What to know about the 2025 Kentucky high school football state championships

The road to Kroger Field ends this weekend.

This Friday and Saturday, 12 of the best high school football teams from across the Bluegrass will converge in Lexington for a shot at one of the state’s six championships. We’ll have three class title games on Friday (1A, 2A, 4A) and three more on Saturday (3A, 5A, 6A). KSR will have plenty of boots on the ground for all six matchups, which feature 10 teams ranked among our second-to-last Top 25 poll of the season, including the entire top four.

Below is the championship schedule for Friday and Saturday. You can watch all six games over at NFHS Network ($), or follow the action from afar by chiming in over on KSBoard. We’ll have a rolling thread dedicated to talking about nothing but championship weekend.

Friday, December 5

• Class 1A (Noon ET) | RV Raceland vs. Kentucky Country Day
• Class 2A (4:00 ET) | No. 13 Owensboro Catholic vs. No. 9 Lexington Christian Academy
• Class 4A (8:00 ET) | No. 4 Boyle County vs. No. 5 Franklin County

Saturday, December 6

• Class 3A (Noon ET) | No. 2 Christian Academy-Louisville vs. No. 22 Murray
• Class 6A (4:00 ET) | No. 3 South Warren vs. No. 1 Trinity
• Class 5A (8:00 ET) | No. 10 Pulaski County vs. No. 8 Owensboro

Here’s what you need to know about this weekend’s championship matchups. We also have score predictions for all six games via the On3 Massey Ratings.

1A | RV Raceland (12-1) vs. Kentucky Country Day (12-1)

For the third straight season, the Raceland Rams and Kentucky Country Day Bearcats will meet in the 1A playoffs. The Rams went 2-0 in the previous two matchups, winning 14-0 in the state semifinals last season. Neither team has won a state title to this point. Both teams have just one regular-season loss, but avenged those in the postseason against the same opponent. Raceland lost to Pikeville in Week 3 before beating them in the semis last week, while KCD fell to Campbellsville in Week 9 before taking the rematch in the semis.

This will be a battle between a pair of top-five offenses and defenses in the class. Raceland scores 41.3 points per game (tied for first in 1A) and gives up just 14.5 points per game (3rd in 1A). Meanwhile, KCD pours in 40.5 points per game (3rd in 1A) and gives up just 14.9 points per game (4th in 1A).

Raceland QB Jacob Waller has thrown for 1,707 yards and 26 touchdowns on the season, with six different receivers logging over 100 yards through the air. Running back Landen Stiltner is the bell cow in the backfield with 1,82 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. Jackson King and Jonah Arnett both have 75 tackles on the season, while Landyn Goodall has registered 63 tackles, five tackles for loss, and five interceptions (one going back for a touchdown).

KCD does most of its damage on the ground, but QB Caden Long has still racked up 810 passing yards with 16 touchdowns. Parker Rudolph and Tyler Wilson have run for 1,018 and 916 yards on the ground, respectively, with 31 combined touchdowns. Pierce Bahm is the defensive playmaker with his 50 tackles, seven tackles for loss, one sack, three fumble recoveries, and four interceptions. Bowen Johnson leads the team in tackles with 110 to go along with five tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Massey Prediction: Raceland 32, KCD 21

2A | No. 13 Owensboro Catholic (13-1) vs. No. 9 LCA (11-3)

This will mark the third time since 2021 that the Owensboro Catholic Aces match up with the Lexington Christian Academy Eagles in the 2A playoffs. LCA is 2-0 in those games. Owensboro Catholic is looking for its first state title, while LCA is searching for its second and first since 2009. The Aces’ lone loss this season came to an Owensboro team that we will talk about shortly. After a 1-3 start to the season for the Eagles that included losses to three other teams in state title games, LCA has won 10 straight.

Both teams can put up plenty of points. Owensboro Catholic ranks 6th in 2A with 42.4 points per game, while LCA isn’t far behind in 8th with 36.4 points per game. Defensively, the Aces rank 4th in the class by giving up just 15.5 points per outing, while the Eagles allow 20.2 points per game, which ranks 10th in 2A. Owensboro Catholic’s margin of victory (26.9 points) is 4th-best in the class.

