JDEaston Posted August 16, 2016 Posted August 16, 2016 Some things seem to stay the same, that can be said about class 5A’s team to beat, the Bowling Green Purples. The rest of the top ten includes traditional powers, along with some teams that return a solid nucleus from the prior season. I have a feeling it will be an exciting season for 5A football as there are still a lot of unknowns in this class, with some very solid teams fighting it out for a chance to dethrone the Purples. Will Highlands get a chance to dance with the Purples this year, will N. Laurel continue to surprise and pull off a major upset? Time will tell, but I believe 5A will be one of the most exciting classes to watch this season, with plenty of changes in the rankings and “upsets” along the way. The Top Ten 1. Bowling Green (14-1; 5A State Champions) The Purples are the clear favorite again this season. They return a potential Mr. Football candidate in Jamele Caruthers (RB) as well as an offense that could be the best in the state. Caruthers is committed to Navy and rushed for over 1,300 yards last season while tallying up 20 touchdowns, he also tacked on another 719 yards and 6 touchdowns receiving. With the addition of Zion Kenner (Christian County) as another option for quarterback Clark Payne to throw to it will be hard for anyone in 5A to slow them down. Payne completed 65% of his passes last season, totaling over 2,500 yards and 32 touchdowns. The Purples open the season against 4A John Hardin, Saturday, August 20th as part of the Rafferty’s Bowl. 2. Fern Creek (12-2; 5A State Semifinals, lost to Bowling Green) The Tigers may once again sweep their district on their way to another district championship, though Fairdale may have something to say about that. Fern Creek may not start off running out of the gate, but with some leadership from junior quarterback Shamar Bryant they should make another deep run in the playoffs. The early season game versus Manual should add some perspective to how good this year’s Tigers could be. 3. Christian County (8-4; 5A Second Round, lost to Bowling Green) Does anyone notice the trend? Two of the top contenders to challenge the Purples, also lost to the Purples in the state tournament last season. Christian County could very well be as good as anyone not named Bowling Green this season. They will certainly miss Zion Kenner, but also have a ton of young talent returning this season. That includes JR qb Kolbe Langhi, the left hander has been the starting qb since he walked through the doors at Christian County. Langhi threw for nearly 2,400 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, along with only 7 interceptions. Keyron Catlett will be one of the top targets for Langhi, Catlett racked up 800 yards and 7 touchdowns last season from 62 catches. 4. Highlands (8-6; 5A Semifinals, lost to Pulaski County) Highlands is lurking and wants to prove that they are 5A contenders. After missing their first title game in 8 years the Bluebirds are looking to challenge the Purples, something they missed out on last season. Highlands is always one of the top teams in the state, this season won’t be any different. Their line play will have a lot to do with how good Highlands is this season, senior Brady Gosney steps in at qb this season, after Austin Hergott took his skills to the next level at Central Michigan University. As long as Gosney makes the transition well and is protected by the o-line, the Bluebirds should make another deep playoff run. Look for another district showdown between the Bluebirds and the Colonels that will have major playoff implications. 5. Owensboro (11-2; 5A 3rd Round, lost to Bowling Green) The Red Devils may be one of the top teams in 5A, unfortunately for them, their district foe Christian County is as well. The battle between those two is a must watch game if you are in the area or are able to visit. Also don’t forget about the early season game (September, 2nd) versus rival Owensboro Catholic, it should be a good test for the Red Devils. Owensboro lost 16 seniors to graduation, 7 of which signed letters of intent to play at the higher level. The Red Devils will be young this year but the cupboard is far from bare, they return senior running back Landon Board, who tallied over 1,800 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. 6. Covington Catholic (5-8; 5A 3rd Round, lost to Ft. Thomas Highlands) As always, the Colonels have another brutal schedule, though not as bad as in some seasons. Look for running backs Anthony Best and Grant Dyer to take some of the load off from quarterback AJ Mayer. While the Colonels lost a lot of Mayer’s top receiving targets, he should still have another great season. Mayer threw for almost 2,000 yards in his first season as a starter while tacking on another 641 yards rushing, accounting for over half of the total offense the Colonels produced. The Colonels also return the majority of a very strong defense. Look for another district showdown between the Colonels and Bluebirds which will have seeding implications. 