Herald-Leader Top 10: Kentucky Class 2A high school football preseason poll for 2021

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of stories ranking Kentucky’s high school football teams class by class, according to voting by the class’s coaches.

Beechwood and Lexington Christian staged one of the most exciting state championship games in Kentucky high school football history at Kroger Field last season, and a lot of coaches around Class 2A think the Tigers and Eagles might be on another collision course.

Coach Noel Rash’s team edged Lexington Christian in that 24-23 overtime thriller and got a nine-votes-to-eight edge as Class 2A’s No. 1 team in the annual @HLpreps Preseason Football Survey. Mayfield, another perennial title-contender, received three No. 1 nods.

There’s more bad news for the rest of the class. Both Beechwood and LCA are bringing almost everybody back. And, thanks to the supplemental year created by Senate Bill 128, that includes Beechwood’s Mr. Football Cameron Hergott. But don’t expect anyone else to concede the season. There’s lots of football between now and December.

Here are the preseason top 10 teams in Class 2A — the second-smallest football-playing classification under the Kentucky High School Athletic Association — as voted on by coaches in the division.

1. Beechwood

Head coach: Noel Rash (16th season).

Last year: 10-2. State champions. Defeated Lexington Christian 24-23 in overtime in the finals.

Quick look: It would not be correct to say Beechwood is reloading. When you bring back championship game starters in eight positions on both offense and defense, including a Mr. Football, you’re just loaded. Fifth-year senior quarterback Cameron Hergott accounted for more than 3,500 yards of total offense and 41 TDs and the Tigers return almost every weapon at his disposal — leading receivers Mitchell Berger, Brady Moore and Parker Mason, plus backfield mate Avery Courtney. “These young men are talented, but none of that will matter if we do not have the mental toughness needed to carry us through the offseason and each week of the season,” Rash said.

Marquee matchup: Beechwood hosts Class 5A Covington Catholic on Sept. 17.

2. Lexington Christian

Head coach: Doug Charles (third season).

Last year: 10-2. District 4 champs. Region champs. Lost 24-23 in overtime to Beechwood in the state finals.

Quick look: Like Beechwood, LCA returns many of the pieces that got the Eagles to last year’s finals, including Virginia commit Xavier Brown, a run-catch threat who had more than 1,300 yards total offense and 17 TDs. Quarterback Drew Nieves reclassified to redo his junior year and looks to build on the 2,651 yards and 28 TDs he threw for in 2020. Mason Moore emerged as LCA’s leading receiver and deep threat with nearly 1,000 yards and 11 TDs. Combine that with some new players and “we will have way more quality depth than ever before,” Charles said.

Marquee matchup: LCA hosts Class A power Pikeville on Sept. 24.

3. Mayfield

Head coach: Joe Morris (23rd season).

Last year: 7-2. Lost 28-21 in triple overtime to Murray in the District 1 finals.

Quick look: The Cardinals return 17 starters, including leading rusher and scorer Kylan Galbreath (511 yards and seven TDs in six games) and leading tacklers Nathan Watkins (64) and Daniel Coles (58). Coles also led Mayfield in receiving with 402 yards and six TDs. The 12-time state champs don’t suffer many early upsets in the playoffs. They’ll look to make last year’s a blip.

Marquee matchup: Historic rivalry at Paducah Tilghman set for Sept. 3.

4. Somerset

Head coach: Robbie Lucas (13th season).

Last year: 6-3. Lost 42-35 to Lexington Christian in the District 4 finals.

Quick look: With longtime starting quarterback Kaiya Sheron having moved on to Kentucky, the Briar Jumpers might have more questions than answers in 2021. Leading rusher Chase Doan returns, however, as does Kentucky recruiting target Michael Hawkins, a 6-5, 235-pound senior, at tight end/linebacker. “We’re young and inexperienced so patience will be the key early. Lack of depth is a concern,” Lucas said.

Marquee matchup: Defending Class A champ Paintsville visits Sept. 10.

5. Owensboro Catholic

Head coach: Jason Morris (fourth season).

Last year: 6-2. District 2 champs. Lost 28-7 to Murray in the region finals.

