Here is a look at how the last three weeks of the 5A football season played out last year. So now that we're just over 4 weeks away from the 2024 football season kicking off, what are you thinking in terms of preseason rankings for 5A?

Have any of these teams dropped out of the picture for the beginning of this season?

Are any of the quarterfinalists or semifinalists looking more like finalists this season? Or vice versa?

What about teams like Scott County, South Warren and Dixie Heights...do you see them making it any deeper of a playoff run than they did last year?

Here are this year's team threads that have been started from among the teams that made last year's 5A quarterfinalists:

2024 Bowling Green Purples

2024 Cooper Jaguars

2024 Highlands Bluebirds

2024 Owensboro Red Devils

2024 Southwestern Warriors

2024 Atherton Ravens

5A is definitely up in the air this season.  All 4 teams who made the semis last season are going to be really good.  I like the chances that a NKY team wins the championship since 2 of those 4 teams are from NKY.  I really think this could be Cooper's year they are absolutely loaded with talent with one of the best defensive players in the state and maybe the top QB in the state.  Highlands is going to be really good but will still be relatively young.  I think Highlands will be the 5A favorites in 2025.

Showing my bias but I think it's Bowling Green's to lose with how much talent is returning from a state championship team.  Cooper obviously returns quite a bit too so I would consider them a safe #2 at season's start.

Highlands lost 25 seniors last season, so I agree they will be quite young. IMO it would be a great coaching job and an overachievement for them to be one of the last four playing. I believe this is also the Birds last year in 5A. Ever since returning to 5A in 2015 the results have been very underwhelming. I'm sure the Highlands faithful would love nothing more than to be in contention.

Owensboro is a question mark to me with the transfers out they have had. Plus throw in the fact that Bowling Green has been a thorn in their side for the better part of the past decade and a half, it leaves me wondering how far they might go.

South Warren should get some recognition with the return of Button, but they have a lot to prove after Owensboro dismantled them in the second round last year and the skill positions they are having to replace. Still, hard to just rule out a Brandon Smith led team. 

Scott County has a good senior class with talent as well that I don't recommend dismissing. It wouldn't surprise me to see them in the semi finals with the right draw. 

To answer @Colonels_Wear_Blue initial question, if I had to rank a top 10 going in to week one, I would have it something like 

1. Bowling Green

2. Cooper

3. Owensboro

4. South Warren

5. Highlands

6. Scott County

7. Southwestern

8. Dixie Heights

9. Atherton

10. Greenwood

Came here looking for "Birds by 90." Guess I'll have to check back later.

This probably could do to be mentioned in this thread, additional to the Central Kentucky Preseason Power Rankings thread where I originally posted it:

Scott County's offense returns their starting QB, their entire offensive line, their top 2 wide receivers, and although they graduated their top three RBs, they were kind of a "running back by committee" type of offense last year, with ten different guys with 10+ rush attempts. Honestly, if you look at average yards per carry from last year's three top running backs who all graduated (Jacob Fryman 6.1 ypc, Thomas Feickert 9.3 ypc, Ellis Huguely 9.0 ypc), the next 4 guys in line, who are all returning, quite frankly offer more potential yardage carrying the ball: Timmy Emongo 19.1 ypc, Kayne Garrett 7.25 ypc, Buddy Collins 17.3 ypc, Donovan Meeks 7.6 ypc.

Timmy Emongo was a 5'10" 180lb freshman last year and ran the ball 20 times for total 382 yards and 5 touchdowns. Dude was getting nearly 20 yards every time he ran the ball, and was scoring a touchdown 1 in 4 times that he ran it. He already has offers from EKU, Kent State and Miami, OH. Then Buddy Collins, who's given a verbal commitment to Navy, was very similar to Emongo, with 15 carries for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns. So again, basically he pumped out 17.3 yards every time he carried the ball and had a touchdown 1 in 4 times he ran it.

The Scott County offense has the potential to be downright scary in 2024. And their defense returns 6 of 11 starters, so they're not looking too bad on defense either.

Let's go ahead and get ahead of the curve and rank Highlands 1. 

5 hours ago, BillNye said:

10. Greenwood

Am I missing something on the Gators? They have a lot to replace on both sides of the ball, and they lost by two scores in the first round to a team (Graves County) that returns much more production. 

I was expecting them to step back a little this year. 

40 minutes ago, DevilMayCare said:

Am I missing something on the Gators? They have a lot to replace on both sides of the ball, and they lost by two scores in the first round to a team (Graves County) that returns much more production. 

I was expecting them to step back a little this year. 

You are not wrong IMO DMC.  I expect them to take a solid step back this season.  They lose their QB and best player TelTel Long, who will be very difficult to replace.  I also like Woodford County in the lower section of the Top 10 possibly.  Graves is worthy too.

1 hour ago, DevilMayCare said:

Am I missing something on the Gators? They have a lot to replace on both sides of the ball, and they lost by two scores in the first round to a team (Graves County) that returns much more production. 

I was expecting them to step back a little this year. 

Not wrong at all. 

Truthfully, I really struggled to fill that ten spot. I have zero issue inserting a team like Graves or Woodford in there. The 10-15 range (IMO) is wishy washy to me. 
 

I find myself overly invested in class rankings on BGP often regardless of classification.
If I can criticize, ask questions, point out issues within BGP’s rankings, then I figured I might as well have some nerve and put myself and my rankings out there too to be scrutinized. Fair is fair.  
 

Greenwood did lose quite a bit, they’ve just seemed (atleast to me) thay they float in that 8-12 range pretty routinely. Graves or Woodford would most likely be much better selections there. 

