KSR's 2023 Kentucky High School Football Preview: Class 5A
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, Class 3A, and Class 4A. Up next is Class 5A, home to the 7x State Champion and 2022 runner-up Bowling Green Purples.
Class 5A | District 1
Apollo, Graves County, Madisonville-North Hopkins, Marshall County, Muhlenberg County, #22 Owensboro
Other than Owensboro, it was a rough 2022 season for District 1. Apollo, Madisonville-North Hopkins, and Marshall County will be making the leap to 5A this year, looking to reverse their fortunes from a season ago. Apollo and Marshall County were both blown out in the first round of the postseason, and Madison-North Hopkins was knocked out in the second round by Warren East. Problems run even deeper for Muhlenberg County, as the Mustangs failed to make the postseason for the third consecutive season, finishing with a 2-8 record.
It was a successful season for Owensboro however, as the Red Devils made a run to the 5A semifinals before falling to eventual 5A state champion and 6A-bound Frederick Douglass. Owensboro won 10-plus games for the fifth consecutive season, continuing an incredible (yet championship-less) run for head coach Jayson Fallin. It will be a bit of a rebuilding year for the Red Devils however, as they are losing starting quarterback Kasey Boone, running back Kenyatta Carbon, leading receivers Khalil Rogers and Ethan Pendleton, and their two leading tacklers Xander Early and Zachary Clark. Owensboro hasn’t won a state championship since 1986.
Class 5A | District 2
#7 Bowling Green, Greenwood, Ohio County, South Warren
Falling just short of their first state title since 2020 last season, head coach Mark Spader and the Bowling Green Purples return one of the strongest cores in all of Kentucky high school football. BG returns Class 5A’s leading passer, 5A’s leading rusher, two of the top three leading receivers, and 5A’s second-leading tackler from last season. Junior quarterback Deuce Bailey was one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the entire state of Kentucky last year, throwing for 3,136 yards and 34 touchdowns along with rushing for 424 yards and three touchdowns. Bailey is a popular pick for 5A Player of the Year.
Senior running back Javen Huddleston and Bailey’s leading senior receivers Easton Barlow and Trevy Barber will also be returning to Bowling Green. Huddleston led 5A in rushing last season, running for 1,184 yards and 16 touchdowns. Barlow and Barber combined to haul in a combined 1,825 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. Add on the returns of junior defensive back Grayson Newman (126 tackles) and senior safety Wick Dotson (five interceptions) and you’ve got one of the deepest rosters in the state. The Purples will be right in the mix this season to win their eighth state championship.
South Warren also returns one of the best quarterbacks in Class 5A, junior Bryce Button. As a sophomore, Button threw for 2,021 yards and 16 touchdowns. He gets back senior receiver Bailey Shoemaker, who hauled in 516 yards and a touchdown last season. The Spartans finished at just 6-6 last season, losing to Bowling Green 34-0 in the second round of the playoffs. Greenwood advanced to the second round of the postseason as well before losing to Owensboro. Ohio County finished the season at a disappointing 3-8.
Class 5A | District 3
Atherton, Butler, Fairdale, Iroquois
The Fairdale Bulldogs are coming off their best season since 2019, going 11-1 last year before losing in the third round of the playoffs to Owensboro. On their path to the third round, Fairdale picked off Atherton, who finished at 7-5. Butler and Iroquois were both non-factors last season, as Butler was crushed in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs by eventual champion Bullitt East while Iroquois didn’t win their first game of the season until the last game on the schedule — an emotional victory over Shawnee to avoid going winless.
Class 5A District 3 is one of the weaker districts in the entire state, as Atherton, Butler, and Iroquois are in jeopardy of becoming feeder teams to squads such as Fairdale, Bowling Green, or Owensboro, much like they were last season.
Class 5A | District 4
Bullitt Central, Grayson County, Moore, North Bullitt, Seneca
2023 looks to be a reset for these five schools, as Seneca was the only program to advance past the first round of the postseason last season before falling to South Oldham in the second round. Bullitt Central and North Bullitt will no doubt return with a fire lit under them, as they had to sit back and watch rival Bullitt East win their first-ever state championship last season. Bullitt East absolutely trampled over these two schools last season, defeating both Bullitt Central and North Bullitt 43-0.
After starting 2022 with a 3-2 record, Moore lost their final five games of the season. Butler finished in a similar fashion, starting the season 2-2 before losing their final seven games of the season. Look for this to be a rebuilding year for these squads.
Class 5A | District 5
Anderson County, Collins, #6 Scott County, South Oldham, #21 Woodford County
District 5 is the most talented district in all of Class 5A, although Collins enters the 2023 season with a huge hole in their offense. Collins’ starting quarterback last season, senior Kenyon Goodin, was among one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the state. While throwing for 1,928 yards and 23 touchdowns, he also rushed for 1,225 yards and 18 more touchdowns. Backup quarterback Caleb Bailey has graduated as well, leaving a huge void in the quarterback spot.
