article BluegrassPreps' Class 2A Pre-Season Preview

QB1 is Storyline Number One

 

Class 2A has not exactly lacked for solid QB play in recent years, but it has never been as deep and rich in talent as what we will see in 2019. In fact, you can argue there might not be another class in all of the commonwealth with the wealth of riches that will be on display at the signal caller position from Mayfield to Jackson.

 

Speaking of Mayfield, what better place to start than with the Cardinals' Jayden Stinson. Stinson threw for just a hair shy of 3,000 yards and had a stellar 35 to 4 ratio of Touchdowns to Interceptions. With Coach Morris’ offensive system, it is a pretty safe bet you may even see those numbers show a slight improvement. Stinson turned heads at the State Finals but came up just short. Beechwood’s Cameron Hergott also announced his presence at Kroger Field, but it was in the Class 1A Finals. Hergott led his Tigers to a comeback victory and made countless big plays with his arm as well as his feet. Expect Hergott to torment teams on the eastern side of the bracket as the perennial power Tigers make the jump up this season.

 

While we are discussing dual threat QB’s, there are no shortage of them ready to make their mark this season. Somerset QB Kaiya Sheron made an impression on the University of Kentucky staff earning the Junior an offer. Sheron had over 2,300 yards of total offense last season and will benefit from a veteran team surrounding him. Newport’s Kaleal Davis is also getting some D-1 offers following this summer, and will be a slippery proposition for opposing defenses. Breathitt County is amid a major program reversal of fortune as they make the drop from 3A, leading the charge is Braxton Ohara who accumulated 28 TD’s with 15 coming on the ground.

 

For those that prefer the more traditional gunslinger, you still have a bounty of options to choose from. It seems every year Owensboro Catholic is producing a stat filling machine at the QB1 position. Drew Hartz was only bested statistically by Stinson, as he will return for his Senior campaign following a season where he threw for over 2,600 yards and 32 TD’s. As good as Hartz was, his season came to an end at the hands of Murray in a game where he was not the best QB on the field that night. Hunter Utley was huge in that 41-32 upset and will be back looking to make himself more of a household name. Last season Utley stood tall in the pocket en route to throwing over 2,400 yards. Lexington Christian Academy has high hopes for Jayden Barnhardt. The 2,000 yard passer threw for 26 TD’s a year ago and will have the luxury of returning some of his favorite targets.

 

To this point we have listed a lot of pretty well-known programs with loads of historical success. The beauty of small school football is sometimes when the right guy is leading a team, even some of the lesser known schools can make a deep playoff push. No player may mean more to their team Darian Clay will mean to Hancock County. Clay posted over 1,800 yards from scrimmage a year ago and account for 31 of his teams’ 40 total scores. Washington County was perhaps the most underrated 2A team last year, but their fortunes were limited by a brutal district. The Commanders break free from their captors and Jatavion Churchill may be the guy to make heads turn. Carroll County feels like they can make some serious ground up in their district thanks to the return of Andre Mumphrey. Last season, Mumphrey threw for over 1,400 yards and posted nearly 900 rushing yards and posted 30 Touchdowns to his credit.

 

The season may prove predictable or it may prove to be wide open, but one certainty is the gunslingers will rule Class 2A. Buckle up folks!

 

The Realignment Syllabus

 

Most professors or educators prefer giving a syllabus before class gets kicked off to set expectations, introduce the subject, and generally eliminate potential confusion. If you have not heard, there have big some big changes to the Kentucky Prep Football landscape, and it begins with realignment. Without outlining every single change or move, here are the highlights of what has happened and what to expect.

 

MOVING OUT:

 

- The biggest change is Christian Academy of Louisville and DeSales are now part of Class 3A. The Centurions were the reigning 2A Champions and DeSales was one of the elite teams of the Class.

- Perennial strongholds Glasgow and Newport Central Catholic have also left the building and with them several District and Regional Championships.

