article BluegrassPreps.com 2015 Pre-Season Football Rankings

There is excitement in the air with Mayfield moving up in class. And Beechwood, historically a Class 1A contender, find themselves in the #1 spot to begin the 2015 season. Will the Tigers finally deliver? The Raceland Rams follow at #2 with Paintsville nipping at their heals at #3 . Paintsville must be anxious for a rematch of the 2014 playoff round 3 game, which Raceland won. Throw Pikeville in the mix at #5 and the east looks strong.

Defending 2A 2014 State Champions, DeSales rank #2 in the 2015 pre-season rankings. Mayfiield, the 2014 Defending 1A Champion moves up in class and takes over the #1 spot in their new class in the pre-season. Making up a strong top 3 is Newport Central Catholic, the 2014 Class 2A runner up. The most interesting question is: will Mayfield dominate 2A like they dominated 1A?

Defending 3A State Champion and Eastern KY power, Belfry, retains the #1 spot in the Class 3A pre-season rankings. Central, the runner up in 2014's State Championship game slips to #4 in the pre-season ranking, edged out by #2 Lexington Catholic and #3 Boyle County. Any informed fan has to like a Chuck Smith team playing in 3A, right?

A new look to Class 4A in 2015 finds Johnson Central ranked #1 in the pre-season, followed closely by two west-of-I65 teams. John Hardin comes in at #2 followed by South Warren at #3 . 4A appears to be the most wide open class in KY with no real favorite to win the title. Who will dominate 4A now that Highlands has moved on?

Although moving up a class, Highlands, the defending Class 4A 2014 State Champions once again are ranked #1 in the pre-season. Former perennial 5A #1 and Regional United States Power Bowling Green is ranked #2, with Pulaski County, the 2014 Defending State Champions slipping to #3 to begin the 2015 campaign. Former power Covington Catholic and their new coach comes in at #4 , trailed by 2014 6A runner up Dixie at #7 to form the toughest 5A district in KY.

Trinity, Class 6A 2014 State Champions, begins the 2015 season ranking #2 behind Male. Many football insiders believe Male was the best team in KY last year, but can the Bulldogs win when it matters? Scott County, who lost to Meade County in the 2nd round of the 2014 Playoffs, finds themselves at the #3 spot. St. Xavier comes in at a disappointing #6, leaving many to wonder if this will be another down year for the Tigers.

