CAL Centurions ??

2024 Outcome: 12-3, Class 3A State Champion ?

2025 Outlook: We may be witnessing the rise of the next great dynasty in Kentucky high school football. With three consecutive championships already tucked away and five total in the last nine years, there may be no end in sight.

There's very little bad news to report. The few bodies leaving the program are more about quality over quantity. 

Hodge is one of the greatest to ever wear a Centurion uniform. His top target and blocker are also moving on, but that's about it. 

? Connor Hodge (QB/DB) | Darwin Cotton (WR/DB) | Bryce Wilson (WR) | Ben Stotts (OL) 

The bodies returning are an equal mixture of quality and quantity. CAL will be loaded with talent and/or experience at the line of scrimmage, running back, receiver, linebacker, defensive back… you get the picture. They just need a serviceable quarterback to manage this operation.

? Garyon Hobbs (LB/RB) | Jeffrey Vazzana (RB) | JaHyde Brown (WR) | Gaines Howard (WR) | Stone Perkins (WR/DB) | Jackson Settle (LB) | Man Robinson (DB) | Tyree Stoner (RB/DB) |Micah Newsome (LB) | Chapman Russell (DL) | Kellan Hall (DL) | Brody Cherry (DL) | Jackson Burke (QB) | 4/5 on the OL

The Centurions are a shoe-in for pre-season #1 in 3A and arguably the heaviest championship favorite in any class for 2025. The schedule should again be littered with marquee games to ensure maximum playoff preparation. 

Will anyone rise up to challenge their might, or will CAL strengthen its grip on the 3A ??

Replacing Hodge and Cotton will be tough, but there is plenty of talent in the program to give it a shot.  Jackson Burke will be a great HS QB and then some, he just needs the reps now.  He's different than the Hodge brothers in that he's not as mobile, but his arm will be as good, if not better eventually.  He's definitely more of a pro-style than a dual threat.  There are about 4 or 5 freshmen who didn't play varsity this year, other than some running clock minutes, that would have started for many other teams, 6A included, in the Louisville area.  As far as the O-line goes, Stotts actually didn't play the last few games of the regular season and all of the playoffs due to an injury so all 5 starting O-line in the playoffs is back.  On the defensive side of the ball, their entire front 7 is back and 4 of those are back for at leas another 2 years.  Granted, with most private schools, there are always some kids who transfer out for one reason or another, but the overall talent currently in the CAL program is impressive.

As for the incoming talent, it's nothing to bat an eye at either.  There is an incoming freshman O-lineman who has a really good chance to start varsity right away and 2 or 3 other incoming freshmen who have a really good chance to add some quality depth behind the returning starters....and that's just what is known to be coming.

I said earlier this year that if the rest of 3A didn't stop CAL from making it 3 straight this year, you might as well make it 5 or 6 straight b/c, although not impossible, it will take a near perfect effort for any 3A school to knock them off in the playoffs the next few years.

 

I heard they had a stud QB transferring in from Boyle County as the replacement for Hodge?

1 hour ago, Unrivaled97 said:

As far as the O-line goes, Stotts actually didn't play the last few games of the regular season and all of the playoffs due to an injury so all 5 starting O-line in the playoffs is back. 

That's pretty incredible. That unit, as a whole, didn't have a lot of size to start with. Then you lose your biggest, best lineman (a D1 commit, at that) and still win every playoff game by at least three scores.

1 hour ago, MBKT said:

I heard they had a stud QB transferring in from Boyle County as the replacement for Hodge?

There is supposedly a kid transferring in from Boyle Co., but Burke is the QB.  Buke is going to be really good and the keys are his.  It will be hard for the Boyle Co. kid to beat him out.

27 minutes ago, Unrivaled97 said:

There is supposedly a kid transferring in from Boyle Co., but Burke is the QB.  Buke is going to be really good and the keys are his.  It will be hard for the Boyle Co. kid to beat him out.

He’s already transferred in. Guy Turner. 

36 minutes ago, DearToday said:

He’s already transferred in. Guy Turner. 

Fantastic.  Healthy competition is good for everyone.  I’m sure the coaching staff & players will welcome him in.  CAL is a great school & program and contrary to what some believe, has an excellent culture.

This is why KHSAA needs to go to 4 public classes and 2 private classes!!

51 minutes ago, Westernside said:

This is why KHSAA needs to go to 4 public classes and 2 private classes!!

Explain please?

They are losing some stars.  ?

3 hours ago, DearToday said:

He’s already transferred in. Guy Turner. 

I hope young Mr Turner knows another position ?

Couple big names transferring out of CAL in January.  Good luck to those guys. Tough to replace, but Cantwell will have it figured out.

On 12/18/2024 at 9:20 PM, Falcon Pride said:

I hope young Mr Turner knows another position ?

And word is another QB (not named Turner) is also transferring in to CAL. 

Bump.

On 12/21/2024 at 10:52 PM, MBKT said:

And word is another QB (not named Turner) is also transferring in to CAL. 

I’ve heard they are getting a Trinity backup QB?