2026 Christian Academy of Louisville Centurions

[Unrivaled97]

Coming off of a successful 2024 campaign, which saw CAL complete a state championship three-peat, the Centurions had a lot of questions to answer with the loss of 3 D1 commits and 3 more high D1 recruits.  The 2025 version did not disappoint by being Kentucky's only undefeated team and capturing the school's 4th straight 3A state title.  As is the case with almost all teams, CAL will have some production to replace from a senior class that went a perfect 20-0 in the state playoffs and ended each year of their high school career at Kroger Field, hoisting a KHSAA state title.  Then, as is common in today's game, the possibility of transfers leaving as well...although CAL is going to be the benefactor of a huge transfer coming in next year.

🎓LB - Jacson Settle, RB - Jeffrey Vazzana, RB - Tyree Stoner, DB - Stone Perkins, OL - Zach Wampler, OL/DL - Jason Hilliard, TE/DE - Micah Akin, LB - Chapman Russell, DB - Trey Hardin, DL - Brody Cherry & LS - Alex Glin

🔙WR - Ja'Hyde Brown, QB - Jackson Burke, DL - Kellan Hall, WR - Gaines Howard, LB - Micah Newsome, LB - Gabe Lumpkin, DB - Jayson Ruffin, DB - Eric Jones

With the talent coming back in 2025, CAL looks to make another run at a 3A state title, bringing the consecutive total to five and putting them in elite company of Kentucky high school football history.  CAL will need to replace almost all of their production in the offensive run game, however, that might not be a problem with the addition(s) coming in next year.  On defense, CAL will need to replace 6 starters, but with leading tackler LB Micah Newsome and Rivals top 10 2028 recruit Kellan Hall anchoring the defense, CAL should be able to do so without much of a drop in production.

2026 Schedule (assuming all games complete the 2-year cycle)

at Pikeville

Owensboro

at LCA

Ryle

at Central Hardin

at Bowling Green

DeSales

Central

at Western

Fern Creek

[onethirdofthegame]

I see CAL extending their 21 game winning streak to 36 and completing back to back undefeated state championship seasons. If they can go 15-0 in 2026, they would be setup for a chance to break Kentucky’s all time win streak with a 51st straight victory at the 2027 state championship. 

 

 

From the KHSAA record book:

 

CONSECUTIVE WINS 

School, (Years), Coach(es)

50 Trinity (Louisville) (1988-91), Dennis Lampley

48 Bowling Green (2011-14), Kevin Wallace

47 Boyle County (1999-02), Chuck Smith

[Unrivaled97]

Ja’Hyde Brown commits to the Indiana Hoosiers today.  Congrats & looking forward to watching him play another season at CAL!

[theguru]

2 minutes ago, Unrivaled97 said:

Ja’Hyde Brown commits to the Indiana Hoosiers today.  Congrats & looking forward to watching him play another season at CAL!

Love it!

[Unrivaled97]

Garyon Hobbs is joining Ja’Hyde Brown at Indiana next year!  Looking forward to watching him play this fall.

[VF111]

I respect the BG and Owensboro games on CAL's 2025 and 2026 schedules, but if we don't see X or T in 2027/28, it's gonna be pretty disappointing. 

[Unrivaled97]

 

Yes, this is true.

[TH58]

16 hours ago, VF111 said:

I respect the BG and Owensboro games on CAL's 2025 and 2026 schedules, but if we don't see X or T in 2027/28, it's gonna be pretty disappointing. 

Maybe X but don’t hold your breath on Trinity. Nothing to gain for the Rocks what so ever. 

[theguru]

Just now, TH58 said:

Maybe X but don’t hold your breath on Trinity. Nothing to gain for the Rocks what so ever. 

Wouldn't T playing (and beating) CAL be better than playing out of state teams considering T doesn't win all those out of state games and even when they do, they do not get the "RPI points" any team would deserve for beating top teams?

[TH58]

3 minutes ago, theguru said:

Wouldn't T playing (and beating) CAL be better than playing out of state teams considering T doesn't win all those out of state games and even when they do, they do not get the "RPI points" any team would deserve for beating top teams?

No. Put yourself in Trinity’s shoes. They are viewed at the very top of KHSAA football. 30 state championships. By playing a lower class team, 3 classes lower, based in their own town, Trinity has nothing to gain and everything to lose. Win by a ton and the critics say “of course, why play CAL”. Win by a few and the critics say “wow, what is wrong with Trinity”. Lose and it is seen as a big blow to Trinity and a big gain for CAL, when both schools are competing for enrollment in the same town. There is simply too much to lose and too little to gain. Trinity needs no more validation and does not yearn for a stronger reputation of high school football excellence. Maybe CAL feels those needs. 
 

And, the Trinity schedule is already widely viewed as the most competitive in the state. Playing top tier schools in other states, any of which would be seen year in and year out as a top 5 ranked team in Kentucky 6A. The type teams that cause the Rocks to face top talent, top coaching and O line and D lines that are big, fast and physical. Even though those games are not helpful for RPI purposes, they are extremely helpful more many other reasons. 

If I was scheduling for Trinity, a game with CAL would not happen and both teams would continue to have success on different paths.

 

[Ordell]

19 hours ago, VF111 said:

I respect the BG and Owensboro games on CAL's 2025 and 2026 schedules, but if we don't see X or T in 2027/28, it's gonna be pretty disappointing. 

If Xavier and Trinity don’t want to schedule CAL surely they could find teams from around the region to play. Use the same blueprint Trinity did. Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Nashville, St. Louis, etc.

