2025 Herald-Leader Top 10: Kentucky Class 5A high school football preseason poll

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

Kentucky high school football’s Class 5A has some familiar names at the top of the Herald-Leader’s preseason rankings. That includes No. 1 Bowling Green, the back-to-back defending state champions.

But the latest realignment based on enrollment by the KHSAA has moved the Purples traditional district rival and three-time state champion South Warren up to Class 6A this season and dropped northern Kentucky’s Highlands, a 16-time state champion, down to Class 4A.

That has left some openings in the rankings that have been filled by a stacked 6th District, which features No. 3 Scott County, No. 4 Woodford County, No. 9 South Oldham and No. 10 Collins thanks to coaches who voted in our annual @HLpreps preseason survey.

“If you look at each school, all of them have at least one Division I player and all of the towns have long-standing football traditions,” said Scott County coach Jim McKee, who led his Cardinals to the Class 6A title in 2013, the school’s second state title. “Versailles won the Class A title in 1962, South Oldham had Donnell Gordon (the 1992 Paul Hornung Award winner who went on to play at Kentucky and Louisville). … Collins won Class 4A in 2013. So, it speaks of great tradition over many years.”

Of course, No. 6 Pulaski County and neighboring No. 9 Southwestern also hail from the same district.

It’s going to get tight in October.

Meanwhile, No. 2 Cooper looks to make a third straight state finals and change its luck against the Purples over whomever is on the other side at Kroger Field come December. With 13 starters back, including Western Kentucky commit Cam O’Hara at quarterback, the Jags rate a fair chance.

“The Jags have many reasons to be optimistic about their Friday nights in 2025,” Borchers wrote for our survey.

2025 Class 5A top 10

Here are the preseason top 10 teams in Class 5A as voted on by coaches in the division.

1. BOWLING GREEN

Head coach: Mark Spader (eighth season).

Last year: 13-2. State champions with 37-20 win over Cooper.

Quick look: Trevy Barber, a 5-9 senior, could cap a sensational career by breaking almost all of Bowling Green’s receiving marks (most held by 2014 Mr. Football Nacarius Fant). He caught for 1,327 yards with 22 TDs last season. Senior RB Jaxen Smith led Bowling Green’s backfield committee with 522 yards and seven TDs. The defense features senior leaders Montez Trussell (121 tackles, 27.5 tackles, 16 sacks) and Malik Coburn (92 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 9.5 sacks).

Schedule highlights: Aug. 23 vs. Owensboro Catholic; Aug. 29 vs. St. Xavier; Sept. 5 at Scott County; Sept. 12 at South Warren; Sept. 26 at Christian Academy-Louisville; Oct. 17 vs. Greenwood; Oct. 31 at Franklin County.

2. COOPER

Head coach: Randy Borchers (18th season).

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

Quick look: The Jaguars’ top two playmakers return, including Cam O’Hara, who threw for 3,617 yards and 52 TDs last season and is a prime candidate for Mr. Football. Senior RB Keagan Maher rushed for 1,433 yards and 22 TDs in an offense that returns seven starters. Senior defensive back Ryker Campbell (102 tackles, 8 interceptions) is expected to become a primary target in the receiving corps, as well.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 29 vs. Highlands; Sept. 5 at Ryle; Sept. 19 vs. Manual; Sept. 26 vs. Conner; Oct. 3 at Dixie Heights; Oct. 31 at Simon Kenton.

3. SCOTT COUNTY

Head coach: Jim McKee (29th season).

Last year: 6-6. Lost 45-20 to Cooper in the second round.

Quick look: Junior halfback Timmy Emongo has displayed big-play ability and has multiple DI offers, including Kentucky and Louisville. The Cards get back another highly recruited junior in Ju Ju Harmon, a two-way player on his second stint in Georgetown after a season at Western Hills. Scott County had trouble with high-powered offenses in 2024 but returns senior DB Asher Brewer, its top tackler (63) and pass defender (7 interceptions).

Schedule highlights: Aug. 29 at Great Crossing; Sept. 5 vs. Bowling Green; Sept. 19 vs. Madison Central; Sept. 26 vs. Collins; Oct. 10 at South Oldham; Oct. 17 at Woodford County; Oct. 25 at Highlands.

4. WOODFORD COUNTY

Head coach: Dennis Johnson (11th season).

Last year: 10-2. District champion. Lost 55-38 to Highlands in the second round.

Quick look: The Yellow Jackets have a pair of eye-catching junior offensive linemen in 6-3, 310-pound, three-star recruit Justyn Perez and 6-6, 290-pound, two-year starter Carson Bugg. That should ease the return of three junior playmakers from injury — three-star recruit Jordan Holman, Darrian Tomlin and Omari Jointer. The defense includes another three-star, junior linebacker Justyn Perez, and Josiah McKee, a 6-4 sophomore defensive end who already has UK’s attention.

Schedule highlights: Sept. 5 vs. Great Crossing; Oct. 3 vs. South Oldham; Oct. 10 at Collins; Oct. 17 vs. Scott County; Oct. 30 .

