity in the 6A Title game, 41-20
Is the return of the commonwealth's best RB enough?
Returning:
Kalen “Jaws” Washington “25 RB, 1,311-yards from scrimmage and 16-rushing TDs; caught a TD pass; leading scorer
Demond Green, ’27 WR, 22-receptions, 341-yards and 3-TDs; averaged 7-yards a carry
Gone:
Trenton Cutwright, QB
JT Haskins, Jr., leading WR, 3rd leading scorer, 7-INTs, 119-IRNYs, and a pick six
Dahvon Frazier, third leading receiver in ’23, 17-TFLs, 4-sacks
Javari Burnett, among the leading receivers in ’23
Zachary Gentry, 4-FGs, 61-PATs, 2nd leading scorer with 73-points
Jason Hocker, 14-TFLs, 2-FFs, 3-FRs
Isaiah Watts, 4-INTs
No. 4, Male High
11-2 in ’23
lost to Frederick Douglas in the
Regional Championship game 21-20 at home
Is Male on the "bounce back?"
Returning:
Seth Henson, ’26 PK, converted 90.6% of his PATs (29 of 32) and was 100% on FGs (3 for 3)
JaVeon Dorsey, ’25 DL/LB, 11-TFLs, 3-sacks
Solomon Conley, ’25 LB/RB, leading tackler with 4-TFLS, a FR, and an INT
Gone:
Kolter Smith, 2,447-yards passing, 34 TDs, 5-picks
Shammai Gates, 19-rushing TDs, 2nd leading scorer
Max Gainey, 57-receptions, 1,019 yards and 20-TDs, leading scorer
No. 5 (tie), St. Xavier
8-4 in ’23
lost to Trinity in round 2
Roster still sounds like an Italian law firm, but damn good at football!
Returning:
Marlon Harbin, III, ’26 WR, 60-receptions, 703-yards receiving, 6-TDs
Cameron Hollaway, ’25 WR, 25-receptions and 5-TDs
Kyle Krupp, ’25 WR, 26-receptions and 4-TDs
Logan Zoeller, ’25 PK, 47 for 48 on PATs, and 8 for 9 on FGs
Miles Dobson, ’25 WR/S, 3-INTs, 2-TFLs
Gone:
Trevor Hamill, QB, 1,438-yards passing and 12-TDs
Davis Yates, 1,004-yards rushing and 11-TDs
Tyler Neal, leading tackler, 20-TFLs, and 11-sacks
Parker Warren, LB, 3-INTs to lead team together with 2-TFLs, and a FR
No. 5 (tie) Ryle
8-5 in ’23
lost in the Regionals to Bryan Station
The Ryle Raiders are almost always in contention!
Returning:
Jacob Savage, ’26 RB, 2nd leading rusher in ’23, 7-TDs rushing, 22-receptions, 2-TDs receiving, 4th leading scorer; 163-tackles, 6.5-TFLs, 1-sack, 1-FR
Landon Lorms, ’25 WR, DB, 13-receiving TDs, leading scorer, 91-receptions, 1,023-yards receiving 13-TDs
Dylan Lee, ’26 WR,DB, 45-receptions, 782-yards receiving, 10-TDs, 2nd in scoring in ’23; 1-FR, 1-INT, 26-tackles
Dillon Smith, TE, DE ’25, 8-TFLs, 6-sacks, 3-INTs, 100-IRNYs, the team’s only pick-six
Gavin Lyons, ’26 WR, LB, 3-TDs scored rushing and a pair receiving, had a two-point conversion making him a three phase threat with his FF and FR to go along with 54-tackles, 3-TFLs, and 4-INTs
Gone:
Logan Vera, QB, threw for 3,279-yards and 29-TDs, ran for 456-yards and 7-TDs
A team which we may not have ranked but
one we're expecting will make tremendous strides
from where it was in both '22 and '23 to now...
Christian County Colonels
How long before Atchley returns this program to its former luster?
New Coach: Ethan Atchley
QB: We believe Jaiden Williams (’27) will get the nod when it all shakes out. He’s a plus athlete who can make the throws and from the appropriate slot. Will he have the intangibles the position requires?
Aiden Jesse, ’26 WR,CB is a lengthy, long, tall, drink of water who we believe rounds into quite the weapon this season; ’26 WR, Zyon Wharton (’26 WR) is lanky, fast, and lengthy with soft, receptive hands.
RB: Tristin Dillard ’27 RB-Transfer from Hoptown is a natural at the RB position and will play some LB too; Jeremiah Smith (’28, RB) is making strides and among the better players in his graduating class around the western end of KY and Jordan Catlett (’27 RB) is a leader both on and off the playing field and the most physically imposing of the three.
Look out for the Harris brothers on defense: Deasian Harris (’27) will align at LB and his brother, Demarkese Harris (’25) will slot at end. The pair will cause some disruption.
DeAndre Watkins, ’26, DB, was a leader on defense in ’23 and is already fielding college offers
’26 CB, Joshua Bridges, is a mainstay at corner and has the best coverage skills among the back-third and ’27 safety & special teamer, Jack Long (’27), is a sure tackler and dynamite in space. Long, a Trigg County transfer, should get plugged in quickly on both the kick and punt coverage units until he gains his “sea legs” and learns the defense. Paul Abren, also a ’27 prospect (LB), demonstrates there is plenty of young talent on hand in need of seasoning.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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