[AppalachianTactician]

On 12/26/2025 at 9:00 PM, onethirdofthegame said:

I see CAL extending their 21 game winning streak to 36 and completing back to back undefeated state championship seasons. If they can go 15-0 in 2026, they would be setup for a chance to break Kentucky’s all time win streak with a 51st straight victory at the 2027 state championship. 

 

 

From the KHSAA record book:

 

 

CONSECUTIVE WINS 

School, (Years), Coach(es)

50 Trinity (Louisville) (1988-91), Dennis Lampley

48 Bowling Green (2011-14), Kevin Wallace

47 Boyle County (1999-02), Chuck Smith

Two years away, but a thought I had on the new two year scheduling cycle... CAL is a monster for sure, but if they are chasing the all time winning streak... do they schedule T or X? I'm not implying the would schedule easier for the record and their monstrous schedule they have as it is more than impressive. I guess I am asking they believe Iron sharpens Iron above all or do they subconsciously not schedule that one more super bowl like game? 

[wingt51]

At what point is there a discussion about moving them up? They win 7? 8? in a row? Going back to 2012(!!!!!!!) they've lost to 3 teams currently in 3A (Desales/Mercer/Central). All three of those teams spent some time in 4A recently too.

[Unrivaled97]

16 hours ago, Ordell said:

If Xavier and Trinity don’t want to schedule CAL surely they could find teams from around the region to play. Use the same blueprint Trinity did. Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Nashville, St. Louis, etc.

I think you might see that the next cycle.  Not a particular school in mind, but definitely a strong possibility.  CAL did schedule the 3A state champs in Indiana in 2024 (Heritage Hills) and running clocked them.  I would love to see them schedule a team like Bishop Chatard or Roncalli out of Indy.

[Unrivaled97]

19 hours ago, TH58 said:

No. Put yourself in Trinity’s shoes. They are viewed at the very top of KHSAA football. 30 state championships. By playing a lower class team, 3 classes lower, based in their own town, Trinity has nothing to gain and everything to lose. Win by a ton and the critics say “of course, why play CAL”. Win by a few and the critics say “wow, what is wrong with Trinity”. Lose and it is seen as a big blow to Trinity and a big gain for CAL, when both schools are competing for enrollment in the same town. There is simply too much to lose and too little to gain. Trinity needs no more validation and does not yearn for a stronger reputation of high school football excellence. Maybe CAL feels those needs. 
 

And, the Trinity schedule is already widely viewed as the most competitive in the state. Playing top tier schools in other states, any of which would be seen year in and year out as a top 5 ranked team in Kentucky 6A. The type teams that cause the Rocks to face top talent, top coaching and O line and D lines that are big, fast and physical. Even though those games are not helpful for RPI purposes, they are extremely helpful more many other reasons. 

If I was scheduling for Trinity, a game with CAL would not happen and both teams would continue to have success on different paths.

 

I think to a certain degree, this is a very fair assessment.  No, Trinity does not need further validation.  30 state titles and even success on a national stage speaks for itself.  However, I think there are a couple of points that need addressed:  

First, if Trinity beats CAL by a little or by a lot, I don't think you'd have many critics saying of course why play CAL or what's wrong with Trinity.  CAL is widely viewed by many to be the second-best team in the state of KY so beating them, in many aspects, would be viewed as being a better win than St. X or Male currently is.  Just because a team in 3 classes lower doesn't make them any less of a formidable opponent for Trinity.  Boyle County went up to Cleveland and knocked off the multiple time, defending Division 1 state champs in Ohio last year and Boyle County is only 1 class above CAL in 4A.  Would it be the same sentiment if Trinity played Boyle County?

Second, "Playing top tier schools in other states, any of which would be seen year in and year out as a top 5 ranked team in Kentucky 6A. The type teams that cause the Rocks to face top talent, top coaching and O line and D lines that are big, fast and physical. Even though those games are not helpful for RPI purposes, they are extremely helpful more many other reasons. "   If you don't think this applies to CAL, you are sadly mistaken.  CAL would widely been seen as a top 5 ranked team in Kentucky 6A.  They have top talent, top coaching and have OL & DL that are fast and physical, as well as having some size.  People need to stop thinking that just simply b/c teams play 6A football, it automatically makes them better.  It doesn't.  All it means is they have a bigger pool of kids to pick from typically not necessarily a better pool.  I've said that top talent vs. top talent, CAL goes toe-to-toe with Trinity, at least in recent years.  Where Trinity would prevail over CAL is depth or numbers.  CAL has 50-55 kids in their program.  Trinity has 25 more than that in their Freshman class alone.

The real problem with why Trinity won't schedule CAL is Trinity does have everything to lose and they do know that it is a possibility they lose that game to CAL.  Sure, they probably win 80% of the time if the teams played, but Trinity very well knows that CAL is one of the few teams in Kentucky that can beat them.  Fifteen years ago, we wouldn't even be talking about this.  But now, CAL is widely seen as a great alternative for a private school education with top tier athletics in the Louisville area.  For now, Trinity can go on talking about 30 state titles, beating St. X consistently, the tough scheduling, etc., all of which is true and quite impressive.  But maybe, just maybe, if you schedule CAL and the small chance they do beat Trinity, you couldn't even talk about being the current best in your own city, let alone your own state.  Well, that's a risk that is simply too big to take even if the chances of CAL winning the game are slim.  It doesn't mean Trinity is scared or anything of the sort.  Trinity is not scared to play anyone, in their own state or otherwise.  It simply means the risk isn't worth the reward.