KSR's 2023 Kentucky High School Football Preview: Class 4A
It’s once again football time in the Bluegrass. With less than one week remaining until the kickoff of the 2023 Kentucky High School football season, KSR will preview all 220 schools and all six classes. We’ve already covered Class 1A, Class 2A, and Class 3A. Up next is Class 4A, home to KSR’s preseason number one team in the state, the reigning back-to-back-to-back state champion Boyle County Rebels.
Class 4A | District 1
Allen-County Scottsville, Calloway County, Hopkinsville, Logan County, Paducah Tilghman, Warren East
Warren East and Logan County will both enter the 2023 season with chips on their shoulders, as both squads lost in the quarterfinals of the 4A Playoffs last season. Warren East is coming off of a remarkable 12-win season, one of the best in the history of the program. However, the Raiders did lose head coach Jeff Griffith to Eastern Kentucky University, where he is now a senior analyst. His replacement Tanner Hall, who has been their offensive line coach for the past four seasons, will now take over a squad led by one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the state of Kentucky, junior Dane Parsley.
Parsley had one of the quietest 57 touchdown campaigns in the history of Kentucky high school football last season. Along with throwing for 1,880 yards and 30 touchdowns, Parsley rushed for 1,562 yards and 27 touchdowns. If you don’t know the name now, you will before the end of the season. Parsley is a sleeper candidate for 4A Player of the Year and will make Tanner Hall’s first season at the helm a delight.
Logan County had a great 2022 campaign as well, winning 11 games for the first time since 2017. Since taking over as head coach in 2016, Todd Adler has lifted this program out of the mud and turned them into a legit contender almost every single season since. When Adler took over back in ’16, the Cougars were riding a dreadful 42-game losing streak. It has been amazing to see how quickly that team (and community) has completely flipped the narrative. The Cougars will be returning starting quarterback senior Davin Yates, who threw for 1,958 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. They also return defensive cornerstones senior linebacker Elijah Hawkins (126 tackles, seven TFL) and junior defensive back Hunter Holloway (six interceptions). Look out for Logan County to once again put in another solid campaign this season.
Paducah Tilghman will be making the transition from 3A to 4A this season, fresh off a run to the 3A quarterfinals last season where they fell to eventual champion Christian Academy-Louisville 30-24. The Blue Tornado returns one of the best quarterbacks in Class 4A, junior Jack James. As a sophomore, James threw for 2,185 yards and 23 touchdowns. After a somewhat disappointing 6-7 record last season, the Blue Tornado will look to get back on track in 3A.
Class 4A | District 2
#17 Bardstown, Breckinridge County, John Hardin, Nelson County, Thomas Nelson
The Bardstown Tigers making the jump from 3A to 4A is one of the biggest realignment moves in all of Kentucky high school football this season. The four-time state champions were just one game away from completing an undefeated 15-0 record last season before being blown out by Christian Academy-Louisville 38-0 in the 3A state championship game. Coach David Clark and Bardstown return some big-time players this season, including senior running back TyTy Williams (1,882 rushing yards, 25 touchdowns) and junior linebacker Amonti Marshall (eight sacks). Look for Bardstown to be right in the thick of the 4A race this season, which is THE most loaded class in all of Kentucky high school football.
Nelson County will be making the jump from 3A to 4A as well. Their 2022 campaign was ended by Bardstown in the second round of the 3A playoffs last season. Breckinridge County, John Hardin, and Thomas Nelson will be looking for a refresher this year, as both Breckinridge County and Thomas Nelson went 0-10 last season. John Hardin finished at 2-9.
Class 4A | District 3
DeSales, Doss, Jeffersontown, Valley, Waggener, Western
It was a rough 2022 season for what is now Class 4A District 3, as no team advanced past the first round of the postseason last year. With how strong the rest of Class 4A is, it may be another rough go-around for programs such as DeSales or Jeffersontown, who both went 0-10 last season.