Owensboro Catholic has a talented QB running the show. Dremail Carothers has tossed for a class-leading 3,753 yards and 46 touchdowns to just six interceptions. Five different Aces players have over 300 receiving yards, led by Xavier Maddox, who has 1,290 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on the year. Jude Cecil is the name to watch on defense. He leads OC with 113 tackles and five interceptions. Miles Edge shines on both sides of the ball: 1,221 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns to go along with 101 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.

For LCA, versatile QB Nash Whelan does a little bit of everything. He has 2,299 yards and 26 touchdowns through the air, plus another 1,000 yards and 14 more touchdowns on the ground. He also has 40 tackles and an INT on defense. Tyler King is Whelan’s go-to target: 958 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Aiden Lyons and Thomas Sizemore pace the LCA defense with 78 and 74 tackles, respectively.

Massey Prediction: Owensboro Catholic 35, LCA 33

3A | No. 2 CAL (14-0) vs. No. 22 Murray (14-0)

A battle between undefeated teams will take place in 3A. Something will have to give. The Christian Academy-Louisville Centurions are building a dynasty as they search for their fourth straight title and sixth overall. CAL is riding a 21-game win streak that dates back to last season. Meanwhile, the Murray Tigers, looking for championship number three, haven’t won a title since 1974.

Outside of Trinity, there hasn’t been a more dominant team in the state this season than CAL. The Centurions are winning games by an average of 38.1 points per contest. Their offense leads the class at 47.4 points per game, with the defense giving up just 9.2 points per game. Murray’s offense is on par with 45.3 points per game. The Tigers’ defense is solid, too, allowing just 16.5 points per game.

CAL QB Jackson Burke has been a star under center, throwing for 3,202 yards and 48 touchdowns with just one interception. That’s led to a pair of wide receivers going for over 1,000 yards in the air: 4-star recruit Ja’Hyde Brown (1,376, 22 TDs) and Gaines Howard (1,000, 14 TDs). But the real star is DL Kellan Hall, a top 15 sophomore in the entire country. Hall has 48 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and six sacks in just 10 games played. Micah Newsome leads the CAL defense with 128 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and three sacks.

But Murray has plenty of talent, as well. QB Wyatt Robbins has totaled 3,199 yards and 35 touchdowns through the air. Robbins is second on the team in rushing with 533 yards and four more scores. Isaiah Martin is his favorite target, recording 1,230 yards and 19 touchdowns through the air. Defensively, six different Tigers have over 100 tackles, led by 163 and eight sacks from Simon Rickman. Gage Chapman has 149 tackles, five sacks, and three INTs to his name this season.

Massey Prediction: CAL 48, Murray 14

4A | No. 4 Boyle County (13-1) vs. No. 5 Franklin County (14-0)

Where the Boyle County Rebels will look to continue their 21st-century dominance, the Franklin County Flyers will look for their first-ever state title. Boyle County has secured 12 championships since 1999 and won four in a row before last year’s loss in the quarterfinals. Franklin County is back in the final game after coming up short in the title last season. This is the only County vs. County championship game of the year.

This is a battle between a pair of top-five teams with different strengths. Boyle County leads 4A in scoring defense, giving up just 11.6 points per game, while Franklin County leads the class in scoring offense at 46.1 points per game. The Rebels are beating teams by an average of 23.9 points per contest (7th in 4A) compared to a 32.4 points per game (1st in 4A) margin of victory for the Flyers.

Boyle County QB Jhet Raleigh has thrown for 1,965 yards and 22 touchdowns with just a pair of interceptions this season. His preferred target is Seneca Driver, a top 100 junior in the country who has 852 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Driver also leads the defense with five INTs (two returned for scores). But the Rebels do most of their damage on the ground. Ji’Dyn Smith-Hisel has racked up 1,609 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Boyle County is paced defensively by Lucas Akers and his 111 tackles. Jax Crowe and Darryl Yancey have combined for 39 tackles for loss.

