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Kentucky high school football preview: What to know ahead of the 2025 season

Stories by Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, with AI summarization

Here is a collection of stories from the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com's Jared Peck to get you ready for the 2025 Kentucky high school football season.

Peck's Herald-Leader Hype 25 poll names Trinity as the top team across all classes.

Meanwhile, the state's coaches offer their top 10s for each class.

Plus, the Herald-Leader Hundred reveals the commonwealth's top players.

Sayre took the field for the Spartans game against Eminence on Oct. 20, 2023 at Sayre Athletic Complex in Lexington. By Silas Walker

NO. 1: TOP-FLIGHT MATCHUPS ARE ON TAP FOR THE START OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

The high school football season kicks off Friday and there are some blockbuster matchups slated for Week 1 in Lexington. | Published August 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

Henry Clay head coach Phillip Hawkins talks with his players during a football scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky. By Christian Kantosky

NO. 2: YOUR GUIDE TO THE 2025 LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON

Earlier this summer, work began on the construction of a completely new Henry Clay High School next to where the current one stands. | Published August 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

Paducah Tilghman offensive lineman Jarvis Strickland rates as the No. 1 player in the state in the 2025 Herald-Leader Hundred, according to a vote of the state’s high school coaches. He’s committed to Louisville. By Matt Hernandez

NO. 3: THE HERALD-LEADER HUNDRED: 2025’S TOP KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Think about what springs to mind when someone asks, “Who are the top high school football players in the state?” Did you think about the offensive linemen? | Published August 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

Boyle County takes the field. By Alex Slitz

NO. 4: HERALD-LEADER HYPE 25 PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RANKINGS

For the first time in years, the Herald-Leader presents its own take on the top 25 teams in Kentucky high school football as the season kicks off this week. | Published August 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

UK quarterback Tim Couch, #2, talks with incoming freshman Dennis Johnson during the University of Kentucky's Football Media Day at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., on 8/13/98. By David Stephenson

NO. 5: MORE THAN A LIST: HERALD-LEADER HUNDRED HELPS MARK HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HISTORY

Before the advent of high school football recruiting rankings, before social media, before everyone became an expert on everything to do with high school sports, the Herald-Leader began what would eventually become its “Herald-Leader Hundred” preseason list of some of the state’s best prep football players more than three decades ago. | Published August 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

Sayre Spartans Head Coach Chad Pennington hoists the championship trophy, as his team is the 2024 UK Health Care Sports Medicine KHSAA 1A Football State Champion. By David Rearic

NO. 6: 2025 HERALD-LEADER TOP 10: KENTUCKY CLASS A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL

Editor’s Note: | Published August 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

Beechwood’s Cole Hoskins (20) celebrates the school winning its latest championship ring, defeating Owensboro Catholic 50-34 to claim the Class 2A state title on Dec. 6, 2024, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. By David Rearic

NO. 7: 2025 HERALD-LEADER TOP 10: KENTUCKY CLASS 2A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL

Editor’s Note: | Published August 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

The Christian Academy-Louisville team gives head coach Thomas H. Cantwell an ice-cold celebratory bath after after they won the Class 3A 2023 UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals championship game 41-16 over Bell County at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. By Brian Simms

NO. 8: 2025 HERALD-LEADER TOP 10: KENTUCKY CLASS 3A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL

Editor’s Note: | Published August 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

Paducah Tilghman celebrates after winning the Class 4A UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. By Brian Simms

NO. 9: 2025 HERALD-LEADER TOP 10: KENTUCKY CLASS 4A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL

Editor’s Note: | Published August 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

Cooper Jaguars cornerback Isaac Brown (2) tackles Bowling Green Purples Trevy Barber (3) in the first half of a Kentucky High School Athletic Association Class 5A high school football state championship game between the Cooper Jaguars and Bowling Green Purples, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. By Frank Bowen IV

NO. 10: 2025 HERALD-LEADER TOP 10: KENTUCKY CLASS 5A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL

Editor’s Note: | Published August 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

Trinity Shamrocks RB #23 Jamaurion Berry dives over defenders to score in the UK Healthcare Sports Medicine KHSAA 6A Football State Finals at Kroger Field in Lexington on December 7th, 2024. By David Rearic

NO. 11: 2025 HERALD-LEADER TOP 10: KENTUCKY CLASS 6A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL

Editor’s Note: | Published August 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

January 1, 2006; Green Bay, WI, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back #37 Shaun Alexander rushes the ball as Green Bay Packers defensive end #74 Aaron Kampman chases from behind at Lambeau Field. By Jeff Hanisch

NO. 12: INSIDE THE HERALD-LEADER HUNDRED: FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT OUR PRESEASON HONORS

Here are some facts and figures about the Herald-Leader’s preseason best players list, now called the Herald-Leader Hundred. | Published August 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

Lexington Christian head coach Oakley Watkins spoke to quarterbacks Carter Penix, Bryce Blackerby and Parker Penix at a practice last month at White, Greer & Maggard Stadium on LCA’s campus. By Jared Peck

NO. 13: LEXINGTON CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL TAKING SHAPE AS LONGTIME ASSISTANT STEPS INTO LEAD ROLE

Oakley Watkins, Lexington Christian’s new head football coach, said not much has changed for him since he stepped up from offensive coordinator to the top job this summer. | Published August 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

Bryan Station takes the field before their game against George Rogers Clark at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester, Ky., Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. Bryan Station beat George Rogers Clark 35-21. By Alex Slitz

NO. 14: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: LIVE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL UPDATES AND BROADCAST LINKS

Week 1 of Kentucky’s high school football season continues Friday. | Published August 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jared Peck

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.