The top 10 high school football teams in each of Kentucky’s six classes

School

2016 record

Something to know

1. Beechwood

14-1 (champs)

Tigers return 7 offensive, 8 defensive starters from last year’s title squad

2. Hazard

12-3

Cory Smith was 95 yards shy of a 3,000-yard rushing season as a junior

3. Kentucky Country Day

10-3

Senior tight end Josh Lifson committed to Air Force late last month

4. Paintsville

13-1

Paintsville’s recently renovated locker room is among the sharpest in the state

5. Russellville

12-2

Panthers have had just one losing record under John Myers (his first season in 2004)

6. Pikeville

10-3

Quarterback Wyatt Battaile decided to forego his senior season on the football field

7. Louisville Holy Cross

7-5

College-level linebacker Mario Convenuto also rushed for 1,100 yards last year

8. Raceland

10-3

Fifteen seniors graduated from last year’s edition of the Rams

9. Bracken County

8-3

Several key players return from team that put together a historic season in 2016

10. Paris

5-6

Sixth-year coach Brian Washington suffered his first losing season last year

School

2016 record

Something to know

1. Louisville Christian

14-1 (champs)

Two-way junior star Milton Wright holds offers from UK, Louisville

2. Mayfield

13-1

Strong line and deep receiving corp should have Cards back in title hunt

3. DeSales

10-3

Former Central head coach Ty Scroggins is now an assistant here

4. Danville

12-3

Ads lost prolific passer Zach Dampier but return leading rusher Don Harris

5. Lexington Christian

12-1

Workhorse Dillon Wheatley is among state’s most underrated college propsects

6. Owensboro Catholic

11-2

Aces have three straight seasons with 10 or more wins

7. Newport Central Catholic

7-6

Junior Kyle Kelly led team in rushing (821 yards, 14 TDs) last season

8. Somerset

7-5

Briar Jumpers haven’t reached regional since 2013

9. Covington Holy Cross

10-4

Indians had first winning season since 2011 last year

10. Glasgow

8-3

Junior lineman Tanner Bowles’ offers include UK, LSU, Louisville

School

2016 record

Something to know

1. Belfry

14-1 (champs)

Pirates last year became sixth program to win at least four straight titles

2. Corbin

12-2

Belfry ended the Redhounds’ season each of the last two years

3. Lexington Catholic

7-6

The Knights host Lafayette and travel to LCA in back-to-back weeks

4. Boyle County

7-5

Sophomore Reese Smith a difference-maker on both sides

5. Elizabethtown

10-4

Panthers won region title with only 28 varsity players last year

6. Central

9-6

Championship-level program welcomes new coach Marvin Dantzler

7. Caldwell County

8-5

Star QB Shane Burns forgoing senior season to focus on baseball

8. Russell

10-2

The Red Devils’ last opponent the last three seasons was Belfry

9. Garrard County

5-6

Senior linebacker Josh Warren had 85 tackles last year as a junior

10. Western Hills

7-4

Wolverines seek first back-to-back winning seasons since 2008-2009

School

2016 record

Something to know

1. Johnson Central

14-1 (champs)

Golden Eagles brought school its first team title ever last December

2. Franklin-Simpson

14-1

Wildcats went undefeated ... until last year’s finals in Bowling Green

3. Wayne County

11-3

Cards should get strong tests early from Pulaski County and Boyle County

4. Hopkinsville

10-2

Incumbent QB Jalen Johnson transferred to a Louisville basketball prep school

5. Ashland Blazer

9-4

Leading passer, rusher Braxton Ratliff returns for 2016 region finalist

6. Shelby County

11-2

All the Rockets’ wins were part of a streak beginning their second game last year

7. Collins

7-5

Nesean Roseberry could become school’s all-time leading rusher this season

8. John Hardin

9-5

Former Western Hills coach Chris Engstrand now at the Bulldogs’ helm

9. Franklin County

4-7

Junior Tre Simmons will be a go-to receiving threat and run the ball a bit

10. Spencer County

8-4

Linebacker Kadin Smith (Purdue) is the program’s first Power Five commit, ever

School

2016 record

Something to know

1. Bowling Green

15-0 (champs)

Purples have won 27 straight games coming into this season

2. Christian County

9-3

Kolbe Langhi (2,425 yards, 23 TDs) is among state’s best returning passers

3. Fern Creek

11-3

Tigers’ 28 seniors this year are the most in program history

4. South Warren

9-4

Junior linebacker Jacob Lacey recently committed to Notre Dame

5. Pulaski County

12-3

Lineman Zack Ferris (Marshall) is Maroons’ first FBS-level recruit in history

6. Owensboro

10-3

Red Devils lost to eventual champs across two classes the last four years

7. Covington Catholic

9-4

Permanent lights have been installed heading into team’s 50th anniversary

8. Doss

6-6

Star receiver Terez Traynor sidelined for most of season with a broken leg

9. Highlands

3-8

Last year was program’s first losing season since 1955

10. South Oldham

12-2

Dragons advanced to state semifinals for the first time in 2016

School

2016 record

Something to know

1. Trinity

15-0 (champs)

Rocks haven’t lost to an in-state team outside of Louisville since 2004 (Dixie Heights)

2. St. Xavier

10-4

Trinity, whom they couldn’t meet until finals, ended Tigers’ season last three years

3. Scott County

11-3

Cardinals haven’t lost a district game since the 2014 regular season

4. Male

10-3

Bulldogs reached at least the regional round three of the last four seasons

5. Pleasure Ridge Park

7-5

Cornerback/receiver Shannon Bishop committed to WKU in July

6. Simon Kenton

11-2

Pioneers’ first three games — Meade County, Bryan Station, Conner — are on the road

7. Lafayette

13-2

Senior-to-be Cameron Morgan led Generals in rushing (1,627 yards) in 2016

8. Manual

9-3

Only Male, St. X and Trinity have beaten Crimsons the last four years

9. Ryle

12-1

Bruising rusher Jake Chisholm should be in Mr. Football mix

10. McCracken County

7-4

Marc Clark is program’s third coach in fifth year of existence