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08-18-2025, 11:36 AM
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/ksr-s-2025-kentucky-high-school-football-preview-class-4a/ar-AA1KJy2C?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=68a338c510a94164a97852f4527f8720&ei=10
Class 4A | District 1
Allen County-Scottsville (2024: 9-3), Calloway County (2024: 0-10), Logan County (2024: 4-7), #15 Paducah Tilghman (2024: 15-0), Warren East (2024: 6-5), Franklin-Simpson (2024: 6-6)
Last season, Paducah Tilghman won a state championship for the first time since 2009 when they were in Class 3A. Behind an absolutely loaded squad, the Blue Tornado went 15-0, taking down Franklin County at Kroger Field to win it all. Heading into 2025, however, a lot of that talent is gone. We know that Tilghman will be good again this year, but it’s a matter of how good.
Most likely, senior Stone Crowe will be starting behind center. In 2024, he appeared in 11 games, throwing for 435 yards and six touchdowns. However, senior running back Demarkus Wilson may end up being the reason for most of Tilghman’s success on offense. As a junior, Wilson ran for a team-high 828 yards and 11 touchdowns. Allen County-Scottsville started the 2024 season with a very strong 8-1 record that saw its only loss in that span coming to the Blue Tornado. Coach Brad Hood has had some really good teams over his 19-year long tenure, but last year’s was his best in several years. Hopefully, they can continue to build upon that in 2025.
Class 4A | District 2
Breckinridge County (2024: 3-8), John Hardin (2024: 9-4), Nelson County (2024: 2-9), Elizabethtown (2024: 4-7), Marion County (2024: 5-6)
Admittedly, there isn’t a ton going on in District 2, but John Hardin should be really, really good this year.
Last season, the Bulldogs went 9-4 and made it to the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to Paducah Tilghman, the eventual state champions. They return possibly the most impressive back in the entire state, senior Cavalli Pittman. In 2024, Pittman ran for 3,174 yards and 40 touchdowns. He alone averaged 20.5 points per game last season. That would be pretty good on the basketball court, but he’s doing all of that on the gridiron. Clearly, running the ball is John Hardin’s bread and butter, but they also bring back senior quarterback Austin Richardson, who recorded 645 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago. Consider the Bulldogs a sleeper in Class 4A.
Class 4A | District 3
Doss (2024: 7-4),Valley (2024: 3-7), Waggener (2024: 0-10), North Oldham (2024: 9-3)
It was a rough first year at the helm for Waggener head coach Corey Thompson. Waggener went 0-10 last year, but they at least bring back junior quarterback Arion Roach, who threw for 1,168 yards, ran for 844 and tallied 18 total touchdowns last year.
North Oldham should be the main talking point of District 3, however. In just his second season at North Oldham, head coach Brock Roberts led the Mustangs to an impressive 9-3 record after going 7-5 in his first year with the program in 2023.
The Mustangs lose a lot talent heading into 2025, but they do bring back senior receiver Lucas Tompkins, who caught 50 passes for 887 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, all good enough for second-best on the team. He also got 15 carries on the year, which resulted in 128 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Class 4A | District 4
#14 Franklin County (2024: 13-1), Shelby County (2024: 0-10), Spencer County (2024: 8-4), Western Hills (2024: 7-4)
The conversation in District 4 begins and ends with Franklin County. The Flyers made it to the state championship game in 2024, their first time doing so since the 2020 season. They were unbeaten all the way to the state championship game, but Paducah Tilghman came out on top in a 27-20 bout.
Franklin County has a very real shot at not only getting back to Kroger Field in 2025, but leaving victorious. For starters, they return sophomore quarterback Knox Barrett, who threw for 1,272 yards and 17 touchdowns in 11 games last year. Barrett gets his top receiver, senior Jacob Taylor, back as well. Taylor posted 380 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.
On top that, head coach Eddie James gets four of his top five rushers back. Jack Oldham, Jayquan Crawford, Delano Collins and LeDarrius Simmons combined for 1,526 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground last year.