At Woodford County, coach Dennis Johnson and the Yellow Jackets return some important offensive pieces in starting quarterback junior Andrew Nason (1,623 passing yards, 20 touchdowns) and leading receiver junior Makhi Smith (671 receiving yards, eight touchdowns). However, Johnson’s son, Jasper Johnson, will not be returning for his junior season as he transferred to basketball prep powerhouse Link Academy over the offseason. Johnson is currently listed as the No. 31 ranked basketball player in the class of 2025. As a sophomore last year, Johnson passed for 113 yards and three touchdowns.
Scott County is the highest-ranked 5A school in KSR’s Kentucky High School Football 2023 Preseason Rankings, coming in at one spot ahead of Bowling Green at No. 6. Coach Jim McKee’s squad enjoyed an 11-2 season last year, falling in the third round of the 5A playoffs to Southwestern; a crushing 23-22 loss. The Cardinals return junior quarterback Andrew Hickey (1,037 passing yards, 10 touchdowns) and their three headed-monster at running back, seniors Jacob Fryman (977 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns), Ellis Huguely (784 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns), and Thomas Feickert (748 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns). The Cardinals haven’t won a state championship since 2013.
South Oldham made a run to the third round of the postseason last year before being knocked out by eventual runner-up Bowling Green. The Dragons will look to build on two straight eight-plus win seasons this go-around. Anderson County, led by new head coach David Buchanan, looks to flush last season’s 2-9 record en route to a new era for the Bearcats.
Class 5A | District 6
Boone County, Conner, Cooper, Dixie Heights, Highlands, Scott
Dixie Heights and Scott are making the move to Class 5A this season. This looks to be a bounce-back season for all six teams, as just Conner and Highlands reached the second round of the postseason last year. Highlands returns a big-time player in senior Brody Benke. Benke was one of the best quarterbacks in Class 5A last season, throwing for 2,170 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions. Benke will however lose Highlands legend Charlie Noon, who graduated following the 2022 season. Noon left a lasting impression on the Bluebird faithful, finishing with 5,195 total yards and 47 total touchdowns over three seasons played.
Conner and Cooper both reached six wins last season but failed to win more than one postseason game. Dixie Heights is looking for new beginnings in 5A, as they went just 3-8 last season. Boone County has failed to make the postseason every season since 2018, so an appearance for them this year would be a step in the right direction.
Class 5A | District 7
East Jessamine, Madison Southern, Montgomery County, West Jessamine
It was a brutal 2022 for these programs, as none failed to win more than four games. West Jessamine won four, while both Madison Southern and Montgomery County won three. East Jessamine wasn’t even that lucky, as the Jaguars failed to win a single game, finishing with a 0-10 record.
2023 will be a rebuilding year for District 7. Even with the failure of last season, all four schools return their head coaches from a season prior, so this may be their final shot for success this year.
Class 5A | District 8
Harlan County, North Laurel, Pulaski County, South Laurel, #15 Southwestern
Southwestern enters the 2023 season as the third highest-ranked Class 5A team, coming in at No. 15. The Warriors made a nice postseason run last season, losing to eventual runner-up Bowling Green 47-20 in the state semifinals. Southwestern returns senior running back Christian Walden, whose 1,157 rushing yards last season is the second most amongst returning players in the class (Huddleston; Bowling Green). The Warriors also return defensive cornerstones Ben Coomer (110 tackles) and Lukas McGee (103 tackles). Head coach Jason Foley’s defense was one of the best in the state last season, allowing just an average of 12 points per game prior to their matchup against Bowling Green. The Warriors will be right back in the mix of things this season.
Pulaski County enters the 2023 season looking to navigate through the loss of its two biggest stars. Senior receiver Chandler Godby’s 1,677 receiving yards and whopping 28 touchdowns last season landed him a spot on KSR’s 2022 Kentucky high school football All-State Team. Junior receiver Harris Denmyer will look to pick up the slack this year, as the sophomore hauled in 771 receiving yards and eight touchdowns last season. Denmyer will do so without last season’s quarterback Brysen Dugger, who had a phenomenal senior season. Dugger’s 3,188 passing yards and 41 touchdowns both ranked top three in the state. 2023 looks to be a rebuilding season for the Maroons.
North Laurel will look to build on a seven-win 2022 campaign (in the books as six wins, as a 43-0 win over South Laurel was forfeited) as Harlan County gears up for its first season in 5A. The Black Bears won just four games last season, two more than South Laurel.
Preseason Honors
- Class 5A Player of the Year – QB Deuce Bailey (Bowling Green)
- Class 5A Coach of the Year – Jim McKee (Scott County)
- Class 5A State Champion – Bowling Green Purples
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