By Josh Claywell
MaxPreps.com
ÿ
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association voted last week to switch from four classes to six for football in the Bluegrass State.
ÿ
The change will take effect beginning with the 2007 season and is part of a big movement to get more teams in the playoffs. The number of teams making the playoffs will jump from 128 to 192.
ÿ
Earlier this month the governing body also voted to change the playoff format for football. Teams will now play teams within their own districts in each of the first two rounds instead of playing teams in other districts.
ÿ
The KHSAA proposed the change at its monthly meeting in July and sent it to teams for comments, suggestions and questions.
ÿ
Teams are allowed to play up a class, and 11 asked to do so. Six of them - Covington Catholic, Fort Thomas Highlands, Madisonville, McLean County, Russellville, and Somerset - were all approved to move up.
ÿ
Highlands, a perennial power in the current 3A year in and year out, will make a two-class jump to 5A. The Bluebirds lost to eventual state champion Lexington Catholic 17-0 in the state quarterfinals last season.
ÿ
Franklin County, an up-and-coming power in 3A, will move to 4A. The Flyers, led by senior quarterback and Kentucky Mr. Football candidate Kaelin Ammons, were moved to a district with powers Boyle County and Lexington Catholic. But since Covington Catholic will play up a class, the Flyers were moved to a district with Bourbon County, Harrison County and Pendleton County.
ÿ
The realignment, which will last two seasons, will have 20 four-team districts, 23 five-team districts, and five six-team districts. Four teams from each district make the playoffs.
ÿ
2007-2008 Realignment
ÿ
CLASS A
District 1 - Ballard Memorial, Crittenden Co., Fulton City, Fulton Co., Mayfield.
District 2 - Beth Haven, Bethlehem, Caverna, Louisville Evangel, Louisville Holy Cross, Louisville Kentucky Country Day.
District 3 - Beechwood, Bellevue, Dayton, Ludlow.
District 4 - Bracken Co., Eminence, Frankfort, Gallatin Co., Trimble Co.
District 5 - Fairview, Lexington Christian, Nicholas Co., Paris, Raceland.
District 6 - Berea, Campbellsville, Clinton Co., Lynn Camp, Williamsburg.
District 7 - Cumberland, Evarts, Harlan, Hazard, Jenkins, Pineville.
District 8 - Allen Central, Betsy Layne, Paintsville, Phelps, Pikeville, South Floyd.
ÿ
CLASS 2A
District 1 - Caldwell Co., Heath, Murray, Reidland, Trigg Co.
District 2 - Ft. Campbell, Hancock Co., Owensboro Catholic, Todd Central.
District 3 - Glasgow, Green Co., Metcalfe Co., Monroe Co.
District 4 - Bardstown, Danville, Fort Knox, Washington Co.
District 5 - Carroll Co., Christian Academy of Louisville, Louisville DeSales, Owen Co.
District 6 - Covington Holy Cross, Lloyd, Newport, Newport Central Catholic.
District 7 - Bath Co., Morgan Co., Prestonsburg, Shelby Valley.
District 8 - Corbin, Knott Central, Leslie Co., Middlesboro.
ÿ
CLASS 3A
District 1 - McLean Co., Muhlenberg South, Paducah Tilghman, Union Co., Webster Co.
District 2 - Adair Co., Butler Co., Edmonson Co., Hart Co., Russellville.
District 3 - Louisville Central, Elizabethtown, Louisville Moore, Louisville Shawnee.
District 4 - Henry Co., North Oldham, Spencer Co., Western Hills.
District 5 - Casey Co., Garrard Co., Jackson Co., Somerset, Taylor Co., Wayne Co.
District 6 - Breathitt Co., Cawood, Estill Co., Fleming Co., Powell Co.
District 7 - East Carter, Lewis Co., Mason Co., Russell, West Carter.
District 8 - Belfry, East Ridge, Magoffin Co., Pike Central, Sheldon Clark.
ÿ
CLASS 4A
District 1 - Calloway Co., Hopkins Central, Lone Oak, Muhlenberg North.
District 2 - Allen Co.-Scottsville, Franklin-Simpson, Logan Co., Russell Co., Warren East.
District 3 - Louisville Atherton, Breckinridge Co., Louisville Fairdale, Louisville Valley, Louisville Western
District 4 - Bullitt East, LaRue Co., Marion Co., North Bullitt.
District 5 - Bourbon Co., Franklin Co., Harrison Co., Pendleton Co.
District 6 - Boyle Co., East Jessamine, Lexington Catholic, West Jessamine.
District 7 - Bell Co., Knox Central, Madison Southern, McCreary Central, Rockcastle Co.
District 8 - Boyd Co., Greenup Co., Lawrence Co., Rowan Co.
ÿ
CLASS 5A
District 1 - Christian Co., Hopkinsville, Ohio Co., Owensboro.
District 2 - Barren Co., Bowling Green, Grayson Co., Warren Central.
District 3 - Louisville Doss, Louisville Iroquois, John Hardin, Louisville Waggener.
District 4 - Anderson Co., Grant Co., Jeffersontown, Oldham Co., South Oldham.
District 5 - Covington Catholic, Dixie Heights, Highlands, Holmes, Scott.
District 6 - Ashland Blazer, Lexington Bryan Station, Johnson Central, Montgomery Co., Woodford Co.
District 7 - Lincoln Co., Mercer Co., Pulaski Co., South Laurel, Pulaski Southwestern.
District 8 - Clay Co., Letcher Central, North Laurel, Perry Central, Whitley Co.
ÿ
CLASS 6A
District 1 - Owensboro Apollo, Daviess Co., Graves Co., Henderson Co., Madisonville, Marshall Co.
District 2 - Central Hardin, Bowling Green Greenwood, Meade Co., Nelson Co., North Hardin.
District 3 - Louisville Butler, Louisville Manual, Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park, Louisville St. Xavier.
District 4 - Bullitt Central, Louisville Fern Creek, Louisville Male, Louisville Southern.
District 5 - Louisville Ballard, Louisville Eastern, Louisville Seneca, Louisville Trinity.
District 6 - Boone Co., Campbell Co., Conner, Ryle, Simon Kenton.
District 7 - Lexington Henry Clay, Lexington Lafayette, Lexington Paul Dunbar, Lexington Tates Creek.
District 8 -- Clark Co., Harlan Consolidated, Madison Central, Scott Co., Shelby Co.