Class 4A | District 5
#12 Covington Catholic (2024: 11-3), Grant County (2024: 6-5), Harrison County (2024: 2-9), Holmes (2024: 0-10), Mason County (2024: 8-4), #5 Highlands (2024: 11-3)
Perhaps the biggest change thanks to realignment happened to District 5. Highlands, who had been in Class 5A since 2015, moved down to Class 4A heading into this season.
The Bluebirds could certainly compete for a state championship considering they return senior quarterback Rio Litmer. Litmer threw for 2,791 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2024. On top of that, junior Tayden Lorenzen, the son of the late Jared Lorenzon, comes back after posting 553 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns last year.
However, Covington Catholic should be one of the top teams in Class 4A yet again this season. Last year, they upset Boyle County in the playoffs before their season came to an end against Franklin County. Maybe the Colonels can win it all for the first time since they went undefeated in 2019.
Class 4A | District 6
#25Ashland Blazer (2024: 11-2), Boyd County (2024: 5-6), Greenup County (2024: 8-3), #22Johnson Central(2024: 8-4), Rowan County (2024: 2-8)
Through the second round of the playoffs last season, Ashland Blazer had only lost one game — a Week 3 matchup with Harvest Prep (OH). They seemed like a real threat to contend for a state championship, but then, they ran into Corbin in the third round of the playoffs and lost by 35. After a nine-week streak of scoring 40+ points, the Tomcats could only muster seven against the Redhounds.
Senior Cameron Davis may have to do it all for Ashland Blazer if they want to replicate last year’s success. In 2024, he caught 35 passes for a team-high 615 yards and eight touchdowns. On top that, he was the team’s second-leading rusher, recording 502 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
Johnson Central has long been one of the top teams in Class 4A, and they’ll be looking to get back to the state championship game for the first time since the 2021 season. It helps that they bring back two of their top four rushers from a year ago, Logan Music and Logan Morrow. The two combined for 1,487 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2024.
Class 4A | District 7
#2 Boyle County(2024: 12-1), Lincoln County(2024: 4-6), Russell County(2024: 5-6), Taylor County(2024: 6-5), Wayne County(2024: 8-4)
Boyle County not winning the state championship last year was a shocker, to say the least. The Rebels cruised through the regular season like it was nothing, but the games are played for a reason, right? Head coach Justin Haddix has done a phenomenally job since taking over the program in 2020, winning as many state championships as total games lost. Yes, four state titles and only four losses.
Heading into 2025, Boyle County should be the favorite to win Class 4A. They lose a plethora of talent, per usual, but they also return a plethora of talent. Quarterback Baylor Murphy will be back for his senior season after throwing for 2,009 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2024.
Additionally, junior tight end Seneca Driver, potentially the best player in the state, is back for the Rebels in 2025. Driver recorded 353 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, and those numbers may double themselves this season.
Class 4A | District 8
#8Corbin (2024: 12-2), Perry County Central (2024: 4-7), Whitley County (2024: 5-6), Harlan County (2024: 1-8)
The Corbin Redhounds went 12-2 under first-year head coach Joshua Salmons, with their only losses on the year coming to 6A powerhouse Frederick Douglass on the road and Paducah Tilghman in the fourth round of the playoffs.
Corbin could one of the top teams in Class 4A yet again this season behind senior seniors Cole Stevens and Cam Estep. Stevens, a running back, recorded 929 yards on the ground and got into the end zone 10 times last season. Estep primarily served as a wideout last season, but he played more of a utility, “plug-and-play” role at times last season. Estep had a team-best 1,027 receiving yards and had nine touchdowns as well. He also ran for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.
First-year head coach Jacob Saylor won his first game coaching Harlan County last season, but the Black Bears would end up losing the rest of the eight games that they played in 2024. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2019, but hopefully, Saylor and Harlan County can get closer to changing that for the better in 2025.
