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Class 6A Pre-Season Rankings


Tigerpride94

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Trinity enters the season as a heavy favorite with national accolades. The biggest question is who will also make it to the championship as St.X, Male, Manual, and North Hardin are the best contenders. With the potential of Covid-19 to throw a wrench in things, we don't know how this season will end, but it is a win to get the season started.

Class 6A Preseason Top 10

1. Trinity Shamrocks (13-2, State Champions)

Trinity starts the season as the favorite to capture championship number 27. They return several starters on both sides of the ball, but as Coach Beatty says, “All of our players are on a one-day contract”. Offensively they will be led by Mr. Football candidate Sr. QB Nathan McElroy who passed for 2597 yds and 31 touchdowns last year. He will hand the ball off to his speedster Jr. RB Armon Tucker who rushed for 1210 yds and 23 touchdowns last year. Defensively they will be led by the top LB duo in the state with Sr. LB Charlie Ely and Sr. LB Brandon Stearman. This will be not only be the best defense in the state but one that is the best in the country. Trinity also boasts a #14 national ranking in the USA Today Super 25.

2. St. Xavier Tigers (8-5, Lost in 3rd round to Male)

St. Xavier returns 7 starters on offense and will be led by Sr. QB transfer from Colorado Giles Pooler who passed for 1719 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. He will look for one of his top targets in Jr. WR Mekhi Smith who caught 618 yards and 4 touchdowns last year. Mekhi Smith may also line up in the wildcat at QB in certain spots. They will have to lean on the offense as the defensive front 7 will be inexperienced. Sr. LB Kurtis Cotten who had 71 tackles last year will be the anchor. An experienced secondary return and will be led by Sr. S Braden Wilson who had 54 tackles last year. St. Xavier has hopes to return to the title game in which they last appeared in 2017, losing to Trinity.

3. Male Bulldogs ( 14-1, State Runner Up)

Male returns 3 starters on offense but have two really good players to build around in Mr. Football candidate Sr. RB Jaylin Bross who rushed for 1658 yards and 23 touchdowns last year. They also return at WR Jr. Vincel Anthony who caught 573 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. They will be strong defensively up front the next two years due to returning Jr. DE/DT Elijah Manning who had 74 tackles and Jr. DE Selah Brown who had 50 tackles, 9 sacks last year. Male won the title in 2018 and were runner up in 2019, so if they reload on the O-line they could be back in the Championship and is not a team to count out.

4.Manual Crimsons (9-3, Lost in 2nd round to St. Xavier)

Manual fields one of their better teams this year, and a case could be made for them to be ranked #2 or #3 as they return 10 starters on defense and played Male close last year and defeated St. Xavier in close game before losing to them in playoffs. On offense they will be led by JR. RB JuWaun Northington who rushed for 1036 yards and 20 touchdowns and SR. WR Eli Blakey who caught 432 yards and 6 touchdowns last year. Defensively they return leading tacklers Jr. LB Charles Jones who had 67 tackles and SR. LB Ramont Townsend with 61 tackles last year. If the phrase defense wins championships is correct, then Manual could duplicate a championship game return like they last did in 1988.

5. North Hardin Trojans (13-1, Lost to Trinity in semifinals)

North Hardin returns two big play makers on offense led by arguably the most talented RB in the state in Mr. Football candidate Sr. Lavell Wright who rushed for 1819 yards and 25 touchdowns last year. Jr. QB Manie Wimberly returns and threw for 2649 yards and 24 touchdowns last year. On defense they return 3 of their top 10 tacklers from last year, so they will be inexperienced to start but will build around the state leader in interceptions who had 15 with Sr. S Jordan Lovett who also had 40 tackles. SR. LB Michael Lunz returns after having 78 tackles last year. North Hardin is the best 6A team outside of Jefferson County and if can improve defensively they have the talent to make a run to the championship.

6. Fern Creek Tigers (8-4, Lost in 2nd round to Male)

Fern Creek on offense returns Sr. QB Gerard Traynor who passed for 498 yards and 5 touchdowns. They also return RB Terrance Mitchell who ran for 1110 yards and 13 touchdowns and looks to increase those numbers since fellow RB Anthony Teague graduated last year. On defense they will be rebuilding around two of their top tacklers from last year with Jr. DB AJ Holden who had 75 tackles and Sr. LB BJ Pepper who had 72 tackles last year. Fern Creek always has athletes and certainly a team not to be overlooked.

7. Ballard Bruins (6-6, lost in 2nd round to Trinity)

Ballard returns SR. QB Larry Cummings who passed for 853 yards and 7 touchdowns. Sr. RB Kenton Jackson who ran for 245 yards and 3 touchdowns will have to replace nearly 2000-yard rusher Jayden Farmer who has graduated. There will be some growing pains on this side of the ball to start the season. The strength of the team will be on defense which returns 7 of their top 10 tacklers. Top tackler Sr. LB Justice Thompson returns, and he had 119 tackles last year. They will also look to talented Jr. DL Jadarion Smith who had 58 tackles and 8 sacks last year. If Ballard can get the offense going, they would be poised to move up in the rankings. Unfortunately for them, they are in the same district as Trinity.

