Kentucky high school Class A football: Top 10 poll, players to watch, games to see in 2023
Here’s what to know about the 2023 high school football season in Kentucky’s Class A:
Top teams
(Ranked by the state’s coaches)
1. Pikeville (12-2 record in 2022)
Several new faces will lead chase for third straight state title
2. Raceland (13-2)
QB Logan Lundy looks to lead Rams back to state final
3. Newport Central Catholic (11-3)
Thoroughbreds return 10 starters from state semifinal team
4. Campbellsville (7-4)
Eagles primed to make run with every key player returning
5. Kentucky Country Day (9-3)
Bearcats return a lot of talent, including QB Ethan Harris
6. Hazard (8-5)
Bulldogs always in the mix, return QB Max Pelfrey
7. Sayre (5-6)
Junior QB Luke Pennington among nine starters back on offense
8. Louisville Holy Cross (10-4)
Cougars must replace key skill players from state semifinal team
9. Williamsburg (7-3)
Yellow Jackets look to improve on last year’s first-round playoff exit
10. Bishop Brossart (9-3)
Mustangs must rebound from major graduation losses
Others to watch (in order of votes received): Paintsville, Middlesboro, Dayton, Bethlehem, Covington Holy Cross, Harlan, Frankfort, Paris, Russellville.
Top players to watch
Brock Coffman, Sayre wide receiver – Coffman (6-0, 170) was one of the most electric playmakers in Class A as a sophomore, catching 73 passes for 853 yards and nine touchdowns. He also returned an interception and a kickoff for touchdowns.
Isaac Duty, Pikeville quarterback – Duty (6-4, 215) led the Panthers to the state title last season as a sophomore, throwing for 1,506 yards and 21 touchdowns with just one interception. He also rushed for 140 yards and four TDs.
Ethan Harris, Kentucky Country Day quarterback – Harris (6-2, 165) passed for 1,718 yards and 21 touchdowns with six interceptions last season. He also rushed for 224 yards and six scores and was named Class A, District Three Player of the Year. Harris has college offers from McKendree, Southern Illinois and VMI.
Noah Wallace, Raceland running back/strong safety – Wallace (6-0, 190) was a two-way star while leading the Rams to the Class A final last season. He rushed for 883 yards and 12 touchdowns and also had a team-high 105 tackles (62 solo) with seven tackles for loss and three interceptions. He earned honorable-mention All-State honors as a defensive back.
Demetrick Welch, Newport Central Catholic running back/safety – Welch (6-0, 200) rushed for 1,346 yards and scored 20 touchdowns (17 rushing, three receiving) last season. On defense, he posted 56 tackles (29 solo), six tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions. He has offers from Ohio Wesleyan and Thomas More.
Top games to see
Sept. 8 – Raceland at Pikeville. Rematch of last year’s state final, which the Panthers won 41-9.
Sept. 22 – Newport Central Catholic at Raceland. First meeting between the schools since 2006.
Oct. 6 – Louisville Holy Cross at Kentucky Country Day. First meeting between the schools since 2018.
Oct. 20 – Pikeville at Hazard. Panthers rolled in last year’s meeting, 52-7.
Oct. 20 – Kentucky Country Day at Campbellsville. Could decide first place in District Two.
New KHSAA alignment
District One – Ballard Memorial, Caverna, Fulton County, Russellville
District Two – Bethlehem, Campbellsville, Kentucky Country Day, Louisville Holy Cross
District Three – Bellevue, Dayton, Newport, Newport Central Catholic
District Four – Bishop Brossart, Covington Holy Cross, Ludlow, Trimble County
District Five – Berea, Eminence, Frankfort, Sayre
District Six – Fairview, Nicholas County, Paris, Raceland
District Seven – Harlan, Lynn Camp, Middlesboro, Pineville, Williamsburg
District Eight – Hazard, Paintsville, Pikeville
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA football: Class A preseason poll, top players, games to watch