 

MOVING IN:

 

- Beechwood headlines the additions. The small school superpower has won the last three Class 1A titles and by default enter with the longest current winning streak of any 2A team at 10 games.

- Caldwell County and Breathitt County headline the most notable droppers in classification. The Tigers of Caldwell have been a perennial Top 10 team in Class 3A and were among the strongest Class 2A teams when they departed previously. Breathitt County has fallen on hard times in recent years but appear to be in the midst of a major program renaissance. The Bobcats have plenty of hardware in their trophy case and can be an interesting change if they regain their form.

- West Carter and Edmonson County are both class droppers who will benefit from the change. Bath County also comes down but have to prove they can exist in life after their star player graduated.

 

SHAKING UP:

- The biggest dynamic shift will be the powerhouse Central Kentucky District (now District 4) will be slotted to spend most of their playoff lives in the western semi-state as opposed to the eastern semi-state. No one is more relieved to see this than the teams in District 8 which has seen Somerset, LCA, and Danville feast on them in recent years.

- One of the biggest changes will be a new playoff system tweak. Starting with the Regional Finals each semi-state will be seeded. Teams will play within their district the first two rounds, but the two teams who consequently win their district will then get seeded based off a RPI formula. This will help eliminate some of the imbalance in regions we have seen in recent years. The earlier rounds still allow for limiting travel expenses for lower seeded teams, something that does play a significant role when considering the budgets of 2A schools.

 

The Rankings:

 

1. Mayfield Cardinals (14-1, Class 2A Runner-Up)

 

Mayfield is always good. It is a general rule of thumb you can come to appreciate and expect. When Mayfield returns an experienced Senior Quarterback and solid core of weapons at his disposal and role players along the remainder of the team, well they are an especially even more scary commodity.

 

This is where Mayfield falls entering 2019. QB Jayden Stinson is a Mr. Football dark horse and with the sure handed WR Kade Neely, WR Diaz Perry, and explosive ATH Alonzo Daniel back, the Cardinals are poised for a monster year after coming up just short a year ago. The Cardinals also expect Kylan Galbreath to take the starting HB spot and run with it. LB Markeacio Jackson and DB Travon Halliburton are both solid Defensive stalwarts to build around on the other side of the ball.

 

If there is a chink in the armor, it may be up front. The Cardinals did not necessarily scare people getting off the bus, but their offensive and defensive lines both did an admirable and consistent job a year ago and both units have been hit hard by graduation. Tre Arnold will anchor the offensive side of the ball with his veteran presence.

 

Will Mayfield run away with the title? That is way too bold to proclaim but entering the year they appear to be the heavy favorite to advance out of the west and you can rest assured they will put up video game type of numbers with the skill they return.

 

2. Beechwood Tigers (12-2, Class 1A State Champions)

 

It is safe to say that the Beechwood dynasty is back thanks to Coach Noel Rash. Mike Yeagle built the Tigers into a state-wide powerhouse and though the Tigers never really fell from grace, their dominance did see worthy challengers that even got the best of them for a handful of years following Yeagle’s retirement. Coach Rash has the Tigers rolling and as they make the move from Class 1A they bring along with them a three-peat of championship trophies.

 

Beechwood has their hands full this year. Not only will the new classification bring new challenges including Mayfield, a team they formed a rivalry with when both were in Class 1A, but the Tigers have some significant holes to fill left by departing Seniors. Logan Castleman, John Odom, Adam Derry, Luke Bolger, and Duncan Baugh are massive losses for a small school to rebound from. Each were instrumental in their victory over Pikeville in last year’s State Finals. Don’t feel too bad for the Tigers though, they didn’t lose all their play makers as QB Cameron Hergott will return for his Junior campaign and has the potential to be a special talent.