Western, who went 3-8 last season, returns a bright spot in junior running back Xavion Ware, who rushed for 1,192 yards and seven touchdowns last season. You never want to be negative in a preview, but District 3 is in real danger of being feeder teams for the rest of Class 4A this season.
Class 4A | District 4
Franklin County, Henry County, North Oldham, Shelby County, Spencer County, Western Hills
Western Hills and Henry County are making the jump from 3A to 4A this season. Western Hills looks to bounce back from a devastating end to their season last year, where they had to forfeit their first-round postseason matchup against Bardstown due to not having enough active players on their roster.
Shelby County experienced an up-and-down 2022 campaign but return two of their best offensive players in senior quarterback Chandler Hill (1,119 passing yards, 11 touchdowns) and junior running back Giaonni Hunter (1,418 rushing yards, 20 touchdowns). With the injury to former Kentucky commit running back Kaden Moorman last season, Franklin County had a disappointing regular season but made one of the biggest surprise runs in the postseason in all of Kentucky last year. Heading into the playoffs at 5-5, the Flyers knocked off John Hardin, Spencer County, and undefeated, 12-0 Warren East before falling to Corbin in the 4A semifinal. Coach Eddie James and Co. will look to build on that run towards a successful 2023 season.
Spencer County won 10 games last season for the first time since 2015, including a win over eventual 6A state champion Bullitt East in Week 2. Mike Marksbury’s Bears return senior linebacker Nate Stowe, whose 155 tackles last season is the most among returning defensive players in class 4A this season. Stowe headlines a talented defense that allowed just a total of seven points from the span of September 23-October 21st last year.
Class 4A | District 5
#8 Covington Catholic, Grant County, Harrison County, Holmes, Mason County
Covington Catholic joins Bardstown as another major program realigning to Class 4A this season. The eight-time state champions are coming off of a relatively disappointing season (for their standards) after finishing 9-3 and winning just one playoff game last year. The Colonels are returning some major offensive pieces however in senior quarterback Evan Pitzer (1,082 passing yards, 10 touchdowns), senior running back Owen Leen (1,134 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns), and most notably three-star senior Kentucky commit TE Willie Rodriguez. Rodriguez committed to the ‘Cats back on June 23rd.
Rodriguez continues the strong Cov Cath lineage of tight ends, following up now Las Vegas Raiders TE Michael Mayer. Along with his 295 yards receiving and five touchdowns last season, Rodriguez also recorded 10 tackles (two for loss) and two sacks, along with a fumble recovery. His presence goes farther beyond stats, as he is one of (if not the best) blocking tight ends in the entire state. Rodriguez could make a push as one of the best players in the state this season and is Freddie Maggard’s pick for 4A Player of the Year.
Led by senior quarterback Keshaun Thomas, Mason County is also making the jump to 4A this season. Thomas flew under a lot of people’s radar last season but was one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the state. Along with his 2,188 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, Thomas rushed for 382 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Royals made it to the 3A semifinals last season before losing to eventual runner-up Bardstown 38-28.
2023 will be a rebuilding year for Harrison and Grant County, as Harrison County finished at 2-8 and Grant County finished at 0-10 last season. Holmes won six games but lost in the first round of the postseason to Bourbon County.
Class 4A | District 6
Ashland Blazer, Boyd County, Greenup County, #18 Johnson Central, Rowan County
Ashland Blazer is another heavy hitter joining 4A this season. The Tomcats made it to the 3A semifinals last season before losing to eventual champions Christian Academy-Louisville. Head coach Chad Tackett’s squad is returning a lot of production from last year, as starting quarterback LaBryant Strader (2,153 passing yards, 18 touchdowns), receiver/running back junior Braxton Jennings (1,202 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns), and senior receiver Brandon Houston (920 receiving yards, nine touchdowns) will all be back in Ashland. The Tomcats could be a sneaky team to make a little bit of noise in 4A this season.
Johnson Central looks to build on an impressive 10-win 2022 campaign with one of the best running backs in the Class returning, junior running back Zack McCoart. McCoart racked up 1,721 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns last season. His 1,721 rushing yards rank third among returning players in the class. The Golden Eagles will be looking to get back to Kroger Field for the first time since 2021, where they fell to Boyle County 30-13.
