Lexington / Central Kentucky Top 10 Power Rankings - Preseason

 

 

Traditionally when one thinks of Central Kentucky high school football the discussion was usually around the smaller schools of the area. 2A Danville and 3A Boyle County alone can dominate the conversation. And these two teams will continue to be topics of conversation in 2015 as Danville builds upon an 8 and 4 record last year. Boyle County was 11 and 2 in Chuck Smiths first year of his return as the head coach of Boyle County. Smith will have a lots of seniors on this year’s team lead by QB Josiah Robbins. Smith came to close to running the table last year. This year’s team, now in class 3A could reach the top of this ranking with an undefeated season.

 

Also moving to the 3A class are the Lexington Catholic Knights. With two state championships and four consecutive Region titles the Knights have shown they will be part of any Central Kentucky football discussion. The Knights are coached by UK football alumni Mark Perry. Perry is in his second year with the Knights. The Knights were 10 and 4 last year and got to the KHSAA semi-finals for a fourth year in a row. Jaylen Jones returns to give the Knights a strong ground attack and Legend Brumbaugh takes over QB duties.

 

On top end of the class scale is 6A the ever present Scott County under coach Jim McKee. The Cardinals won it all two years ago and had a strong run in 2014, losing to eventual 6A Champion Meade County by only 3 in the playoffs. But the Cardinals may not rule the Central Kentucky region roost in 2015. Coach Eric Shaw at Lafayette has been building a top program at Lafayette and 2015 starts out with Shaw’s Generals as the top team. Winners of the UK 7-on-7 tournament and loaded with well-recruited linemen the Generals seem to have all key elements. Also, the Henry Clay Blue Devils come in with a strong team. The Blue Devils, under long time coach Samuel Simpson, were in the final game at UK with Lafayette, thus showing they have play makers returning on a team that lost to Meade County in the playoffs last by only 4 points. Leading the Blue Devil defense is UK commit Davonte Robinson.

 

Of the 1A schools in the region Paris and Frankfort are constant contenders and have strong football traditions. The Frankfort Panthers under coach Craig Foley were 10 and 3 in 2014. The Paris Greyhounds under coach Brian Washington were 10 and 2 in 2014.

 

And in the upper-mid size schools 5A Franklin County and Anderson County are always in the mix. The Anderson County Bearcats under coach Mark Peach were 10 and 3 in 2014. The Franklin County Flyers under coach Chris Tracy were 8 and 3. These two neighboring county schools should be in the mix again in 2015.

Rounding out the intimal top 10 are 1A Frankfort and Paris. Small but powerful teams who play well above their class in the region.

 

There a few schools to keep track of that could easily break into the Top 10. Bryan Station has had a good run in 2014 but did graduate a number of seniors last year. Garrard County had a great run in 2014 in the 3A class but will have to face Boyle and Lexington Catholic this year. And Bourbon County went 9 and 4 in 2014. Bourbon starting quarterback will be Clay Bolin – brother of Kyle Bolin. And Bourbon could make another strong run. Their schedule does not contain many power schools and makes it hard to compare them, at least at this stage. Paul Lawrence Dunbar also could be a factor in the competitive 6A class under coach Paul Rains. Hopefully the coaching carousal at Dunbar has stopped at Rains can leverage the stability as some of his in-city peers have done. Mercer County is under new coach David Buchanan in 2015 and has work to do to improve on last year’s 2 and 9 record.

 

The region is home to some national level college recruits. Most notably, Drake Jackson at Woodford County. Top national players are great to have but they still need a team around them. Woodford County could crack this list but they will have to make a lot progress over last year’s 1 and 9 record.

 

 

 

 

Lexington / Central Kentucky Pre-Season Top 10 Ranking

 

 

#1 – Lafayette Generals (6A)

Games to watch: September 4 – Trinity; September 18 – Scott County; September 25 – Henry Clay; October 2 – Bryan Station

 

#2 – Henry Clay Blue Devils (6A)

Games to watch: August 28 - St. X; September 25 - Lafayette; October 9 – Scott County; October 23 – Bryan Station

 

#3 – Scott County Cardinals (6A)

Games to watch: September 4 – Highlands; September 11 – Elder (OH); September 18 – Lafayette; October 9 – Henry Clay; October 16 – Bryan Station

 

#4 – Lexington Catholic Knights (3A)

Games to watch: August 28 – Ryle; September 11 – Covington Catholic; October 16 – Boyle County; October 23 – Garrard County

 

#5 – Boyle County Rebels (3A)

