Advertisement

Kentucky high school Class 5A football: Top 10 poll, players to watch, games to see in 2023

Jason Frakes, Louisville Courier Journal
·3 min read
Austin Alexander of Cooper looks at the sideline against Conner during the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown at Cooper High School on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.
Austin Alexander of Cooper looks at the sideline against Conner during the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown at Cooper High School on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.

Here’s what to know about the 2023 high school football season in Kentucky’s Class 5A:

Top teams

(Ranked by the state’s coaches)

1. Bowling Green (12-3 record in 2022)

Last year’s runner-up poised to take final step

2. Scott County (11-2)

Cardinals will lean on ground game, stingy defense

3. Owensboro (11-3)

Red Devils have reached state semis four straight years

4. South Warren (6-6)

Spartans should improve with several playmakers back

5. Woodford County (11-2)

QB Andrew Nason returns to lead high-powered offense

6. Highlands (9-3)

6-foot-4 QB Brody Benke leads the Bluebirds

7. Southwestern (13-1)

Perfect 2022 season ended with semifinal loss to Bowling Green

8. Pulaski County (9-3)

Maroons lost prolific quarterback, receiver to graduation

9. Cooper (6-5)

Don’t take your eyes off talented Austin Alexander

10. South Oldham (8-5)

Dragons have a new head coach in Cain Sams

Others to watch (in order of votes received): North Laurel, Madisonville-North Hopkins, Greenwood, Dixie Heights, Fairdale, Anderson County, Collins, Madison Southern, Graves County.

Top players to watch

Austin Alexander, Cooper tight end/linebacker – Alexander (6-foot-3, 242 pounds) is one of the state’s top recruits in the Class of 2025. Last season he had 34 catches for 522 yards and six touchdowns and also posted 85 tackles (54 solo) with 11 sacks and one interception. He has offers from Duke, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina and several others.

Deuce Bailey, Bowling Green quarterback – Bailey (6-1, 165) had a breakout season as a sophomore, throwing for 3,136 yards and 34 touchdowns and also rushing for 424 yards and three scores. He was an honorable-mention All-State pick and has offers from Eastern Kentucky, Miami (Ohio) and Missouri State.

JaSante Harmon, Scott County defensive end – Harmon (6-1, 270) earned second-team All-State honors last season after posting 45 tackles (26 solo), 12 ½ tackles for loss and 4 ½ sacks. He has offers from Findlay, Grand Valley State, Sacred Heart and Southeast Missouri State.

Jak Lindsey, Owensboro offensive lineman – Lindsey (6-5, 300) anchored a line that helped the Red Devils go 11-3 and average 39 points per game. He has committed to Southern Illinois.

Makhi Smith, Woodford County wide receiver/safety – Smith (6-3, 175) is one of the state’s top athletes in the Class of 2025 and excels on both side of the ball. Last season he caught 41 passes for 671 yards and eight touchdowns and also posted 40 tackles (32 solo), six tackles for loss and four interceptions. He has offers from Eastern Kentucky, Kentucky, Louisville, West Virginia and Western Kentucky.

Top games to see

Aug. 18 – Highlands at Lexington Catholic. Matchup of two solid QBs in Brody Benke, Jackson Wasik.

Aug. 25 – Bowling Green at Owensboro. Don’t be surprised if these two meet again late in the playoffs.

Sept. 1 – South Warren at Southwestern. Spartans make the trip east for schools’ first-ever meeting.

Oct. 13 – Bowling Green at South Warren. Heated rivalry in the Corvette City.

Oct. 13 – Scott County at Woodford County. New district rivals meet for first time since 2006.

New KHSAA alignment

District One – Apollo, Graves County, Madisonville-North Hopkins, Marshall County, Muhlenberg County, Owensboro

District Two – Bowling Green, Greenwood, Ohio County, South Warren

District Three – Atherton, Butler, Fairdale, Iroquois

District Four – Bullitt Central, Grayson County, Moore, North Bullitt, Seneca

QB Nick Hamilton runs for yardage during South Oldham's win over Atherton in Friday night football at South Oldham High School. Sept. 30, 2022
QB Nick Hamilton runs for yardage during South Oldham's win over Atherton in Friday night football at South Oldham High School. Sept. 30, 2022

District Five – Anderson County, Collins, Scott County, South Oldham, Woodford County

District Six – Boone County, Conner, Cooper, Dixie Heights, Highlands, Scott

District Seven – East Jessamine, Madison Southern, Montgomery County, West Jessamine

District Eight – Harlan County, North Laurel, Pulaski County, South Laurel, Southwestern

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.

More high school football: From Atherton to South Oldham, get to know the Louisville-area Class 5A teams

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA football: Class 5A poll, top players, games to watch in 2023