8. McCracken County Mustangs (9-4, lost in 3rd round to North Hardin)

McCracken County will be led by Sr. RB Hunter Bradley who is returning from a leg injury. Last year he had 1669 yards and 22 touchdowns before being injured the last game of the season. McCracken County also returns Sr. WR Zander Mayes who had 586 yards and 4 touchdowns. McCracken County looks to be stronger on defense this year since they return 8 of the top 10 tacklers. The defense will be led by Jr. LB Isaiah Keys who had 86 tackles and Jr. DL LeAndre Bolen who had 68 tackles and 14 sacks. With an improved defense and a healthy Hunter Bradley, they are poised to potentially move up in the rankings.

9. Simon Kenton Pioneers (8-5, lost in 3rd round to Tates Creek)

Simon Kenton will be led on offense by talented Jr. QB Chase Crone who passed for 1740 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. He will be connecting with returning Sr. WR Caleb Livers who caught 402 yards and 3 touchdowns last year. Simon Kenton will have an inexperienced defense as they only return 1 of their top 10 tacklers from last season which is Sr. LB Nate Walker who had 87 tackles last season. Sr. DL Jake Huff who had 30 tackles and 5 sacks last season looks to contribute. Simon Kenton has traditionally been a top 10 team in 6A and has a good QB that can keep them there but will need the defense to be rebuilt to have more success.

10. George Rogers Clark Cardinals (7-5, lost in 2nd round to Oldham County)

George Rogers Clark looks stronger this year on offense as they return Sr. QB Jordan Manley who passed for 1737 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. They also return one of the top running backs in 6A with Sr. Azariah Israel who ran for an eye popping 2346 yards and 28 touchdowns last year. Defensively they return 6 of their top 10 tacklers and will be led by Jr. LB Jeremy Clem who had 81 tackles and Sr. DE Colby Ritchie who had 58 tackles and 5 sacks last year. George Rogers Clark returns a lot and could potentially move up in the rankings.

Other teams to watch that return several starters in alphabetical order:

Apollo

Bryan Station

Dixie Heights

Madison Central

Meade County

Paul Dunbar

Ryle

             

 

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The 2-3-4 teams are very tightly grouped. It'll be fun to see how things shake out between that trio. 

Trinity looks to be out in front by a mile, though. Hopefully, for the sake of all neutral fans who just want to see a little drama, someone can rise up and challenge them. 

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4 minutes ago, DevilMayCare said:

The 2-3-4 teams are very tightly grouped. It'll be fun to see how things shake out between that trio. 

Trinity looks to be out in front by a mile, though. Hopefully, for the sake of all neutral fans who just want to see a little drama, someone can rise up and challenge them. 

I agree that 2,3,and 4 all pretty even. It will shake out at some point.

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8 minutes ago, Purple88 said:

Great Job 94!

Will be some great games in Jefferson County this year as long as Covid stays away!

Am looking forward to following McCraken County, as they could make things interesting in the early playoff rounds.

Thx! I agree! Can’t wait to see how it all plays out.

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Top rated 6A Seniors and Juniors according to 247 Sports composite recruiting rating. The composite combines ratings of the major public recruiting services.

Seniors:

1. Jordan Lovett, S, North Hardin                               
2. LaVell Wright, RB, North Hardin                              
3. Michael Lunz, LB, North Hardin                             
4. Jack Dingle, LB, Trinity                                           
5. Eli Blakey, WR/DB, Manual                                      
6. Logan Weedman, OT, Apollo                                 
7. Parker Bates, OT, Apollo                                          
8. Charlie Ely, LB, Trinity                                               
9. Alex Moore, OT, Trinity                                              
10. Marcus Harris, WR, North Hardin                       
11. Terran Hearn, DE, Ballard                                       
12. Gavin Malott, OT, Trinity                                         
13. Braxton Cannon, WR, Manual

Juniors:

1. Selah Brown, DE, Male                                             
2. JaWaun Northington, RB/LB, Manual
 

 

               
 

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38 minutes ago, ApolloFan98 said:

Great job!  Keep your eye on Daviess County as well.  They return a ton of starters on offense and a tremendous offensive line.  If they can find some defense, they will be tough.  That will be a fun district with McCracken, Henderson, Apollo and Daviess Co.

I’ll have my eye on Apollo. Two D1 guys on O-Line means going to score some points.

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1 hour ago, Tigerpride94 said:

Latest USA Today rankings are out and Trinity dropped from 14 to 17. I expect Trinity to move up in these rankings since will most likely go undefeated.

That's only because so many teams ahead them have been playing already.

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4 hours ago, Tigerpride94 said:

I’ll have my eye on Apollo. Two D1 guys on O-Line means going to score some points.

Oh absolutely.  Lovinski and Patterson(formerly known as Harold Hogg) behind that offensive line should be really explosive.  Add Coach John Edge and they probably have they highest ceiling of any team in that district.

As for Daviess County, Jon Nalley is a kid that shouldn't go unnoticed.  He has several offers on the table as an OT.  Blake Henry is another guy on the line that i expect to field some nice offers before its all said and done too.  They will be very strong up front.

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