7. Pulaski County (13-2; 5A Runner up to Bowling Green) Riley Hall has left the building, which is the only reason Pulaski did not crack the top 5. That said, Maroons could still crack the top 5 or even return to yet another state championship. They return a ton of talent, including a potential Mr. Football candidate in Jake Johnson. However, anytime you lose a Gatorade player of the year finalist, you may take a step or two back. 8. South Oldham (10-3; 5A 3rd Round, lost to Fern Creek) It appears that South Oldham and either North or Central Bullitt will battle it out in another exciting district. While the Dragons lost several key players due to graduation, they do return a strong nucleus of linemen that should help quarterback Drew Zaubi settle the skill players in. 9. Southwestern (8-4; 5A Second Round, lost to N. Laurel) This could be the year that the Warriors dethrone their rival Pulaski County. The Warriors return the majority of their talent from last season, including running back Patric Edwards. The Southwestern/Pulaski game(s) this year will be a war! 10. Greenwood (9-3; 5A Second Round, lost to Owensboro) The Gators certainly have their work cut out for them sharing a district with Bowling Green. While I do not believe Greenwood will dethrone Bowling Green, they are certainly building a nice program. They return a strong nucleus and should another great season, however there is a major roadblock in the way of winning a district championship. Keep an eye on dual threat quarterback Jackson Adams, the junior qb is already the Gators all time leading rusher and tallied up over 1,600 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. The early season matchups with 4A South Warren and Franklin-Simpson will be a good test to see how good Greenwood will fare in their district. Others Looking In 11. North Laurel (11-2; 5A 3rd Round, lost to Pulaski County) The Jaguars had a great season in 2015 and hope to repeat that in 2016. However, they did lose a lot due to graduation. There is a lot of hype coming into the season after the strong finish in 2015, time will tell how good this group of youngsters can really be. 12. North Bullitt (9-3; 5A Second Round, lost to Fern Creek) The Eagles will have to contend with South Oldham and Bullitt Central for a district championship. Which in my opinion it will be tough for any of the Bullitt County teams to knock off the Dragons, but when there is a will there is a way. Quarterback Andrew Brown and receiver Nate Johnson will have to have another great season for that to happen. 13. Fairdale (7-5; 5A Second Round, lost to South Oldham) With the exception of Fern Creek, I believe the rest of district 4 is up in the air. How the transition of replacing quarterback Dylan Garcia goes will spell out how the Bulldogs fair this season. Look for them to fight it with Doss and Iroquois for second place in the district. 14. Bullitt Central (6-5; 5A First Round, lost to Fern Creek) The Cougars may start slow until they get their offense clicking. They return a solid defense, so if their new offense gels as the season progresses, they could fight it out for the number two spot in district 3. 15. Madison Southern (5-6; 5A Second Round, lost to C. Catholic) This one was tough, as I wanted to put Doss in this spot and they may rightfully earn it as the season progresses. I’m giving the Eagles the benefit of the doubt as they return a solid nucleus that should give them a balanced offense and a solid defense.
Purple88 Posted August 16, 2016 Posted August 16, 2016 TERRIFIC Job JD! Like it all, but I would add Graves County to the list looking in. And if they beat Hopkinsville at Hopkinsville on Saturday then I think they should be rewarded for that - above say a Southwestern that has done what exactly??? You tell me.
JDEaston Posted August 16, 2016 Author Posted August 16, 2016 Thanks for the compliment! Southwestern returns a lot of their talent from last season, so they could end up surprising some people. As far as Graves goes, I kinda dropped the ball on them, I had them in my notes but completely overlooked them when finishing things up, that said they still wouldn't have made my preseason top 10 due to losing so many seniors. Keep an eye on the rankings though, they could certainly work their way into the top 10.
Content1 Posted August 16, 2016 Posted August 16, 2016 Well done JD... Looking forward to seeing how Dixie Heights responds...a lot of untapped talent may surprise a lot of folks!
