Herald-Leader Top 10: Kentucky Class 6A high school football preseason poll for 2022

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

Only once since the Kentucky High School Athletic Association bumped its high school football divisions up to six classes has a team outside Louisville claimed the Class 6A crown. Hello 2013 Scott County.

But how big is the gap between St. Xavier, Trinity and Male and the rest of the state? Maybe not as great as you think.

Madison Central led 21-7 over St. X in the second quarter and was up 21-14 at halftime in last year’s state semifinals on the Tigers’ home field. The Tigers ultimately won 31-21 and went on to defeat Male for the championship the next week at Kroger Field, but it wasn’t a cake walk.

To be sure, the Class 6A championship will be tough for anyone outside the 502 area code to claim. Louisville’s big three still run 1-2-3 in this year’s Herald-Leader @HLpreps preseason poll with defending champion St. X in the No. 1 spot, according to a vote of 6A coaches.

St. X received 15 No. 1 votes to No. 2 Trinity’s two and No. 3 Male’s six among the 24 coaches in the class voting in our survey. Pleasure Ridge Park got the other top nod but did not crack the top 10 overall.

Here are the preseason top 10 teams in Class 6A, the division for the largest schools in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, as voted on by coaches in the division.

1. St. Xavier

Head coach: Kevin Wallace (fourth season).

Last year: 14-1. State champions in 31-21 win over Male.

Quick look: The Tigers return a “quality defensive player at each level,” Wallace said. That includes Purdue commit Micah Carter, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound linebacker, who was sidelined by injury last season. Three of St. X’s five returning offensive starters are in the offensive line — Carter Guillaume (6-2, 245) Tommy Rosenbarger (6-4, 325) and Andrew Weikert (6-0, 270). Senior receivers Adam Boone and Jackson Campisano combined for more than 400 yards and five TDs in supporting roles. Junior running back Dontre Richardson started during the playoffs.

Marquee matchups: Aug. 19 vs. Owensboro; Aug. 26 vs. Central; Sept. 2 at Male; Sept. 23 vs. Trinity at Cardinal Stadium; Oct. 28 vs. Bowling Green..

2. Trinity

Head coach: Jay Cobb (second season).

Last year: 6-8. District and region champions. Lost 48-21 to Male in the state semifinals.

Quick look: Trinity’s ridiculous out-of-state schedule will offer clues early. If the Shamrocks beat the likes of Carmel, Ind., Cincinnati Moeller or La Salle, look out. Maybe duck, regardless. A losing record going into the playoffs is of no consequence for the Rocks as they proved last year. Senior tight end Noah Meyers (6-5, 221) had 415 yards and four TDs receiving in 2021 and just picked up an offer from Western Kentucky. Luke Sasser had 359 yards and three TDs rushing in a supporting role as a sophomore. Seven starters return on defense, including senior corner Cameron Wooten.

Marquee matchups: Aug. 26 at Cincinnati Moeller; Sept. 16 vs. Male; Sept. 23 vs. St. Xavier at Cardinal Stadium; Oct. 7 vs. Ballard.

3. Male

Head coach: Chris Wolfe (13th season).

Last year: 13-1. District and region champions. State runner-up in 31-21 loss to St. Xavier.

Quick look: Senior running back Daniel Swinney rushed for 1,659 yards and 29 TDs last year. Three-star junior wideout Max Gainey has already picked up an offer from Purdue after going for 571 yards and eight TDs last season. On defense, senior cornerback Deshaun Cooper led the team with four interceptions. The Bulldogs lost two highly touted defenders to out-of-state transfers — DB Jeremiah Collins (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and DL William Spencer (New Albany, Ind.).

Marquee matchups: Aug. 26 at Ballard; Sept. 2 vs. St. Xavier; Sept. 16 at Trinity; Oct. 28 vs. Manual.

4. Madison Central

Head coach: Mike Holcomb (second season).

Last year: 10-4. District and region champions. Lost 31-21 to St. Xavier in the state semifinals.

Quick look: Brady Hensley rushed for 1,804 yards and 31 TDs as a sophomore. Helping crack open those holes again this year will be Kentucky commit Malachi Wood, a 6-8, 280-pound tackle. Basketball standout Hagan Harrison proved a steady hand in his first season at quarterback. Jayden West led the receiving corps with 629 yards and four TDs. Only four starters return on defense, including linebacker Hayden Kiser and corner Brock Eads.

Marquee matchups: Aug. 19 vs. Lexington Christian; Aug. 26 vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 30 at Pikeville; Oct. 21 at Bryan Station.

5. Manual

Head coach: Donnie Stoner (first season).

Last year: 8-4. Lost to St. Xavier in the district finals.

Quick look: The Crimsons’ four defensive linemen all have at least two years of starts under their belt led by Marshall commit Ben Tshita, a 6-3, 250-pound defensive end. The O-line returns three starters and adds freshman David “Pancake” Pellman, a 6-3, 285-pound lineman just offered by Kentucky. Experience up front is good news for new quarterback Eli Creech, a 6-3 210-pound junior, and running backs Zah’ron “Zeek” Washburn, a sophomore, and Carlous Keene, a junior.