 

Certain programs have last names that you can basically pencil in for stardom anytime you see them on the field. Beechwood and “Slusher” has been a great combo over the years. Though Junior DE Luke Slusher may not be related to the Tiger stars by the same surname, the Holy Cross transfer will help on the D-Line. Expect RB Cole Stammer to make major strides as he gets more touches this season. Josh Derry also can be expected to increase his workload at FB and LB.

 

3. Somerset Briarjumpers (11-3, Lost to Christian Academy of Louisville in Semi’s)

 

The Somerset trophy case just doesn’t seem right. Few programs in the State of Kentucky can match the consistency and success that the Briarjumper program has showcased over the last 40 or 50 years, yet they have had a suspicious lack of State Finals appearances and are still searching for that elusive State Championship. During their run of success Somerset fans will point to specific teams that either suffered misfortune or simply deserved a better ending. The 2019 edition may be trending in that direction.

 

Somerset has had to fight through a daunting playoff path in recent years highlighted by an especially stout District but have come out on the right end of it with a veteran team loaded with skill and toughness. The Jumpers have every reason to be optimistic when looking at their offense. Expect QB Kaiya Sheron to raise his stock around the state and improve on already solid numbers posted in 2018. Alex Miller flies under the radar despite being a 1,000 yard rusher. Kade Grundy showed flashes of brilliance at the WR spot and will have the role of being a primary threat along with 6’5" transfer Jayden Gilmore who migrated north from Florida.

 

Somerset will be tough up front on offense with great size for a small school. Drew Johnson, Chase Cimala, and Ben Simmons are as good of a returning core to build around as you will find in the class.

 

Defensively, the Jumpers should be stout. Jase Bruner is a beast and a ball hawk, expect Bruner to resume as one of Class 2A’s toughest defenders from his MLB spot. Ethan Harper is an imposing stalwart along the D-Line and Tate Madden is a consistent player in the secondary. Somerset held seven teams to either a TD or less and 10 of their 14 foes only mustered 14 points or less. Expect more of the same in 2019.

 

4. Lexington Christian Academy Eagles (9-4, Lost to Somerset in Regional Finals)

 

The Eagles almost had a Class 2A rarity. At the conclusion of the 2018 season, it appeared LCA would boast a starting O-Line that featured three different D-1 prospects. Unfortunately, two of those star linemen chose to attend Frederick Douglass and another moved to another state.

 

The Eagles were a team building toward 2019, but those losses will put a damper on their title hopes. The cupboard is not completely bare. Jayden Barnhardt has a breakout year at QB and will be back for his Senior season as one of Class 2A’s top signal callers. Barnhardt’s success can be directly linked to a pair of dynamic threats in WR Dearious Smith and all-purpose back Xavier Brown. Anthony Johns, Josh Livengood, and Nathan Boggs will have an increased importance on their roles along the offensive line, if Barnhardt and company can get time the points and yards will come.

 

Defensively the Eagles will see a lot of guys pull dual action such as Smith and Brown. Andrew Long was arguably their most important defensive player a year ago and will return at his DE spot for his Senior Campaign. Tyler Morris and Dustin Wheatley will be asked to disrupt offenses as well from their edge positions.

 

5. Walton-Verona Bearcats (11-3, Lost to Mayfield in Semi’s)

 

Coach Barth and Walton-Verona just keep taking steps forward. The program which was started in 2008 has just kept moving the right way. It started with winning their first playoff game, then winning their first district title, then last season they claimed their first regional title by shocking Glasgow on their home field.

 

To keep the momentum going, the Bearcats will have a difficult task awaiting in 2019 as the addition of Beechwood certainly makes Northern Kentucky and the eastern semi-state a bit trickier. The Bearcats do have to feel good about their prospects if for no other reason than RB Peyton Smith is back. Smith checks every box for what you want out of a wing back, his athleticism has college scouts looking deeply at him, and you can expect an increased workload this season. Josh Walton and Logan Boone will be clearing the path from their TE and T positions respectively.