Right, it is easy to be a critic, not so easy to do your own work. ?

I think Bowling Green but I would not count out the Cardinals at Scott Co. they would be my darkhorse.

3 hours ago, Purple88 said:

You are not wrong IMO DMC.  I expect them to take a solid step back this season.  They lose their QB and best player TelTel Long, who will be very difficult to replace.  I also like Woodford County in the lower section of the Top 10 possibly.  Graves is worthy too.

 

2 hours ago, BillNye said:

Not wrong at all. 

Truthfully, I really struggled to fill that ten spot. I have zero issue inserting a team like Graves or Woodford in there. The 10-15 range (IMO) is wishy washy to me. 
 

I find myself overly invested in class rankings on BGP often regardless of classification.
If I can criticize, ask questions, point out issues within BGP’s rankings, then I figured I might as well have some nerve and put myself and my rankings out there too to be scrutinized. Fair is fair.  
 

Greenwood did lose quite a bit, they’ve just seemed (atleast to me) thay they float in that 8-12 range pretty routinely. Graves or Woodford would most likely be much better selections there. 

 

Pre-season rankings - high school, college, football, basketball - are already a challenge, but the waters get murkier the further down you go. Our watered down six class system doesn't help it any. Once you get past the top handful of teams in each class, everyone has more question marks than answers.

Howard has done a fine job turning Greenwood into a perennial winner, and like you said Bill, they're usually a safe pick for that 8-12 range. This might be a year where 12 is closer to their ceiling.

From glancing at others in contention for the tail end of the Top 10, I'm with 88, Woodford and Graves are good candidates.

Atherton is intriguing. They had a great season a year ago, and return a lot. I'm a little leary of a traditionally bottom tier JCPS team that feasted on a schedule consisting of three opponents with a winning record. I want to believe in the Ravens, but a Top 10 preseason ranking feels like too much, too soon. I'd like to hear an endorsement first from @LouHSJunkie. 

I'll throw a familiar name out there that I think is primed for a bounce back year and possibly Top 10 consideration:

Pulaski County. 

If you're going to replace the greatest coach you've ever had, you can't do much better than a Boyle County man. Couple the Burns hire with the winning tradition and foundation that Hines laid, plus a starting 22 that loses only three starters/major contributors.... Wherever the Maroons land in the preseason polls, they're a potential riser. 

10 hours ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

This probably could do to be mentioned in this thread, additional to the Central Kentucky Preseason Power Rankings thread where I originally posted it:

Scott County's offense returns their starting QB, their entire offensive line, their top 2 wide receivers, and although they graduated their top three RBs, they were kind of a "running back by committee" type of offense last year, with ten different guys with 10+ rush attempts. Honestly, if you look at average yards per carry from last year's three top running backs who all graduated (Jacob Fryman 6.1 ypc, Thomas Feickert 9.3 ypc, Ellis Huguely 9.0 ypc), the next 4 guys in line, who are all returning, quite frankly offer more potential yardage carrying the ball: Timmy Emongo 19.1 ypc, Kayne Garrett 7.25 ypc, Buddy Collins 17.3 ypc, Donovan Meeks 7.6 ypc.

Timmy Emongo was a 5'10" 180lb freshman last year and ran the ball 20 times for total 382 yards and 5 touchdowns. Dude was getting nearly 20 yards every time he ran the ball, and was scoring a touchdown 1 in 4 times that he ran it. He already has offers from EKU, Kent State and Miami, OH. Then Buddy Collins, who's given a verbal commitment to Navy, was very similar to Emongo, with 15 carries for 260 yards and 4 touchdowns. So again, basically he pumped out 17.3 yards every time he carried the ball and had a touchdown 1 in 4 times he ran it.

The Scott County offense has the potential to be downright scary in 2024. And their defense returns 6 of 11 starters, so they're not looking too bad on defense either.

 

2 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

I think Bowling Green but I would not count out the Cardinals at Scott Co. they would be my darkhorse.

Scott County's stock has taken a hit in recent years. They were quickly overtaken by Frederick Douglass, they’ve underwhelmed since dropping to 5A, and they get dinged for running the wing-t. 

But if we're looking at 2024 Scott County objectively, the Cardinals have what looks to me like the most complete team in 5A outside of BG and Cooper. Returning the entire o-line is as important as anything else, including having a four year starter at quarterback. 

They're right there with Highlands, South Warren, and Owensboro in that second wave of contenders. I think you could argue the Cards as high as #3.

 

Of the teams mentioned to fill out the bottom of the top 10 I believe Graves is definitely in the top 10 preseason. Now will they stay there long opening up with Mayfield and Paducah Tilghman to start the season probably not but I do believe they should get ranked over some of the others. They return a ton offensively and might have upgraded the WR positions with some very tall athletic sophomores stepping into starting roles at WR. The defense is bringing plenty back as well and they have plenty of guys who got starts on that side of the ball last year due to some injuries. 

2 additional teams to keep your eye on for the lower levels of the top 10 are:

Apollo - Rising SO QB Maxwell Johnson got some real trial by fire last year as a Freshman and did admirably.  Several of his top RBs and WRs are back along with the top 2 returning tacklers.  If they can get some line play, this will be a much-improved team.  Coach John Edge is doing a great job off Tamarack Road.

Madisonville North-Hopkins - Rising SR QB Kanyon Johnson and rising JR RB Markezz Hightower lead a sneaky good Maroons team that brings back 2 of their top 4 tacklers too.  Again, if they can find some line play, this team is better than you think.  One of the better wins on the 2023 season is when they upset Owensboro 45-38 late last October.  Great job by Coach Chris Price, Sr and company!