Marquee matchups: Aug. 19 at Central; Sept. 23 vs. Ballard; Oct. 7 at St. Xavier; Oct. 28 at Male.

6. Bryan Station

Head coach: Phillip Hawkins (third season).

Last year: 10-2. Lost 41-18 to Madison Central in district finals.

Quick look: On defense, DB JT Haskins, LB Jason Hocker and twin DEs Jahvon and Dahvon Frazier, all juniors, have Division I offers. Senior wideout Damin Green has one, too, and ranks as Station’s top returning receiver with 408 yards and seven TDs. Jeremiah Mundy-Loyd, a 6-1 195-pound senior, split carries last season for 616 yards and five TDs. Look out for Dahvon Frazier at 6-2, 215 pounds to join him in the backfield this year. Trenton Cutwright threw for 2,210 yards and 22 TDs as a sophomore after being away from the game since middle school.

Marquee matchups: Aug. 19 at Frederick Douglass; Aug. 27 at Boyle County; Sept. 9 at Scott County; Oct. 21 vs. Madison Central; Oct. 28 at Paul Laurence Dunbar.

7. Ryle

Head coach: Mike Engler (ninth season).

Last year: 9-4. District champions. Lost 38-18 to Trinity in the region finals.

Quick look: The Raiders retain their top offensive stat-stuffers at the skill positions, including wideout/safety Kaden Gardner, a 5-11, 175-pound senior with offers including Dayton whom Engler believes could contend for Mr. Football. Logan Verax threw for 2,395 yards and 18 TDs as a freshman, Junior Jayce Harden led a packed backfield with 540 yards and two TDs rushing and had 230 yards and three TDs receiving.

Marquee matchups: Aug. 19 at Lexington Catholic; Sept. 16 vs. Highlands; Sept. 30 at St. Xavier; Oct. 28 vs. Covington Catholic.

8. Ballard

Head coach: Adrian Morton (seventh season).

Last year: 8-4. Lost 40-0 to Trinity in district finals.

Quick look: The Bruins return 16 starters — nine on offense — including senior quarterback Tristen Hawkins, who threw for 1,915 yards and 20 TDs in 2021. Senior wideout Kameron Horton won a 110-meter hurdles state title in the offseason and is expected to be a primary target. Junior RBs William Elliott and Demari Edelen will benefit from a strong offensive line that includes Bryon Faith, a 6-4 310-pound senior with multiple offers. Senior linebackers Gavin Willis and Jamargues Frank combined for more than 150 tackles and seven sacks last year.

Marquee matchups: Aug. 19 vs. Hopkinsville; Aug. 26 vs. Male; Sept. 2 at South Oldham; Sept. 9 vs. Franklin County; Sept. 23 at Manual; Oct. 7 at Trinity; Oct. 21 at Scott County.

9. Bullitt East

Head coach: Keegan Kendrick (first season).

Last year: 8-4. Lost 56-8 to Male in the district finals.

Quick look: Coming off the Chargers’ best season since 2013, Bullitt East brings back a 2,600-yard passer, a 1,600-yard rusher and an 1,100-yard receiver among its 16 returning starters — most of them seniors. Travis Egan threw for 30 TDs in 2021, 19 of those to Nolan Davenport and another eight to Camron Brogan, who tallied 955 receiving yards. Mason Gauthier racked up 23 TDs amid all the yardage. Less experienced on defense with just six starters back, lineman Isaiah Hare, defensive back Braxton Joslin and linebacker Gabe Henderson are the top returning tacklers.

Marquee matchups: Aug. 26 vs. Spencer County; Sept. 30 vs. Danville; Oct. 21 vs. Male.

10. Paul Laurence Dunbar

Head coach: Wes Johnson.

Last year: 7-6. District champions. Lost 43-7 to Madison Central in region finals.

Quick look: If the Bulldogs are to win their third consecutive district title for the first time ever, Dunbar will need solid play from some young faces on the offensive line. Senior QB Cole Colony looks to improve on his dual-threat form of last season when he went for 1,289 yards and nine TDs passing to go with 847 yards and 12 TDs rushing. Senior DBs Justin Bayubahe, Jakobe Biggerstaff and senior LB Mayson Hayslett are Dunbar’s top returning defenders.

Marquee matchups: Aug. 26 at Madison Central; Sept. 2 vs. Woodford County; Sept. 9 at Frederick Douglass; Sept. 16 vs. Scott County; Oct. 28 vs. Bryan Station.

Others receiving votes

In order of votes received: Pleasure Ridge Park, North Hardin, Daviess County, Central Hardin, Henderson County, Simon Kenton, Dixie Heights, McCracken County, Apollo, Tates Creek, Fern Creek.

Survey method: These rankings reflect the participation of coaches from 24 of the 32 Class 6A teams (75%). 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 11, 2022 at 6:30 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