 

Walton-Verona does not throw often, but when they choose to this season, they have one of their best offensive weapons back in Travis Brauer. Brauer has big play ability and great hands, so you may see Barth come up with unique ways to get him more involved in the game plans. Trsitan Padgett may also see some meaningful snaps on offense as well, but his primary method of impacting the game is as a kicker.

 

The Bearcats do have major question marks on defense from a unit that posted seven shutouts and held 11 of their opponents to 14 points or less. Walton-Verona will be searching for answers and did not necessarily have a huge depth chart as it stood a year ago. Dawson Catlett and Gavin Knight gives sound experience at LB, but the loss of tackling machine Grant Grubbs wills be very difficult to overcome. Expect a minor setback in production on the defensive side of the ball during the regular season. A slightly more difficult schedule will challenge Dub-Vee.

 

6. Murray Tigers (8-5, Lost to Mayfield in Regional Finals)

 

That’s the Murray team we are more accustomed to seeing! After a pair of seasons which were atypical for the proud program, Murray found their footing a bit in 2018 and made a solid playoff run before running into the Mayfield buzz saw.

 

The Tigers sure have some lethal skill talent to feel optimistic about. They will be led by QB Hunter Utley who really turned heads and played a great brand of football down the stretch. Jaiden Jackson epitomizes the ATH distinction and makes plays all over the field. The Tigers lost an underrated player in RB Mark Thompson, but they feel Junior Dijon Miles will soften that blow. Jordan Duffy and Kayden Rogers are both back as supplemental pieces at WR, making a very imposing crew with Utley’s talent.

 

Up front, Noseguard Sebastian Lawrence is a problem for opposing defenses and returns as the leading tackler along with the aforementioned Jackson. DB Tommy Waldrop both had fine seasons and will only be better with another year under their belt. Though the Tigers have plenty of experience back, it is the defense that ultimately must feel the pressure in 2019. Mayfield scored 120 points in their two meetings with the Tigers and if Murray hopes to have any shot at an upset, they must improve leaps and bounds

 

7. Breathitt County Bobcats (8-4, Lost to Bell County in Round 2)

 

Suddenly Jackson is where it must be. Breathitt County has benefited from some key transfers over the past few seasons that has bolstered the once powerhouse program back onto the scene, and Kyle Moore hopes that 2019 and a drop in classification proves to leave a memorable season.

 

Charles (C.A.) Collins shook the entire 2A scene when he chose to return to the school district he grew up in. Collins has been one of Kentucky’s most prolific rushers and comes by way of 5A schools Montgomery County and Anderson County where he put up huge numbers against lesser competition than he will face at Breathitt. Breathitt also added one of Hopkinsville’s top linemen in William Long. Expect the stocky Long to significantly improve the Bobcats along both lines of scrimmage.

 

The Bobcats’ excitement is not simply from the new faces on the roster. Breathitt returns their biggest weapons from last year’s District Championship team. Braxton Ohara is one of the better dual threat QB’s in Eastern Kentucky and Brandyn Slaughter had an excellent 2018 campaign catching his passes. Jacob Noble adds a proven second option at WR and also doubles as a solid DB.

 

With Collins arrival, also look for the Bobcats to find a way to utilize Dalton Manns in a different role. On the defensive side of the ball, Ethan Moore is a very large building block to try and improve the defensive line around. Donavan Turner and Ladaniel Whitaker each will bring improvement in the second level of the unit. Slaughter and Noble will spend time in the secondary after doing admirable jobs in 2018.

 

8. Owensboro Catholic Aces (8-4, Lost to Murray in 2nd Round)

 

Owensboro Catholic is not used to starting their year ranked this far down, especially when they return one of the better statistical QB’s in Western Kentucky. The Aces saw their dreams come up short last year with an earlier than expected exit due to a 2nd Round shootout. Drew Hartz returns to lead the offense after a 2,600 yard season, but the Aces have some work to do to replenish his battery mates.