KSR’s Preseason Honors
・Class 4A Player of the Year – Seneca Driver (Boyle County)
・Class 4A Coach of the Year – Justin Haddix (Boyle County)
・Class 4A State Champion – Boyle County Rebels
Class 4A | District 1
Allen County-Scottsville (2024: 9-3), Calloway County (2024: 0-10), Logan County (2024: 4-7), #15 Paducah Tilghman (2024: 15-0), Warren East (2024: 6-5), Franklin-Simpson (2024: 6-6)
Last season, Paducah Tilghman won a state championship for the first time since 2009 when they were in Class 3A. Behind an absolutely loaded squad, the Blue Tornado went 15-0, taking down Franklin County at Kroger Field to win it all. Heading into 2025, however, a lot of that talent is gone. We know that Tilghman will be good again this year, but it’s a matter of how good.
Most likely, senior Stone Crowe will be starting behind center. In 2024, he appeared in 11 games, throwing for 435 yards and six touchdowns. However, senior running back Demarkus Wilson may end up being the reason for most of Tilghman’s success on offense. As a junior, Wilson ran for a team-high 828 yards and 11 touchdowns. Allen County-Scottsville started the 2024 season with a very strong 8-1 record that saw its only loss in that span coming to the Blue Tornado. Coach Brad Hood has had some really good teams over his 19-year long tenure, but last year’s was his best in several years. Hopefully, they can continue to build upon that in 2025.
Class 4A | District 2
Breckinridge County (2024: 3-8), John Hardin (2024: 9-4), Nelson County (2024: 2-9), Elizabethtown (2024: 4-7), Marion County (2024: 5-6)
Admittedly, there isn’t a ton going on in District 2, but John Hardin should be really, really good this year.
Last season, the Bulldogs went 9-4 and made it to the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to Paducah Tilghman, the eventual state champions. They return possibly the most impressive back in the entire state, senior Cavalli Pittman. In 2024, Pittman ran for 3,174 yards and 40 touchdowns. He alone averaged 20.5 points per game last season. That would be pretty good on the basketball court, but he’s doing all of that on the gridiron. Clearly, running the ball is John Hardin’s bread and butter, but they also bring back senior quarterback Austin Richardson, who recorded 645 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago. Consider the Bulldogs a sleeper in Class 4A.
Class 4A | District 3
Doss (2024: 7-4),Valley (2024: 3-7), Waggener (2024: 0-10), North Oldham (2024: 9-3)
It was a rough first year at the helm for Waggener head coach Corey Thompson. Waggener went 0-10 last year, but they at least bring back junior quarterback Arion Roach, who threw for 1,168 yards, ran for 844 and tallied 18 total touchdowns last year.
North Oldham should be the main talking point of District 3, however. In just his second season at North Oldham, head coach Brock Roberts led the Mustangs to an impressive 9-3 record after going 7-5 in his first year with the program in 2023.
The Mustangs lose a lot talent heading into 2025, but they do bring back senior receiver Lucas Tompkins, who caught 50 passes for 887 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, all good enough for second-best on the team. He also got 15 carries on the year, which resulted in 128 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Class 4A | District 4
#14 Franklin County (2024: 13-1), Shelby County (2024: 0-10), Spencer County (2024: 8-4), Western Hills (2024: 7-4)
The conversation in District 4 begins and ends with Franklin County. The Flyers made it to the state championship game in 2024, their first time doing so since the 2020 season. They were unbeaten all the way to the state championship game, but Paducah Tilghman came out on top in a 27-20 bout.
Franklin County has a very real shot at not only getting back to Kroger Field in 2025, but leaving victorious. For starters, they return sophomore quarterback Knox Barrett, who threw for 1,272 yards and 17 touchdowns in 11 games last year. Barrett gets his top receiver, senior Jacob Taylor, back as well. Taylor posted 380 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.
On top that, head coach Eddie James gets four of his top five rushers back. Jack Oldham, Jayquan Crawford, Delano Collins and LeDarrius Simmons combined for 1,526 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground last year.
