2025 Herald-Leader Top 10: Kentucky Class 2A high school football preseason poll

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.

Since moving up to Class 2A in 2019, Beechwood has become the dominant power in the division with four state titles in the last five years to pad its overall total to 18.

But the latest KHSAA reclassification brings a new perennial power into the 2A fray.

When Belfry last toured Class 2A in the early 2000s, it netted two state championships in seven years before bumping back to 3A, where it won its other six titles.

The Pirates make the journey back to the smaller-school level with longtime assistant Matt Varney at the helm after the tragic loss of the legendary Philip Haywood in a January car accident.

“Beechwood is always going to be there. They’re always good,” Varney said. “But you’ve got Mayfield and LCA, Owensboro Catholic and Somerset — some really good teams there. We’re used to the top-tier 3A with CAL (Christian Academy-Louisville) and Louisville Central … but your top tier in 2A is no different. They’re really good.”

Haywood’s presence is missed, Varney acknowledged. But when you played for a legend for four seasons and coached alongside him for 26 more, the lessons Haywood taught hold firm.

“We’re doing things the same way. We’re running the program the same way,” Varney said. “We have the same goals and expectations every year, and that’s not going to change. … We want to play hard and play physical and get after you every play.”

The Pirates rank No. 5 this preseason, according to our @HLpreps survey of coaches.

Who’s No. 1? Beechwood, of course, with 21 No. 1 votes to two each for No. 2 Mayfield and No. 3 Lexington Christian. No. 4 Owensboro Catholic, last season’s runner-up, and No. 9 Bracken County got one each.

Class 2A Top 10

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: Jay Volker (third season).

Last year: 14-1. State champions with 50-34 win over Owensboro Catholic.

Quick look: With much of last season’s offense graduated, the Tigers reload with junior transfer quarterback Emmett Queen, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound three-star recruit with an offer from Kentucky among other Division I schools. Louisville baseball commit Tyler Fryman (299 yards, 12 TDs receiving) should be his top target. Five starters return on defense, including senior linebacker Brody Aylor, who ranked third on the team in tackles (59) despite missing the last four games.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 29 vs. Newport Central Catholic (at Covington Catholic); Sept. 19 vs. Covington Catholic; Oct. 17 vs. Bracken County.

2. MAYFIELD

Head coach: Cliff Dew (second season).

Last year: 9-3. District champion. Lost 47-7 to Lexington Christian in the region finals.

Quick look: Seven starters return on both sides of the ball, including the top Cards at each skill position — QB Gray Robbins (1,971 yards, 21 TDs), RB Josiah England (1,568 yards, 17 TDs), both juniors, and senior wideouts Mak Hoover (733 yards, 8 TDs) and Malik Kirby (674 yards, 9 TDs). Kirby had a team-high six interceptions as a defensive back. Junior lineman Ethan Thompson is the top returning stat-stuffer on defense (63 tackles, 5 sacks).

Schedule highlights: Aug. 22 vs. Graves County; Sept. 5 at Paducah Tilghman; Oct. 31 vs. Central.

3. LEXINGTON CHRISTIAN

Head coach: Oakley Watkins (first season).

Last year: 11-3. District and region champs. Lost 44-24 to Beechwood in the state semifinals.

Quick look: Defense looks to be a strength, led by senior linebacker Mac Darland (79 tackles), who also took turns at running back last season (331 yards, 6 TDs). Sophomore linebacker Thomas Sizemore (67 tackles) has impressed scouts and garnered offers from UK and Marshall. The QB competition is between senior Carter Penix and sophomore Nash Whelan, who will have the 1,000-yard, nine TD combo of Sam Pearson and Tyler King as targets.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 30 at Boyle County; Sept. 5 at Christian Academy-Louisville; Sept. 19 vs. Lexington Catholic.

4. OWENSBORO CATHOLIC

Head coach: Jason Morris (seventh season).

Last year: 14-1. State runner-up; district and region champion.

Quick look: The Aces don’t aim to slip with Dre’mail Carothers, a 6-4, 190-pound junior with a UK offer stepping in at QB. Senior running back/linebacker Miles Edge (764 yards, 4 TDs rushing/99 tackles, 9 sacks) is among an evenly split 12 starters returning. Seniors Cameron Woodward and Xavier Maddox combined for more than 1,000 yards receiving and nine TDs in support roles last year.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 23 at Bowling Green; Sept. 12 at Owensboro; Sept. 19 vs. Bardstown; Oct. 31 vs. Elizabethtown.

5. BELFRY

Head coach: Matt Varney (first season).

Last year: 11-3. District and region champions. Lost 43-21 at Union County in the Class 3A state semifinals.

