Top players and predictions for this week’s high school football state championships
The 2024 UK Sports Medicine State Football Finals kicks off six state championships over two days beginning at noon Friday when the lone Lexington team, Sayre, takes on Raceland at Kroger Field.
Here’s a look at this week’s entire state finals slate in the order of their kickoffs along with a few details and a glance at which teams might have a Mr. Football candidate(s).
The Mr. Football award for the state’s most outstanding senior is chosen by the Kentucky Football Coaches Association and is typically announced sometime after all the finals have been played.
I’ve also included my picks. I was 9-3 last week.
Class A
No. 2 Sayre (14-0) vs. No. 4 Raceland (10-4).
Kickoff: Noon Friday.
Championship game history: Sayre — first appearance; Raceland — Three finals appearances, runner-up to Pikeville each of the last two years.
Class A offensive ranks: Sayre, No. 1 (44.4 points per game); Raceland, No. 11 (31).
Class A defensive ranks: Sayre, No. 1 (5.6); Raceland, No. 3 (12.4).
Mr. Football watch: The Spartans have a couple of long-shot candidates in quarterback Luke Pennington (2,730 yards, 50 TDs passing; 85 yards, 5 TDs rushing) and wideout/defensive back Brock Coffman (1,387 yards, 24 TDs receiving; 3 punt return TDs, 67 tackles, 5 interceptions).
Other standouts: Sayre — Charlie Slabaugh, Sr., RB/LB (827 yards, 12 TDs rushing; 163 yards, 4 TDs receiving; 93 tackles, 1 sack) Raceland — Jacob Waller, So. QB/K (1,399 yards, 11 TDs passing; 135 yards, 3 TDs rushing); Shannon Marushi, Jr. RB/LB (574 yards, 11 TDs rushing); Linden Sammons, Sr. TE/DE (80 tackles, 9 sacks).
@HLpreps pick: Sayre.
Class 2A
No. 1 Owensboro Catholic (14-0) vs. No. 3 Beechwood (12-2).
Kickoff: 4 p.m. Friday.
Championship game history: Owensboro Catholic — Five finals appearances, including last year. Beechwood — 17 state titles in 23 finals appearances.
Class 2A offensive ranks: Owensboro Catholic, No. 2 (45.9); Beechwood, No. 1 (46.8).
Class 2A defensive ranks: Owensboro Catholic, No. 1 (9.9); Beechwood, No. 3 (14.6).
Mr. Football watch: Owensboro Catholic quarterback Brady Atwell (3,406 yards, 47 TDs passing; 563 yards, 18 TDs rushing) is a Western Kentucky baseball commit. For his career, he has thrown for 11,271 yards and 151 TDs and rushed for 1,967 yards and 46 TDs. Beechwood QB Clay Hayden (2,808 yards, 46 TDs passing) has been a three-year starter for the Tigers. He’s thrown for 8,709 yards and 117 TDs in his career.
Other standouts: Owensboro Catholic — Waryn Ebelhar, Sr., WR (1,131, 13 TDs receiving); Dereon Crowe, Sr., WR (901 yards, 21 TDs receiving). Beechwood — Chase Flaherty, Sr., RB (1,381 yards, 26 TDs rushing); James Cusick, Sr., WR/DB (943 yards, 14 TDs receiving).
@HLpreps pick: Owensboro Catholic.
Class 4A
No. 2 Franklin County (13-0) vs. No. 3 Paducah Tilghman (14-0).
Kickoff: 8 p.m. Friday.
Championship game history: Franklin County — 2020 Class 4A runner-up; Tilghman — 3 state titles in nine finals appearances.
Class 4A offensive ranks: Franklin County, No. 7 (39.6); Tilghman, No. 1 (49.3).
Class 4A defensive ranks: Franklin County, No. 2 (10.2); Tilghman, No. 1 (9.1).
Mr. Football watch: Tilghman QB Jack James (3,781 yards, 56 TDs passing) is a Troy State commit who has broken two state records and is on the verge of two more. James owns the career passing TD mark with 180, surpassing the previous mark by 36 going into Friday. He also has the most career passing attempts (1,532). He is six completions from breaking the career completions record (947) and 2 yards from breaking the career yardage record (13,642).
Other standouts: Franklin County — Knox Barrett, Fr., QB (1,172 yards, 16 TDs passing); Jayquan Crawford, Jr., RB (426 yards, 7 TDs); Jacob Taylor, Jr., WR (342 yards, 7 TDs). Tilghman — Demarkus Wilson, Jr., RB (823 yards, 11 TDs rushing); Joshua Campbell, Sr., WR (609 yards, 16 TDs receiving).
Notes: Tilghman’s Martels Carter, Sr. WR/DB, is a four-star Kentucky signee. Franklin County’s leading rusher, Christian Moore, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the last game of the regular season.
@HLpreps pick: Paducah Tilghman.
Class 3A
No. 1 Christian Academy-Louisville (11-3) vs. No. 5 Union County (12-2).
Kickoff: Noon Saturday.
Championship game history: CAL — Four state titles in four finals appearances, including the last two in a row; Union County — First finals appearance.
Class 3A offensive ranks: CAL, No. 1 (39.2); Union County, No. 3 (37.4).
Class 3A defensive ranks: CAL, No. 6 (15.4); Union County, No. 8 (16).
Mr. Football watch: Before CAL’s Connor Hodge (3,434 yards, 38 TDs passing; 847 yards, 15 TDs rushing) took over quarterback duties, the East Carolina commit was a first team all-state defensive back as a junior. Union County QB Jarren Johnson (2,533 yards, 43 TDs rushing; 629 yards, 6 TDs passing) has topped 2,000 yards rushing each of the last two seasons. He also has 46 tackles on defense.
