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Kentucky high school football team helps in post-tornado cleanup

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby: Lawrence Fernandez05/19/25lawandfern
North Laurel Jaguars - Kentucky high school football
North Laurel high school football players help in the cleanup efforts after a tornado devastated their city, London. (Photo by Matt Jones, @KySportsRadio on X)

It’s time for a Kentucky high school football team to lend a hand to the community that supported them. Sports radio personality Matt Jones shared a photo on X/Twitter showing the North Laurel Jaguars helping in the post-tornado cleanup and humanitarian efforts.

According to a May 17 report from NPR, at least 18 people passed away when devastating storms and tornadoes pummeled the Southern and Midwestern United States. Governor Andy Beshear reported that at least 18 individuals passed away in the Bluegrass state and that London, the home city of this Kentucky high school football team, was severely hit.

Meanwhile, an article by The New York Times described the aftermath as a war zone. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service confirmed that the tornado that pummeled London was at least an EF-3 level with wind speeds from 136 to 165 miles per hour.

While it might take a while before London, Kentucky, can recover from this natural catastrophe, this Kentucky high school football team is doing what they can to help their city. After all, these were the people who supported them in every game, even if they finished with a 5-8 record last season. In addition to winning only one of five district games, their record was the opposite of their 8-5 mark under head coach Chris Larkey during the 2023-24 season.

Despite the losing record, North Laurel still entered last season’s Kentucky high school football Class 5A state playoffs. While they defeated the Montgomery County Indians in the first round to maintain a three-game winning streak, their campaign ended with a second-round loss to the Southwestern Warriors.

For now, football will be the least of their concern as the Jaguars provide physical and emotional support to those who were heavily affected by the tornado. However, their 2025-26 campaign could be a rallying point for a city that will try to rise again.