Boyd County and Greenup County had solid 2022 seasons as well, both finishing with eight wins and at least one postseason victory. Greenup County returns one of the best mobile quarterbacks in the entire state of Kentucky in junior Tyson Sammons. Along with passing for 1,395 yards and nine touchdowns, Sammons rushed for 1,672 yards and 25 touchdowns last season.
Class 4A | District 7
#1 Boyle County, Lincoln County, Russell County, Taylor County, Wayne County
When it comes to recent history, Justin Haddix’s Boyle County Rebels have been the most dominant high school football program in the state since he took over in 2020. After failing to win a state title at Corbin, Haddix has won three in three seasons, back-to-back-to-back. When it came to naming a preseason #1 team in KSR’s Kentucky High School Football 2023 Preseason Rankings, it really was a no-brainer, especially with the talent coming back to Danville this season.
The Rebels’ explosive offense got even more dangerous when it was announced that Danville junior running back Demauriah Brown would be transferring to Boyle County over the summer. Brown’s 1,971 rushing yards ranked fifth in the entire state last season and are the most by a player returning to Class 4A this season. Adding Brown to an offense that already consisted of senior quarterback Sage Dawson (1,704 passing yards, 24 touchdowns), one of the early favorites for Mr. Kentucky Football junior receiver Montavin Quisenberry (833 receiving yards, 1,009 rushing yards, 23 total touchdowns), and senior athlete Avery Bodner (1,136 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns) is a recipe for their fourth state title in as many years.
The talent continues to flow through 4A, as three-star Kentucky commit OT Hayes Johnson returns to Taylor County for his final season. Johnson spoke with KSR last month and was very confident about his squad heading into the 2023 season. “You always hear people talking about Boyle County, but let’s show them what the boys an hour down the road can do,” Johnson said. “We’re older and bigger up front, but our skill guys are younger. If they get that meanness in them, there’s some athletes and freaks back there. I think we can compete with anybody.” Boyle County and Taylor County will clash on September 15th.
Lincoln and Russell County will look to bounce back from disappointing 2022 seasons, as Lincoln finished at 2-9 and Russell finished at 1-9. Wayne County went 8-4 but was bounced in the second round of the postseason by Johnson Central.
Class 4A | District 8
#4 Corbin, Letcher County Central, Perry County Central, Whitley County
After falling just short of their first state championship since 1982 last season, the Corbin Redhounds brought in one of the best transfer classes (if not the best) in the state over the offseason. On July 21st, it was revealed that four-star Michigan commits EDGE Jacob Smith and DL Jerod Smith moved back to the Commonwealth and enrolled at Corbin. Both originally from Somerset, the twins played their last two seasons of high school ball in the northeast. Now, the two highest-rated defensive players in the state of Kentucky will be lining up against opposing offenses in Redhound red and white.
Not to be outshined on the offensive side, coach Tom Greer and Co. brought in Somerset senior running back transfer Guy Bailey, who rushed for 1,388 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Bailey will be lining up behind one of the most talented quarterbacks in all of Kentucky, junior quarterback Kade Elam. Elam had himself a phenomenal sophomore season last year, throwing for 2,455 yards, 33 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Expect those numbers to rise with the addition of Bailey and the return of leading receiver senior Carter Stewart (1,065 receiving yards, nine touchdowns). With their best roster (maybe ever) returning to Corbin this season, the Redhounds are thirsty for their first state title in 40 years.
Letcher County Central won eight games for the first time since 2014 last season, so the Cougars will look to build on that this year. Perry County started 2022 hot but ended the season on a four-game losing streak, while Whitley County will be making the transition from 5A this season.
Preseason Honors
- Class 4A Player of the Year – WR Montavin Quisenberry (Boyle County)
- Class 4A Coach of the Year – Justin Haddix (Boyle County)
- Class 4A State Champion – Boyle County Rebels
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