 

Hagan Edge will assume the role as Hartz’s security blanket after being the team’s second leading receiver a year ago. Braden Mundy saw action both in the backfield and at WR, and will see his offensive role increase. Harold Hogg will be asked to step in for Vonn Williams who had a very productive career at RB. The Aces must replace four of their six top scoring threats though, with Edge and Hogg being the lone holdovers.

 

Graduation was equally unkind on the defensive side. The Aces lose more than half of their starters including some of their better play makers from a defense that wasn’t exactly the Steel Curtain as it stands. Chris Boarman will be the heart of the defense after an impressive Sophomore year at the mike. Jack Hamilton will play OLB and be asked to disrupt opposing backfields. Edge is solid in the secondary, but along the defensive front and surrounding edge, the Aces will need to rely on unproven talent.

 

9. Caldwell County Tigers (8-4, Lost to Larue County in 2nd Round)

 

Realignment may have came a couple years too late for Caldwell. As the Tigers make the drop from Class 3A, they have some work to do to compete with the likes of Mayfield and Murray in the west. Caldwell loses some very talented athletes from a Top 10 team last season.

 

DeEric Hollowell was the leading rusher for the pass-heavy Tigers, but with the graduation of QB Joby Jaggers expect the running game to take on more of the heavy lifting in 2019. The Tigers not only lose the man who threw for almost 2,900 yards, they lose nearly all of the guys who caught the passes. Only Hollowell’s receiving contributions return from that large chunk of yardage.

 

Caldwell will have enough defensive skill to allow their offense a chance to catch up. You always want your defensive line to have some experience and between NG Layton Davis and DE’s Elijah Shaheen and Devin Kilgore, Caldwell definitely checks that box. Russ Beshear was one of the most consistent tacklers at LB , Max Ashley and Tate VanHooser both should have solid years in the Defensive Backfield.

 

10. Danville Admirals (5-7, Lost to Somerset in 2nd Round)

The wind was taken out of the sails of the Admirals in 2018. After substantial losses to graduation at the skill positions, Danville never could recover against a brutal schedule and never found the firepower to advance out of a very tough Region. Unfortunately for Danville, things are not looking much better in 2019 as Danville loses a massive Senior class that will leave them with meager 600 yards of so of returning offensive production.

 

It will be a rebuilding year for Coach Clevenger as he will turn to what appears to be a stout Sophomore group and hope they can gel enough to make some noise later in the year. One Senior that will be back is also one of 2A’s top players luckily. Darrian Bell is a sensational LB and on the short list of the better ‘Backers in the Commonwealth. Seth Gosser will contribute on both sides of the ball and will be asked to provide leadership to such a young team.

 

Expect Danville to take some lumps. Their schedule is littered with teams who should be winning lots of games and without the depth the Admirals are accustomed to, it may be a short stay in the Class 2A Top 10 if the youth does not step up early.

 

Close But Just Shy:

 

Newport Wildcats (6-5, Lost to DeSales in Round 1)

Newport expects to take a big step forward led by explosive dual threat QB/DB Kaleal Davis. Davis has the luxury of returning leading rusher RB Giaunte Jackson and 2nd leading receiver Simon Keating as well. Defensively JT Daniels and Jahmaree Cosby return to anchor a defense capable of improvement.

 

Lloyd Juggernauts (7-5, Lost in 2nd Round to Christian Academy of Louisville)

Lloyd has some work to do in 2019 to remain at the level they are accustomed to. The Juggs lose all but a meager 584 yards of total offense from last year’s team, including their do-everything RB Travon Mason. QB Dakota Thiel returns but may be slated for a position change as Lloyd is excited about Junior QB Austin Daniels. Lloyd also expects 6’5" Treshawn Cody to make the transition from basketball to Wide Receiver and offer some assistance. Defensively, the Juggs should be solid. Lloyd returns SS Joe Murone, LB Isaac Abdon, DB Keesean Crim, and DE Trevon Ramey from a unit that showed promise last season.