Class 1A

1. Beechwood -- OPEN

2. Raceland vs. 3A West Carter (8/22)

3. Paintsville at 3A Sheldon Clark.

4. Russellville at 3A Trigg County.

5. Pikeville at 2A Prestonsburg .

6. Frankfort vs. Paris at Montgomery County (8/22)

7. Hazard vs. Pineville

8. Fairview vs. 3A Bath County

9. Campbellsville at 2A Glasgow

10. Williamsburg at 2A Lexington Christian

Class 2A

1. Mayfield at 3A Fort Campbell

2. DeSales at 5A Fairdale

3. Newport Central Catholic at 4A Scott

4. Christian Academy-Louisville at 6A #7 Simon Kenton

5. Owensboro Catholic vs. 1A Louisville Holy Cross

6. Shelby Valley at 4A #6 Franklin County (8/22)

7. Murray vs. West Green (TN) at Tennessee Tech (8/22)

8. Lloyd Memorial at Walton-Verona

9. Monroe County vs. 5A #2 Bowling Green at Western Kentucky University (8/22)

10. Danville vs. 3A Larue County

Class 3A

1. Belfry -- OPEN

2. Lexington Catholic at 6A Boone County

3. Boyle County vs. 6A #9 Central Hardin at Mercer County (8/22)

4. Central at 6A #4 Manual

5. Paducah Tilghman at 6A #8 McCracken County (8/22)

6. Russell -- OPEN

7. Corbin at 5A Whitley County

8. Bell County vs. 2A Middlesboro

9. Garrard County vs. 4A Shelby County

10. Lawrence County vs. 4A Boyd County

Class 4A

1. Johnson Central -- OPEN

2. John Hardin vs. #3 South Warren at Western Kentucky University (8/22)

3. South Warren vs. #2 John Hardin at Western Kentucky University (8/22)

4. Ashland -- OPEN

5. Franklin-Simpson at Portland (TN)

6. Franklin County vs. 2A #6 Shelby Valley (8/22)

7. Collins at 5A Montgomery County (8/22)

8. North Oldham vs. Western

9. Warren Central vs. 5A #5 Owensboro at Western Kentucky University

10. Bourbon County -- OPEN

Class 5A

1. Highlands at 6A Cooper

2. Bowling Green vs. 2A #9 Monroe County at Western Kentucky University (8/22)

3. Pulaski County vs. Jefffersonville (IN) at Southwestern

4. Covington Catholic vs. 6A Ryle

5. Owensboro at 4A #9 Warren Central

6. Southwestern vs. Harlan County

7. Dixie Heights -- OPEN

8. Anderson County vs. South Oldham

9. North Laurel vs. South Laurel

10. Christian County at 3A Caldwell County

Class 6A

1. Male vs. Floyd Central (IN)

2. Trinity vs. Ensworth (TN)

3. Scott County vs. Tates Creek

4. Manual vs. 3A #4 Central

5. Lafayette vs. Dunbar

6. Saint Xavier -- OPEN

7. Simon Kenton vs. 2A #4 Christian Academy-Louisville

8. McCracken County vs. 3A #5 Paducah Tilghman

9. Central Hardin vs. 3A #4 Boyle County at Mercer County (8/22)

10. Ballard vs. 5A Oldham County

Trinity vs Ensworth

Central Hardin vs Boyle County

Manual vs Central

South Warren vs John Hardin

CAL vs SK

Just a few of the match ups that stuck out

Week 1 huge Matchup Raceland Rams #2 1A at Putnam Stadium against #4 4A Ashland Tomcats! Let's get it on!!! Can't wait!!!

Week 1 huge Matchup Raceland Rams #2 1A at Putnam Stadium against #4 4A Ashland Tomcats! Let's get it on!!! Can't wait!!!

I will tune into b97.1 for the Ashland-Raceland game and see what Dicky Martin has to say. :popcorn:

Should come on over Goreddevils Russell Greenup don't play till Saturday night will be going to watch that one too

I will tune into b97.1 for the Ashland-Raceland game and see what Dicky Martin has to say. :popcorn:

I wish every school had a Dicky Martin.

I wish every school had a Dicky Martin.

Be careful what you wish for! Lol

Be careful what you wish for! Lol

theguru loves a passionate fan.

I wish every school had a Dicky Martin.

Yeah, Dicky is one of the best play by play broadcasters out there and I get a kick out of him at times when Ashland is getting thumped.:clap:

Wish I could be at Central Hardin vs Boyle County and South Warren vs John Hardin, unfortunately they both play at the same time so I am torn. Which one should I go to?

Wish I could be at Central Hardin vs Boyle County and South Warren vs John Hardin, unfortunately they both play at the same time so I am torn. Which one should I go to?

To me that John Hardin vs. South Warren is a bigger game.

That is the biggest regular season game of the year potentially in 4A and may determine who #1 is until November.

Both are great games.. but if it were me I couldn't pass up seeing the Pre-Season #2 and #3 teams in 4A.

With that said, both have undercard games. Beign a Hardin County guy the Boyle/Central Hardin game may make more sense because you can watch North Hardin vs. Mercer in the undercard,

With that being said, I am leaning towards John vs South Warren. I plan on going to Champoinship weekend in December and have never been to WKU stadium. I am afraid John may not be ready for this opponent so early in the season. They have talent but always improve as the season goes on. Central Hardin looks big, strong, fast and deep and should have an excellent season. I think they can give Bowling Green a run for their money mid-season at Central Hardin.

If you decide to go to WKU look me up. I will be there as well.

I'm tempted to make this trip for this game, I have heard that Monroe could be a sleeping giant so I would love to check them out.

Wish I could be at Central Hardin vs Boyle County and South Warren vs John Hardin, unfortunately they both play at the same time so I am torn. Which one should I go to?

You should go watch South Warren vs John Hardin at WKU. You can check out Western's beautiful campus and watch what should be a great football game. On paper, South Warren should be a heavy favorite in this game. They only lost two starters to graduation from a very good football team. John Hardin is young and lost a lot to graduation last year. They have a history of struggling out of the gate and finishing like a wildfire. I think South Warren takes this game but, I'll take John Hardin in a playoff rematch. You can stick around and watch Bowling Green play Monroe County.The Purples play Central Hardin later in the year so, you can get a look at this year's Purples team. I believe Central Hardin will get the win over Boyle County. They are a very good 6A football team.