Eagle_Pride!! Posted August 16, 2016 Posted August 16, 2016 Some things seem to stay the same, that can be said about class 5A’s team to beat, the Bowling Green Purples. The rest of the top ten includes traditional powers, along with some teams that return a solid nucleus from the prior season. I have a feeling it will be an exciting season for 5A football as there are still a lot of unknowns in this class, with some very solid teams fighting it out for a chance to dethrone the Purples. Will Highlands get a chance to dance with the Purples this year, will N. Laurel continue to surprise and pull off a major upset? Time will tell, but I believe 5A will be one of the most exciting classes to watch this season, with plenty of changes in the rankings and “upsets” along the way. The Top Ten 1. Bowling Green (14-1; 5A State Champions) The Purples are the clear favorite again this season. They return a potential Mr. Football candidate in Jamele Caruthers (RB) as well as an offense that could be the best in the state. Caruthers is committed to Navy and rushed for over 1,300 yards last season while tallying up 20 touchdowns, he also tacked on another 719 yards and 6 touchdowns receiving. With the addition of Zion Kenner (Christian County) as another option for quarterback Clark Payne to throw to it will be hard for anyone in 5A to slow them down. Payne completed 65% of his passes last season, totaling over 2,500 yards and 32 touchdowns. The Purples open the season against 4A John Hardin, Saturday, August 20th as part of the Rafferty’s Bowl. 2. Fern Creek (12-2; 5A State Semifinals, lost to Bowling Green) The Tigers may once again sweep their district on their way to another district championship, though Fairdale may have something to say about that. Fern Creek may not start off running out of the gate, but with some leadership from junior quarterback Shamar Bryant they should make another deep run in the playoffs. The early season game versus Manual should add some perspective to how good this year’s Tigers could be. 3. Christian County (8-4; 5A Second Round, lost to Bowling Green) Does anyone notice the trend? Two of the top contenders to challenge the Purples, also lost to the Purples in the state tournament last season. Christian County could very well be as good as anyone not named Bowling Green this season. They will certainly miss Zion Kenner, but also have a ton of young talent returning this season. That includes JR qb Kolbe Langhi, the left hander has been the starting qb since he walked through the doors at Christian County. Langhi threw for nearly 2,400 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, along with only 7 interceptions. Keyron Catlett will be one of the top targets for Langhi, Catlett racked up 800 yards and 7 touchdowns last season from 62 catches. 4. Highlands (8-6; 5A Semifinals, lost to Pulaski County) Highlands is lurking and wants to prove that they are 5A contenders. After missing their first title game in 8 years the Bluebirds are looking to challenge the Purples, something they missed out on last season. Highlands is always one of the top teams in the state, this season won’t be any different. Their line play will have a lot to do with how good Highlands is this season, senior Brady Gosney steps in at qb this season, after Austin Hergott took his skills to the next level at Central Michigan University. As long as Gosney makes the transition well and is protected by the o-line, the Bluebirds should make another deep playoff run. Look for another district showdown between the Bluebirds and the Colonels that will have major playoff implications. 5. Owensboro (11-2; 5A 3rd Round, lost to Bowling Green) The Red Devils may be one of the top teams in 5A, unfortunately for them, their district foe Christian County is as well. The battle between those two is a must watch game if you are in the area or are able to visit. Also don’t forget about the early season game (September, 2nd) versus rival Owensboro Catholic, it should be a good test for the Red Devils. Owensboro lost 16 seniors to graduation, 7 of which signed letters of intent to play at the higher level. The Red Devils will be young this year but the cupboard is far from bare, they return senior running back Landon Board, who tallied over 1,800 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. 6. Covington Catholic (5-8; 5A 3rd Round, lost to Ft. Thomas Highlands) As always, the Colonels have another brutal schedule, though not as bad as in some seasons. Look for running backs Anthony Best and Grant Dyer to take some of the load off from quarterback AJ Mayer. While the Colonels lost a lot of Mayer’s top receiving targets, he should still have another great season. Mayer threw for almost 2,000 yards in his first season as a starter while tacking on another 641 yards rushing, accounting for over half of the total offense the Colonels produced. The Colonels also return the majority of a very strong defense. Look for another district showdown between the Colonels and Bluebirds which will have seeding implications. 