 

Washington County Commanders (5-6, Lost in 1st Round to Lloyd)

 

It speaks volumes towards the job that Coach Sagrecy is doing that Washington County graduated a player the caliber of Jbias Dawson and are still on the cusp of Top 10 discussions to open the season. Washington County is quietly becoming a consistently competitive program and with CAL and DeSales moving to Class 3A, the new alignment should foster further growth. The Commanders have one of the better 1-2 punches in the class with talented athletes Javontae Wright and Jatavian Churchill returning. Even with Dawson getting the heaviest load, those two still return over 1,300 yards, 17 TD’s, and a whopping 10 INT’s of production. Washington County also returns all three staring LB’s including Miguel Alcantara who will also factor into their offensive plans.

 

Shelby Valley Wildcats (10-2, Lost to Lexington Christian Academy in Round 2)

 

Shelby Valley posted a 10-win season and rolled to a district title riding their run heavy offense. The Wildcats say goodbye to one of the most productive RB’s in Class 2A this past decade in Seth Johnson and will look to find his heir apparent as their district mates look to close the gap. Dalton Meade is a safe bet to be a 1,000 yard rusher now that he will get an increase in carries. The Wildcats have a massive offensive line to run behind led by 6’2" 305lb Peyton Blackburn, 6’3" 250lb Michael Compton, 5’9" 250lb Trevor Thompson, and 6’1" 240lb Johnathan Hopkins. Meade will pull double duty where he serves a stellar LB and will be joined by Christian Lowe.

 

Leslie County Eagles (3-8, Lost to Danville in 1st Round)

Coach Melton’s program had become one of the more consistent commodities in Class 2A, but the Eagles were forced to field a young team in 2018 and took some lumps as a result. By season’s end, the Eagles were starting to gel and pushed Shelby Valley before eventually losing in a high scoring game. Leslie County returns QB Zack Parker who should improve on his 1,537 yards of passing with three of his top four receivers returning. Defensively, Leslie has one of the better LB’s you have not heard about yet in Preston Spurlock. Joining beside him is another tackling machine in LB Spencer Napier as well.

 

McLean County Cougars (8-4, Lost to Mayfield in Round 2)

 

Cougar fans cannot complain about 2018. McLean posted an 8-win season, hosted (and won) a home playoff game, and posted a five-game winning streak until meeting up with a great Mayfield team. Peyton Caraway is a load of a RB and should get some colleges looking at him after posting a 1,000 yard season last year. Landen Capps will join Caraway in the backfield and should see his stats rise as well. The big question for the Cougars will be reconstructing their Line. Andrew Munster will anchor their defense from his LB position.

 

West Carter Comets (6-5, Lost to Waggener in Round 1)

Keep West Carter in the back of your mind. The Comets might not be ready to take Class 2A by storm, but the move down from Class 3A will eventually prove fruitful for a program that is starting to establish a solid baseline for their fortunes. Leetavious Cline was very good as a Sophomore but expect him to begin transcending to star level in his Junior campaign.

 

Hancock County Hornets (5-6, Lost to Mayfield in Round 1)

 

If you want a dark horse candidate keep an eye on the Hornets and their star ATH Darian Clay. Hancock County returns four of their top five tackles, but more importantly return Clay who accounted for over 1,800 all-purpose yards and 28 TD’s a year ago. They will be expected to finish 3rd in their district, but if the Hornets can mature, they certainly should close substantial ground on both McLean County and Owensboro Catholic.

 

Edmonson County Wildcats (4-7, Lost to Caldwell County in Round 1)

 

District 3 is ripe for the taking with Monroe County basically having to rebuild their offense, and potentially the team best equipped to swoop in and take it is class dropping Edmonson County. The Wildcats certainly has experience on their side with several starters back including QB Jon Smith and his top two receivers. Defensively, they have a nice core back as well and should be well positioned to improve their record and chances of a home playoff game.