For Franklin County, QB Knox Barrett has tossed for 3,035 yards and 37 touchdowns. Barrett likes to find Jacob Taylor (903 yards, 10 TDs) and Delano Collins (888 yards, 12 TDs) through the air. Collins is a special teams star with five punt returns and three kickoff returns going for touchdowns. On defense, Shalom Moore is another playmaker with his seven INTs, three of which he ran back for scores. Jacob Olds leads the Flyer defense with 154 total tackles, while Collins has five interceptions of his own.

Massey Prediction: Boyle County 35, Franklin County 14

5A | No. 10 Pulaski County (12-2) vs. No. 8 Owensboro (12-2)

It’s been over a decade since either of the Pulaski County Maroons or the Owensboro Red Devils won a state title. Pulaski County is the most recent winner, winning its lone championship back in 2014, while Owensboro has two to its name, but those came in 1974 and 1986.

Pulaski County ranks among the top 10 offensive and defensive units in the class. The Maroons rack up 35 points per game (6th in 5A) on offense while giving up just 20.2 points per game (9th in 5A) on defense. After dropping its first two games of the season, Owensboro hasn’t lost since then and is the owner of the top offense in the class (43.4 PPG) and the second-best defense (12.4 PPG).

The Maroons will lean heavily on their running game. Kasen Brock leads the way with 1,659 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. He’s aided by QB Will Adams, who mostly uses his legs to generate points. Adams has 517 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the season. Pulaski County’s defense is led by Cohen Finley and his 159 tackles to go along with 10 tackles for loss and six sacks. Bryan Ford is another impact player with 105 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and a team-high 11 sacks, which ranks second in the class. Adams also pitches in on defense with 62 tackles and three interceptions.

Owensboro has a couple of offensive stars on the roster. QB DaMarcus Ganaway, son of the head coach, has thrown for 2,558 yards and 35 touchdowns to just four INTs. He’s run in another five scores with his legs. Vanderbilt commit Evan Hampton has racked up 1,927 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground. Ganaway’s favorite target is Kingston Dillard, who has 1,232 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. Ty Ashley leads the Red Devils’ defense with 130 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, and four picks. Elijah Hampton has chipped in 99 tackles and three interceptions, as well.

Massey Prediction: Owensboro 35, Pulaski County 21

6A | No. 3 South Warren (13-0) vs. No. 1 Trinity (12-2)

This is the matcup all eyes will be paying attention to: a top-three showdown between the undefeated South Warren Spartans and the state’s top team, the Trinity Shamrocks. South Warren has three recent state championships (2015, 2018, 2021), but Trinity has more titles than any team in the history of the Bluegrass with 29, including two straight.

If you like impressive stats, these are the teams for you. South Warren ranks first in 6A in scoring (43.6 PPG) and is third in defense (15.5 PPG). Trinity is right up there, too. The Shamrocks rank just behind South Warren in points per game at 42.9 (2nd in 6A) while giving up a mere 9.5 points per outing, easily the best number in the class. Trinity’s two losses this season came against a pair of Cincinnati powerhouses: Moeller and St. Xavier.

South Warren’s Camden Page has been a dual-threat scoring QB this season, throwing for 2,123 yards and 23 touchdowns in addition to 280 yards and seven more scores on the ground. Kayden York is the bell cow, totaling 1,008 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. He also has four INTs on defense. Jake Carter and Justin Capps have combined to catch 1,504 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air. Isaiah Bridges leads the team on defense with five picks, while Takyon Darden is the tackle leader with 65, along with 16 tackles for loss.

Trinity’s offense is fueled by two-time champion QB Zane Johnson, who has posted 2,763 passing yards with an incredible TD/INT ratio of 51-4. Four different Shamrocks have registered over 400 receiving yards, led by 719 (plus 12 touchdowns) from Cross Watson. Johnson will hand the ball off to Jamaurion Berry, who has 714 rushing yards and 10 scores on the season. Luke Vize leads the Trinity defense with a team-high 78 tackles, along with 6.5 tackles for loss and a trio of sacks. Juleone Carney has been credited with 11.5 sacks, which leads the class.

Massey Prediction: Trinity 42, South Warren 14

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