Quick look: Morris calls senior wideout Braden Mundy (1,192 yards total offense, 17 TDs) “one of the best athletes ever to put on an Owensboro Catholic uniform.” With him, the Aces have senior QB Lincoln Clancy (1,051 yards, 11 TDs) and leading rusher Hunter Monroe (761 yards, nine TDs), a junior who will run behind a veteran offensive front. “Last year’s season had its ups and down, but the team’s youth gained lots of valuable experience,” Morris said.

Marquee matchup: Aces visit Class 5A Owensboro on Sept. 10.

6. Breathitt County

Head coach: Kyle Moore (ninth season).

Last year: 6-2. District 7 champs. Lost 52-7 to Beechwood in the region finals.

Quick look: Though he has only four seniors, Moore returns nine offensive starters for 2021, including dual threat senior quarterback Jaylen Turner, who threw for 1,167 yards and 16 TDs and ran for 449 yards and nine more scores. Basketball standout Austin Sperry also comes back as the team’s leading receiver with 538 yards and six TDs last year.

Marquee matchup: The Bobcats travel to district rival Middlesboro on Sept. 24.

7. Murray

Head coach: Darren Bowling (first season).

Last year: 8-4. District 1 champs. Region champs. Lost 48-13 to Lexington Christian in the state semifinals.

Quick look: After a historic playoff victory against Mayfield, the Tigers bring in a new coach and a new offense for 2021 with senior QB Rowdy Sokolowski at the helm. Sokolowski passed for 1,131 yards and 12 TDs and ran for 739 yards and 11 more scores and should fit well into Bowling’s flexbone set. On defense, senior linebacker Andrew Orr led the team in tackles (92) a year ago.

Marquee matchup: The measuring-stick game against arch-nemesis Mayfield is on the road on Oct. 22.

8. Walton-Verona

Head coach: Jeff Barth (14th season).

Last year: 7-5. District 5 champs. Lost 43-6 to West Carter in the region finals.

Quick look: Barth has built the Bearcats into a consistent winner and their next victory will be the school’s 100th. Senior Trey Hatmaker grew into the QB position after switching from wideout in a shortened preseason and has one of his primary targets back in fellow senior Trey Ferguson (507 yards, nine TDs). Leading rusher Jacob Gains (607 yards, 10 TDs) gives Barth “excellent size and speed at the RB position.”

Marquee matchup: Class A power Newport Central Catholic comes to town on Sept. 10.

9. West Carter

Head coach: Daniel Barker (fourth season).

Last year: 10-2. District 8 champs. Region champs. Lost 35-34 to Beechwood in the state semis.

Quick look: Junior quarterback Eli Estepp takes over an offense that generated more than 4,100 yards and 39.2 points per game. Leading receivers Jackson Bond (683 yards, 11 TDs) and Blake McGlone (394 yards, six TDs) return and Cole Crampton should get the bulk of the carries after the graduation of 2,000-yard rusher Leetavious Cline. Linebackers Isaac Bond and Sam Jones along with defensive end Sam Rayburn were among the team leaders in tackles and figure to anchor the defense.

Marquee matchup: Class A contender Raceland visits on Sept. 17.

10. Danville

Head coach: Mark Peach (first season).

Last year: 4-3. Lost 48-14 to Somerset in the first round.

Quick look: Peach most notably reached the Class 5A state finals with Anderson County in 2011 and made the state semis there two years later. He’ll be looking to rekindle that magic as he takes over in Title Town after the 11-time state champs fired Clay Clevenger in the offseason. The Admirals return leading rusher Caleb Burns, a senior who ran for 824 yards and nine TDs last season.

Marquee matchup: You can decide who you’re with when the Admirals go to Boyle County on Sept. 3.

Others receiving votes

(In order of votes received)

Caldwell County; Hancock County; Shelby Valley; Metcalfe County; Newport; Lloyd Memorial; Middlesboro; Carroll County; Fort Campbell; and Holy Cross (Covington).

Survey method: These rankings reflect the participation of coaches from 20 of the 40 Class 2A teams (50%). Every coach in the division was given the opportunity to participate in the @HLpreps annual survey emailed to their address listed on KHSAA.org. Multiple attempts were made to contact each coach.

This story was originally published August 10, 2021 at 6:00 AM.

Jared Peck

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-488-2883

Jared Peck, the Herald-Leader’s Digital Sports Writer, covers high school athletics and has been with the company as a writer and editor for more than 20 years. Support my work with a digital subscription