5. OWENSBORO

Head coach: DaMarcus Ganaway Sr. (first season).

Last year: 8-4. District champion. Lost 27-14 to Bowlin Green in second round.

Quick look: Senior running back Evan Hampton, a Vanderbilt commit who rushed for 1,549 yards and 20 TDs in 2024, is a legit Mr. Football candidate. Eli Hampton, a senior, and Ty Ashley, a junior, return at linebacker as the team’s top tacklers. Ganaway, a former Kentucky Wesleyan player and a head coach at Ohio County for three seasons, takes over the tradition-rich Red Devils and brings along his son, DaMarcus Ganaway Jr., at quarterback.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 22 at St. Xavier; Aug. 29 vs. Christian Academy-Louisville; Sept. 12 vs. Owensboro Catholic; Sept. 26 at Apollo; Oct. 24 at Madisonville; Oct. 31 vs. Henderson County.

6. PULASKI COUNTY

Head coach: Travis Burns (second season).

Last year: 8-5. District champion. Lost 42-18 to Highlands in the region finals.

Quick look: The Maroons bring back 12 starters back, including senior QB Zak Anderson (1,897 yards, 22 TDs passing) and junior RB Kasen Brock (1,444 yards, 21 TDs rushing; 417 yards, 5 TDs receiving). Senior defensive end Kolten Cain (66 tackles) and junior linebacker Cohen Finley (65 tackles) lead the defense.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 30 vs. Bryan Station (at Boyle County); Sept. 5 at North Hardin; Sept. 12 vs. Corbin; Sept. 19 at Johnson Central; Sept. 26 vs. South Warren; Oct. 24 vs. Southwestern; Oct. 31 at Bell County.

7. ATHERTON

Head coach: Anthony White (seventh season).

Last year: 10-3. District champion. Lost 44-20 to Bowling Green in the region finals.

Quick look: The Ravens add Garyon Hobbs, a 6-0, 200-pound, three-star junior who is listed as a defensive back, but played offense, too, for Class 3A champion Christian Academy-Louisville last season. Central transfer Zai’Vion Meads, a 6-3, 275-pound junior defensive lineman, has 10 DI offers, including UK. Then there’s sophomore Grayden Reid, a 6-3, 190-pound defensive back on the radar of 16 colleges, including Alabama.

Schedule highlights: Sept. 5 at Mercer County; Sept. 12 vs. Manual; Oct. 10 vs. Butler; Oct. 31 at North Oldham.

8. SOUTHWESTERN

Head coach: Jason Foley (seventh season).

Last year: 7-6. Lost 56-15 to Cooper in the region finals.

Quick look: The Warriors lack experience at their skill positions but look solid up front with an O-line that includes Deven Leclercq, a 6-0, 290-pound senior, and Kaden Campbell, a 6-4, 285-pound junior. Foley expects running back/linebacker Jordan Lewis and quarterback Zach Benedict to have breakout junior seasons.

Schedule highlights: Sept. 5 at Somerset; Sept. 12 vs. Belfry; Sept. 19 at Mercer County; Oct. 3 vs. Pikeville; Oct. 24 at Pulaski County; Oct. 30 at Rockcastle County.

9. SOUTH OLDHAM

Head coach: Cain Sams (third season).

Last year: 7-4. Lost 56-28 to Cooper in the first round.

Quick look: Sam Dawson, a 6-4, 295-pound three-star defensive lineman committed to Louisville, headlines a defense that returns five starters. That includes Blake Dickamore, a senior linebacker who notched 78 tackles and six sacks, best among those back. Junior Julian Miles takes over at QB. Fellow junior Evan Hickerson rushed for 273 yards and five TDs in a support role.

Schedule highlights: Sept. 5 at Tates Creek; Sept. 12 at North Oldham; Sept. 19 vs. Oldham County; Oct. 3 at Woodford County; Oct. 10 vs. Scott County; Oct. 24 vs. Collins; Oct. 31 vs. Bryan Station.

10. COLLINS

Head coach: Jerry Lucas (16th season).

Last year: 5-6. Lost 45-0 to Highlands in the first round.

Quick look: With 10 starters back on offense led by dual-threat junior quarterback Kade Goodin, the Titans could be dangerous. Goodin passed for 2,189 yards and 22 TDs and rushed for 861 yards and 13 scores. Senior defensive back A’Davion Dale rates as a three-star recruit and will play on both sides of the ball, as will fellow senior DB DaJari Hardy.

Schedule highlights: Aug. 29 vs. Spencer County; Sept. 5 vs. Shelby County; Sept. 26 at Scott County; Oct. 10 vs. Woodford County; Oct. 24 at South Oldham.

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES

In order of votes received: Conner, Graves County, Madisonville, Greenwood, North Laurel, North Bullitt, Grayson County, Apollo, Warren Central, Butler, Boone County, Montgomery County, West Jessamine, Bullitt Central, Dixie Heights, Barren County, East Jessamine.

Survey method: These rankings reflect the participation of coaches from 29 of the 38 Class 5A teams eligible for postseason play (76.3%). 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 18, 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