7. Pulaski County (13-2; 5A Runner up to Bowling Green) Riley Hall has left the building, which is the only reason Pulaski did not crack the top 5. That said, Maroons could still crack the top 5 or even return to yet another state championship. They return a ton of talent, including a potential Mr. Football candidate in Jake Johnson. However, anytime you lose a Gatorade player of the year finalist, you may take a step or two back. 8. South Oldham (10-3; 5A 3rd Round, lost to Fern Creek) It appears that South Oldham and either North or Central Bullitt will battle it out in another exciting district. While the Dragons lost several key players due to graduation, they do return a strong nucleus of linemen that should help quarterback Drew Zaubi settle the skill players in. 9. Southwestern (8-4; 5A Second Round, lost to N. Laurel) This could be the year that the Warriors dethrone their rival Pulaski County. The Warriors return the majority of their talent from last season, including running back Patric Edwards. The Southwestern/Pulaski game(s) this year will be a war! 10. Greenwood (9-3; 5A Second Round, lost to Owensboro) The Gators certainly have their work cut out for them sharing a district with Bowling Green. While I do not believe Greenwood will dethrone Bowling Green, they are certainly building a nice program. They return a strong nucleus and should another great season, however there is a major roadblock in the way of winning a district championship. Keep an eye on dual threat quarterback Jackson Adams, the junior qb is already the Gators all time leading rusher and tallied up over 1,600 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. The early season matchups with 4A South Warren and Franklin-Simpson will be a good test to see how good Greenwood will fare in their district. Others Looking In 11. North Laurel (11-2; 5A 3rd Round, lost to Pulaski County) The Jaguars had a great season in 2015 and hope to repeat that in 2016. However, they did lose a lot due to graduation. There is a lot of hype coming into the season after the strong finish in 2015, time will tell how good this group of youngsters can really be. 12. North Bullitt (9-3; 5A Second Round, lost to Fern Creek) The Eagles will have to contend with South Oldham and Bullitt Central for a district championship. Which in my opinion it will be tough for any of the Bullitt County teams to knock off the Dragons, but when there is a will there is a way. Quarterback Andrew Brown and receiver Nate Johnson will have to have another great season for that to happen. 13. Fairdale (7-5; 5A Second Round, lost to South Oldham) With the exception of Fern Creek, I believe the rest of district 4 is up in the air. How the transition of replacing quarterback Dylan Garcia goes will spell out how the Bulldogs fair this season. Look for them to fight it with Doss and Iroquois for second place in the district. 14. Bullitt Central (6-5; 5A First Round, lost to Fern Creek) The Cougars may start slow until they get their offense clicking. They return a solid defense, so if their new offense gels as the season progresses, they could fight it out for the number two spot in district 3. 15. Madison Southern (5-6; 5A Second Round, lost to C. Catholic) This one was tough, as I wanted to put Doss in this spot and they may rightfully earn it as the season progresses. I’m giving the Eagles the benefit of the doubt as they return a solid nucleus that should give them a balanced offense and a solid defense. Wow, Graves county not even in ur top 15???..wow, that's all I can say!
Watusi Posted August 17, 2016 Posted August 17, 2016 Wow, Graves county not even in ur top 15???..wow, that's all I can say! You could tell us more about Graves Co. There wasn't much information in the 2016 Graves County thread. I was surprised in their performance last year after a couple of really strong years including the 2014 state runner-up. Was it just a rebuilding year? Something else? They fell really far in 2015 from that level and I'm not surprised to see them unranked. How have they improved this season that will make them better than last year? ( A 5-6 record they got destroyed in Round 1 of the playoffs to Greenwood, 38-6) Where would you rank them among the above teams in the pre-season?
Eagle_Pride!! Posted August 17, 2016 Posted August 17, 2016 You could tell us more about Graves Co. There wasn't much information in the 2016 Graves County thread. I was surprised in their performance last year after a couple of really strong years including the 2014 state runner-up. Was it just a rebuilding year? Something else? They fell really far in 2015 from that level and I'm not surprised to see them unranked. How have they improved this season that will make them better than last year? ( A 5-6 record they got destroyed in Round 1 of the playoffs to Greenwood, 38-6) Where would you rank them among the above teams in the pre-season? Ever heard the phrase, " getting where you need to be earlier then ur suppose to be?"..this is what happened in 2014 when the eagles shocked 5A & made it to the state finals..the boys tasted a lil bit of that glory...last year we had a 5-6 season. Just couldn't put the puzzle pieces in place..this year, u will see graves' utilize their qb more..Mathis is arguably the best sophome qb in ky..he is accurate in his passing game (altho he did have 6 interceptions as a freshman) but that's expected as a freshman.he has been given the green light to run as well..graves also has a stable of capable running backs with different styles of attack..one is a speedster, one is a big bruiser, & one is ground & pound...graves has also brought in former eagle alumni greats to their coaching staff...former qb John michael barber, Jason goatley, among others..guys that built their legacy at graves..this is the attitude and environment the boys need..the intensity that the eagles brought to the table during their scrimmages is impressive..I have said it before, I will say it again..this is the year of the eagles..I know we must run a heck of a schedule with Christian county, owensboro, & then potentially bowling green..just looking forward to the opportunity..but, graves is definitely a top ten team..I would currently drop them at #8.