 

Five More to Watch:

 

Carroll County Panthers (7-5, Lost to Glasgow in Round 2)

 

Andre Mumphrey is a dynamic player and will help the Panthers close the gap on Walton-Verona. LB Clayton McAllister return after a big 2018 season as well. Expect Carroll to be the “best of the lot” outside of Walton-Verona and to show marked improvement.

 

Monroe County Falcons (4-8, Lost to Walton-Verona in Round 2)

 

Monroe County will be happy to see Glasgow leave and should benefit from a new district Alignment, but first they have to rebuild a bit. The Falcons only return around 600 of total yards and will need to trot out some youth and watch them grow.

 

Todd County Central Rebels (5-6, Lost to Murray in Round 1)

 

After a tremendous 2017 campaign, Todd Central was expected to come to earth and did to some extent, but the Rebels still showed they have come a long way by falling back to a .500 regular season mark. QB Bryce Nolan and RB JaTwan Graham give them enough firepower that they may be able to threaten for a home playoff game again.

 

Prestonsburg Blackcats (2-9, Lost to Lexington Christian Academy in Round 1)

 

Brandon Brewer’s first year of Head Coach certainly had its low points with the Blackcats essentially choosing to build for the future. The good news is Prestonsburg has plenty of starters and experience back, the bad news is they have a lot of ground to catch up and lost their best offensive weapon as well as their best defensive player to graduation.

 

Bath County Wildcats (7-4, Lost to Bardstown in Round 1)

 

Coach Poynter did a good job taking Bath County from a basement dweller to a team who was legitimately competing for district titles. Unfortunately, most of that success surrounded a Senior class led by two-way superstar Landan Swartz that has since departed. The new digs in 2A should soften the blow, but Bath County has an uphill slope to reach a winning record.

 

Pre-Season Class 2A Top 25 Players

 

1. QB Jayden Stinson, Mayfield

2. RB Charles Collins, Breathitt County

3. QB Cameron Hergott, Beechwood

4. QB Kaiya Sheron, Somerset

5. WR Kade Neely, Mayfield

6. ATH Kaleal Davis, Newport

7. QB Jayden Barnhardt, LCA

8. LB Jase Bruner, Somerset

9. RB Peyton Smith, Walton-Verona

10. ATH Jaiden Jackson, Murray

11. LB Darrian Bell, Danville

12. QB Drew Hartz, Owensboro Catholic

13. ATH Dearious Smith, LCA

14. ATH Jatavion Churchill, Washington County

15. ATH Alonzo Daniel, Mayfield

16. ATH Xavier Brown, LCA

17. ATH Darian Clay, Hancock County

18. ATH DeEric Hollowell, Caldwell County

19. ATH Dalton Meade, Shelby Valley

20. QB Hunter Utley, Murray

21. RB Alex Miller, Somerset

22. DE Andrew Long, LCA

23. LB Preston Spurlock, Leslie County

24. QB Braxton O'Hara, Breathitt County

25. ATH Javontae Wright, Washington County

Great job as usual, ATL!

 

It's hard not to wonder where LCA would be right now had they not lost the linemen in question. It's fair to say that Mayfield wouldn't be such a heavy favorite this year had they stayed. But as it stands, the Cards are perhaps the single heaviest favorite to win a championship this year.

Great Job ATL!

Go Cardinals!

In 3 week we will get a glance at a potential semi or state final matchup when Beechwood travels to Somerset to play on the Briar Jumper's new turf field.

For Beechwood, the Slusher kid comes in as a Sophomore, not Junior. He is of the same Slusher family, just cousins, and bigger! 😎 He will be eligible 11/2 as he was a 2 way starter for Holy across as a Freshman and is ineligible until then.

 

Great preview though. Very informative. 👍👍