Quick look: Eighteen starters return, including senior QB Chase Varney, who begins his fourth season starting under center. Last season, he threw for 1,473 yards and 16 TDs in the Pirates’ deceptive option attack that produced 3,503 yards and 56 TDs rushing. Junior JB Woolum (870 yards, 16 TDs rushing, 531 yards, 6 TDs receiving) and senior Ace Caudill (553 yards, 11 TDs rushing) head up the offensive backfield. Senior defensive tackle Hunter Hylton led Belfry with 128 tackles and seven sacks.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 29 vs. Central; Sept. 5 vs. Johnson Central; Sept. 12 at Southwestern; Sept. 19 at Pikeville.

6. SOMERSET

Head coach: Clay Clevenger (third season).

Last year: 9-5. District and region champions. Lost 27-14 to Owensboro Catholic in the state semifinals.

Quick look: Eight offensive starters return, including senior running back Kris Hughes, 6-0, 190 pounds, who racked up 1,651 yards and 24 TDs to go with 308 yards receiving and three scores last season, and junior wideout Corban Cimala (768 yards, 4 TDs). The defense has a strong core with junior linebackers Jon Reynolds (127 tackles, 1 sack) and Austyn Lawless (100 tackles, 10 sacks) and senior end Jacob Bartley (94 tackles, 7 sacks).

Schedule highlights: Sept. 5 vs. Southwestern; Sept. 12 at Paris; Oct. 17 vs. Monroe County; Oct. 31 at Hazard.

7. BREATHITT COUNTY

Head coach: Kyle Moore (13th season).

Last year: 6-6.

Quick look: Like others on this list, the Bobcats have a ton of experience back too, including QB Miles Hollon (1,949 yards, 21 TDs passing) and RB Eli Thomas (920 yards, 14 TDs rushing, 341 yards, 2 TDs receiving), both juniors. Three of Breathitt’s top four tacklers return as well, led by Brayden Barnett (90 tackles), a four-year starter at linebacker.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 23 at Middlesboro; Sept. 12 at Hazard; Sept. 26 at Montgomery County; Oct. 17 at West Carter.

8. PRESTONSBURG

Head coach: Wes Hager (second season).

Last year: 11-2. District champion. Lost to Somerset in the region finals.

Quick look: Hager, in his second season at his alma mater, has beefed up his front lines, literally. He estimates they’ve gained 80 pounds per player in the trenches this year. That should boost a Blackcats rushing offense that tallied nearly 4,000 yards and 26 TDs last season. Junior transfer Alex Johnson takes over at QB. Colin Hatfield should improve on the 429 yards and four TDs he had in a support role last year. Linebackers Logan Stumbo (158 tackles, 2 sacks) and Maddox Pugh (140 tackles, 2 sacks) lead the defense.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 30 vs. Shelby Valley (at Pikeville); Sept. 5 vs. Hazard; Oct. 17 vs. Leslie County; Oct. 24 vs. Martin County.

9. BRACKEN COUNTY

Head coach: Steven Tarter (third season).

Last year: 9-3.

Quick look: Coach Tarter expects this year’s squad “to be the best team that Bracken County has ever seen.” Daulton Tarter rushed for 2,083 yards and 32 TDs as a junior and should benefit from Division I prospect Jackson Whitten’s move to the offensive line since the ex-QB checks in at 6-4, 265 pounds. Whitten also led the team in sacks last year with 9.5 to go with 82 tackles. Senior Greg Benedict takes over full-time at QB and is the team’s leading returning tackler (107).

Schedule highlights: Aug. 22 vs. Mason County; Sept. 19 vs. Sayre; Sept. 26 vs. Walton-Verona; Oct. 24 at Beechwood.

10. MONROE COUNTY

Head coach: John Petett (18th season).

Last year: 7-6. District champions. Lost 42-14 to Owensboro Catholic in the region finals.

Quick look: Senior tailback Brayden Baxter neared 1,200 yards rushing with 16 TDs while also playing linebacker with 41 tackles and a team-high three interceptions. He’ll have an experienced offensive line in front, but a young defense will have to develop around him and fellow senior linebacker Caden Geralds, who led the team with 76 tackles.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 29 at Allen County-Scottsville; Sept. 5 at Glasgow; Sept. 12 vs. Barren County; Oct. 2 vs. Campbellsville; Oct. 17 at Somerset.

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES

In order of votes received: Caldwell County, Hancock County, Todd County Central, Trigg County, McLean County, Washington County, Walton-Verona, WEB DuBois, Knott County Central, Martin County, Pike County Central, Shelby Valley, Gallatin County, Betsy Layne, Danville, Crittenden County, Clinton County, Fort Campbell.

Survey method: These rankings reflect the participation of coaches from 28 of the 40 Class 2A teams eligible for postseason play (70%). Every coach in the division was given the opportunity to participate in the @HLpreps annual survey via email. Multiple attempts were made to contact each coach.

This story was originally published August 12, 2025 at 7:00 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