Watusi Posted August 17, 2016 Posted August 17, 2016 That's what I'm talking about Eagle_Pride :thumb: One thing for certain, they have the opportunity to play their way into the rankings.
Voice of Reason Posted August 17, 2016 Posted August 17, 2016 I could understand Graves County somewhere in the 11-15 range. I don't see any way someone could rank them higher than Greenwood. After last year Graves County is a show me team. It will be interesting to see if they can put it all together this year.
75center Posted August 17, 2016 Posted August 17, 2016 Other than knowing BG is coming back loaded once again I really don't know what the rest of 5A returns. It's BG and all others.
BadaBing Posted August 17, 2016 Posted August 17, 2016 I watched Graves Co. scrimmage Henderson and Madisonville last Friday (3-way scrimmage). They were, by far, the best looking team there (not sure if that's saying much). Nice passing game, backs finishing runs, and a few defenders that laid some nice licks. They have def look better the last few years. I don't know enough about 5A to really give them a confident ranking. I wouldn't consider them top 10, but top 20 for sure.
JDEaston Posted August 17, 2016 Author Posted August 17, 2016 Ever heard the phrase, " getting where you need to be earlier then ur suppose to be?"..this is what happened in 2014 when the eagles shocked 5A & made it to the state finals..the boys tasted a lil bit of that glory...last year we had a 5-6 season. Just couldn't put the puzzle pieces in place..this year, u will see graves' utilize their qb more..Mathis is arguably the best sophome qb in ky..he is accurate in his passing game (altho he did have 6 interceptions as a freshman) but that's expected as a freshman.he has been given the green light to run as well..graves also has a stable of capable running backs with different styles of attack..one is a speedster, one is a big bruiser, & one is ground & pound...graves has also brought in former eagle alumni greats to their coaching staff...former qb John michael barber, Jason goatley, among others..guys that built their legacy at graves..this is the attitude and environment the boys need..the intensity that the eagles brought to the table during their scrimmages is impressive..I have said it before, I will say it again..this is the year of the eagles..I know we must run a heck of a schedule with Christian county, owensboro, & then potentially bowling green..just looking forward to the opportunity..but, graves is definitely a top ten team..I would currently drop them at #8. Appreciate the info Eagle_Pride! I believe the Eagles graduated 18 seniors last season, how much of an impact will that have on? If they put on a good showing vs Hopkinsville, I imagine they will gain some traction in the rankings, of course depending on how the teams in front of them fair.
Eagle_Pride!! Posted August 18, 2016 Posted August 18, 2016 Appreciate the info Eagle_Pride! I believe the Eagles graduated 18 seniors last season, how much of an impact will that have on? If they put on a good showing vs Hopkinsville, I imagine they will gain some traction in the rankings, of course depending on how the teams in front of them fair. Losing 18 or so seniors will have some affect regardless of how u look at it..graves just needed to find a way to exploit their opponents weaknesses..hopkinsville will be one of the fastest teams we face this year.we must tackle well & our offense must play their A game..I think graves will run the ball rathe easily against hopkinsville. We must keep them in check and refuse to give up the deep ball....
Eagle_Pride!! Posted August 18, 2016 Posted August 18, 2016 Other than knowing BG is coming back loaded once again I really don't know what the rest of 5A returns. It's BG and all others. I'm just hoping Graves gets their chance once again with BG..keep in mind, 2 years ago, graves came into bowling green, beat a team that was on a 47 game in state win steak..not trying to compare apples to oranges, But, Graves has slayed that beast before!! ;-)
Adopted Purple Posted August 18, 2016 Posted August 18, 2016 Thats a tough district out west. Whichever team that comes out of there will be no pushover.
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