Class 4A | District 5
#12 Covington Catholic (2024: 11-3), Grant County (2024: 6-5), Harrison County (2024: 2-9), Holmes (2024: 0-10), Mason County (2024: 8-4), #5 Highlands (2024: 11-3)
Perhaps the biggest change thanks to realignment happened to District 5. Highlands, who had been in Class 5A since 2015, moved down to Class 4A heading into this season.
The Bluebirds could certainly compete for a state championship considering they return senior quarterback Rio Litmer. Litmer threw for 2,791 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2024. On top of that, junior Tayden Lorenzen, the son of the late Jared Lorenzon, comes back after posting 553 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns last year.
However, Covington Catholic should be one of the top teams in Class 4A yet again this season. Last year, they upset Boyle County in the playoffs before their season came to an end against Franklin County. Maybe the Colonels can win it all for the first time since they went undefeated in 2019.
Class 4A | District 6
#25Ashland Blazer (2024: 11-2), Boyd County (2024: 5-6), Greenup County (2024: 8-3), #22Johnson Central(2024: 8-4), Rowan County (2024: 2-8)
Through the second round of the playoffs last season, Ashland Blazer had only lost one game — a Week 3 matchup with Harvest Prep (OH). They seemed like a real threat to contend for a state championship, but then, they ran into Corbin in the third round of the playoffs and lost by 35. After a nine-week streak of scoring 40+ points, the Tomcats could only muster seven against the Redhounds.
Senior Cameron Davis may have to do it all for Ashland Blazer if they want to replicate last year’s success. In 2024, he caught 35 passes for a team-high 615 yards and eight touchdowns. On top that, he was the team’s second-leading rusher, recording 502 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
Johnson Central has long been one of the top teams in Class 4A, and they’ll be looking to get back to the state championship game for the first time since the 2021 season. It helps that they bring back two of their top four rushers from a year ago, Logan Music and Logan Morrow. The two combined for 1,487 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2024.
Class 4A | District 7
#2 Boyle County(2024: 12-1), Lincoln County(2024: 4-6), Russell County(2024: 5-6), Taylor County(2024: 6-5), Wayne County(2024: 8-4)
Boyle County not winning the state championship last year was a shocker, to say the least. The Rebels cruised through the regular season like it was nothing, but the games are played for a reason, right? Head coach Justin Haddix has done a phenomenally job since taking over the program in 2020, winning as many state championships as total games lost. Yes, four state titles and only four losses.
Heading into 2025, Boyle County should be the favorite to win Class 4A. They lose a plethora of talent, per usual, but they also return a plethora of talent. Quarterback Baylor Murphy will be back for his senior season after throwing for 2,009 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2024.
Additionally, junior tight end Seneca Driver, potentially the best player in the state, is back for the Rebels in 2025. Driver recorded 353 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, and those numbers may double themselves this season.
Class 4A | District 8
#8Corbin (2024: 12-2), Perry County Central (2024: 4-7), Whitley County (2024: 5-6), Harlan County (2024: 1-8)
The Corbin Redhounds went 12-2 under first-year head coach Joshua Salmons, with their only losses on the year coming to 6A powerhouse Frederick Douglass on the road and Paducah Tilghman in the fourth round of the playoffs.
Corbin could one of the top teams in Class 4A yet again this season behind senior seniors Cole Stevens and Cam Estep. Stevens, a running back, recorded 929 yards on the ground and got into the end zone 10 times last season. Estep primarily served as a wideout last season, but he played more of a utility, “plug-and-play” role at times last season. Estep had a team-best 1,027 receiving yards and had nine touchdowns as well. He also ran for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.
First-year head coach Jacob Saylor won his first game coaching Harlan County last season, but the Black Bears would end up losing the rest of the eight games that they played in 2024. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2019, but hopefully, Saylor and Harlan County can get closer to changing that for the better in 2025.
KSR’s Preseason Honors
・Class 4A Player of the Year – Seneca Driver (Boyle County)
・Class 4A Coach of the Year – Justin Haddix (Boyle County)
・Class 4A State Champion – Boyle County Rebels
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