Other standouts: CAL — Darwin Cotton, Sr., WR (1,346 yards, 20 TDs receiving); JaHyde Brown So., WR (488 yards, 5 TDs receiving); Garyon Hobbs, So., RB/DB (341 yards, 2 TDs rushing; 185 yards, 3 TDs receiving, 72 tackles). Union County — Abreyan Fletcher, Jr. RB (605 yards, 7 TDs rushing); Amare Black, Sr., DE (99 tackles, 4.5 sacks); Kamden Davis, Sr., DE (72 tackles, 9 sacks).
@HLpreps pick: CAL.
Class 6A
No. 2 Ryle (12-2) vs. No. 3 Trinity (Louisville) (12-2).
Kickoff: 4 p.m. Saturday.
Championship game history: Ryle — Second state finals appearance (2006); Trinity — 28 titles in 32 appearances, the most, regardless of class.
Class 6A offensive ranks: Ryle, No. 3 (34.9); Trinity, No. 9 (29.1).
Class 6A defensive ranks: Ryle, No. 3 (15.2); Trinity, No. 1 (9.4).
Mr. Football watch: Trinity WR Jeremiah Lynn (519 yards, 5 TDs receiving) could be a long-shot candidate as the Rocks’ top receiver each of the last three seasons.
Other standouts: Ryle — Nathan Verax, Jr. QB (2,105 yards, 27 TDs passing; 627 yards, 7 TDs rushing); Jacob Savage, Jr. RB/LB (1,006 yards, 22 TDs rushing; 305 yards, 4 TDs receiving, 134 tackles, 3 sacks); Landon Lorms, Sr., WR (811 yards, 11 TDs receiving). Trinity — Zane Johnson, So. QB (1,806 yards, 16 TDs passing); RB Christopher Wilson (762 yards, 8 TDs rushing); Jamaurion Berry, So., RB (699 yards, 10 TDs rushing); Bailey Vance, Sr., DE (51 tackles, 8.5 sacks).
Notes: Trinity kicker Carson Hilbert kicked a school-record 55-yard field goal against Ballard two weeks ago. He’s a Louisville commit.
@HLpreps pick: Trinity.
Class 5A
No. 1 Cooper (14-0) vs. No. 5 Bowling Green (12-2).
Kickoff: 8 p.m. Friday.
Championship game history: Cooper — Two state finals appearances, including last season; Bowling Green — Eight state titles, including last season, in 13 finals appearances.
Class 5A offensive ranks: Cooper, No. 1 (46); Bowling Green, No. 4 (37.6).
Class 5A defensive ranks: Cooper, No. 3 (15.4); Bowling Green, No. 4 (15.8).
Mr. Football watch: Bowling Green quarterback and Missouri State commit Deuce Bailey (3,033 yards, 45 TDs passing; 343 yards, 2 TDs rushing) earned championship game MVP honors last season. If he does so again, he’ll have a strong case. He has 10,786 yards and 130 TDs passing for his career. Cooper TE/DE Austin Alexander (677 yards, 12 TDs receiving, 48 tackles, 12 sacks) is a North Carolina commit who earned first team all-state honors last season.
Other standouts: Cooper — Cam O’Hara, Jr. QB (3,355 yards, 49 TDs passing; 190 yards, 4 TDs rushing); Keagan Maher, Jr., RB (1,433 yards, 22 TDs rushing); Isaiah Johnson, Sr., WR (1,209 yards, 23 TDs receiving). Bowling Green — Trevy Barber, Jr., WR (1,222 yards, 22 TDs receiving); Montez Trussell, Jr., LB (115 tackles, 15 sacks); Brandon Gurley, Sr., DE (73 tackles, 10 sacks).
Notes: Bowling Green defeated Cooper 28-14 in last season’s title game.
@HLpreps pick: Cooper.
KHSAA STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Kroger Field in Lexington
FRIDAY’S FINALS
Class A: No. 2 Sayre (14-0) vs. No. 4 Raceland (10-4), noon.
Class 2A: No. 1 Owensboro Catholic (14-0) vs. No. 3 Beechwood (12-2), 4 p.m.
Class 4A: No. 2 Franklin County (13-0) vs. No. 3 Paducah Tilghman (14-0), 8 p.m.
SATURDAYS FINALS
Class 3A: No. 1 Christian Academy-Louisville (11-3) vs. No. 5 Union County (12-2), noon.
Class 6A: No. 2 Ryle (12-2) vs. No. 3 Trinity (Louisville) (12-2), 4 p.m.
Class 5A: No. 1 Cooper (14-0) vs. No. 5 Bowling Green (12-2), 8 p.m.
TICKETS
Available online at KHSAA.org.
VIDEO BROADCASTS
There are two options to watch the video stream of this week’s games:
Subscription service: Video coverage of every state championship game will be available through KHSAA.tv as part of the NFHS Network, which requires a subscription. The NFHS Network currently offers two subscription options — a monthly pass for $10.99 that will renew automatically, but can be canceled anytime and a $69.99 annual subscription that will renew automatically until canceled. A subscription also grants users access to games aired by the NFHS Network from other states. Click here to purchase an NFHS Network subscription.
Pay per view: PrepSpin.com will also be offering HD streaming of individual games at a cost of $14.95 per game on its streaming website go.prepspin.com and its app, available in most app stores, including Roku, FireTV and AppleTV.
AUDIO BROADCASTS
Streaming audio: Audio coverage of every state championship game will be provided freely by the KHSAA through mixlr.com/khsaa/events/. The Mixlr app is available in most app stores.
LIVE STATS
Live statistical updates of every state championship game will be provided freely by the KHSAA through Stat Broadcast.
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 1:08 PM.