Games to watch: August 22 – Central Hardin; September 4 – Danville; September 11 – Anderson County; October 9 – Garrard County; October 16 – Lexington Catholic

 

#6 – Anderson County Bearcats (5A)

Games to watch: September 11 – Boyle County; September 18 – Franklin County

 

#7 – Franklin County Flyers (5A)

Games to watch: September 11 – Frankfort; September 18 – Anderson County

 

#8 – Frankfort Panthers (1A)

Games to watch: August 22 – Paris; September 11 – Franklin County; October 30 – Danville

 

#9 – Danville Admirals (2A)

Games to Watch: September 4 – Boyle County; October 30 – Frankfort

 

#10 – Paris Greyhounds (1A)

Games to watch: August 22 – Frankfort

 

 

Week 0 Game of the Week

 

3A Boyle County vs. 6A Central Hardin

August 22, 6 p.m. At Mercer County

 

Chuck Smith and the Rebels face a top notch, top class opponent to open the season in the Little Ceaser’s Fort Harrod Bowl at Mercer County.

Lexington / Central Kentucky Top 10 Power Rankings - Preseason

 

 

On top end of the class scale is 6A the ever present Scott County under coach Jim McKee. The Cardinals won it all two years ago and had a strong run in 2014, losing to eventual 6A Champion Meade County by only 3 in the playoffs. But the Cardinals may not rule the Central Kentucky region roost in 2015.

 

 

Did I miss something about who won 6A last year?

Franklin co is now in 4a and woodford was 4-7 last year. I believe this to be correct.

Paris at #10 , ahead of both Bourbon County and Garrard County?

Boyle County is going to come out of week 1 with a losing record. They got a little taste of Central Hardin in the 7on7 tournament in Campbellville 2 weeks ago, losing to Central Hardin, they will get another dose come week 1. Central just won another 7on7 Tournamnet this past weekend at Central Hardin, 10 Teams competed and Central beat North Hardin in the Championship. Big Strong, Physical, Defense oriented, run the wing T, and have a fullback in Xavier Arnette 6'1" 210 who is a load to bring down.

Paris is far from being a Top 10 team in Central Kentucky. Recently saw them play in a 7 on 7 and they are nowhere near some of the teams not listed in these rankings. Paris would lose by at least two scores to each of Bryan Station, Bourbon County, Dunbar, Woodford County, Garrard County and Lexington Christian.

Paris is far from being a Top 10 team in Central Kentucky. Recently saw them play in a 7 on 7 and they are nowhere near some of the teams not listed in these rankings. Paris would lose by at least two scores to each of Bryan Station, Bourbon County, Dunbar, Woodford County, Garrard County and Lexington Christian.

 

Any Season preview that has Paris as a Top 10 in CKY loses instant credibility. Seems pretty biased. Even Danville is a head scratcher to a degree.

I did struggle on the last 3 very much. Its hard to gauge the small schools year to year.

 

I did overstate Meade's credentials. Their better run was the year before. Last year was that other green team from the Louisville area. My apologies.

And Woodford was 4 - 7 last year. Even with their great line players they have a lot prove.

Any team coached by Chuck Smith has to be a contender for a title.

I did struggle on the last 3 very much. Its hard to gauge the small schools year to year.

 

I did overstate Meade's credentials. Their better run was the year before. Last year was that other green team from the Louisville area. My apologies.

 

To be fair, Meade did make the state final four last season, so while you overstated them a bit, it isn't like they were a bad team!

Welp got to start somewhere and its way early. Insert 7 on 7 means nothing jargon here. This region will be fun watching can "The center of the D1 universe" Lafayette live up to the hype?

Paris at #10 , ahead of both Bourbon County and Garrard County?

 

Yup...still scratching my head on this one.

At the end of the year Boyle, Scott Co. or Lex Cath will top the list. Is Catholic set on Brumbaugh? He's pretty raw, but he's improved a lot since last year. Henry Clay disappoints every year, Lafayette who knows? But Paris? PARIS? Playing dynamos such as Bishop Brossart, Pineville, Nicholas Co., Berea, Bracken Co. etc... gets the nod over Station, Garrard, Bourbon and any other Lexington school WOW!

A little shocked at Bryan Station being left out of the top 10. No knock on teams at the bottom of the list but it's hard to believe that they'd beat Bryan Station. I understand graduating guys but every team in the state lost key guys to graduation.

 

On a side note that Central Hardin vs Boyle County game is a great measuring stick game for both teams. Great way to leap in the second week polls for the winner