Looking at the past present and future of high school football in the Bluegrass State.
Staff Report
MaxPreps.com
Best Player: Jordan Whiting, Sr., LB, Trinity
It’s not really fair. The aggressive and strong 6-foot and 230-pounder is not only beastly but he can run the 100 meters in 11.1 seconds and the 40 in 4.71 seconds. Whiting is ranked the 53rd top recruit in the country by rivals.com and he’ll join arguably the state’s second-best recruit, Male (Louisville) senior DB Justin Green at Ohio State. Returning state leader - Passing: Zach Lewis (Clay County) 233 of 371, 3,866 yards and 32 TDs; Rushing: Jamie King (Murray) 263 rushes, 1,922 yards, 18 touchdowns.
Best All-Time Player: Paul Hornung, RB, Benedict Joseph Flaget
A standout at every level, Hornung is undoubtedly one of the game's undisputed greats. He excelled in every facet at Benecit Joseph Flaget before earning a ride to Notre Dame, where he was considered one of the best Golden Domers ever. The Packers made him the No. 1 selection of the 1957 NFL draft, he went on to win the 1961 NFL Most Valuable Player and earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2008 Must See: Trinity (Louisville) vs. St. Xavier (Louisville/Cincinnati)
It’s impossible not to pick this bitter rivalry game every season (see below) between the Kentucky powers — last season Trinity finished No. 17 nationally and St. Xavier No. 32 – but don’t forget Trinity also plays Ohio power St. Xavier, last year’s No. 2 team. The Trinity-St. Xavier Kentucky match-up is Oct. 3, while the Trinity-St. Xavier (Ohio) contest is Sept. 19.
On The Throne: Highlands (Fort Thomas)
The defending 5A champions went 15-0 last year, outscoring foes 610-153, including 219-40 in five playoff games. Ranked 14th nationally in the MaxPreps preseason poll, RB Josh Connor (1,719 yards, 28 TDs) returns as does All-State sophomore DB Austin Collinsworth. MLB Michael Laber returns to lead a stout defense.
Best Rivalry: Trinity (Louisville) vs. St. Xavier
Considered one of the top three rivalry games in the country, this one has drawn more than 30,000 fans for two straight decades. Last year was another classic season between national powers as St. Xavier captured the regular season contest 24-15 before Trinity got sweet revenge in the 6A state title game, 34-28. It was the seventh state crown in eight years for Trinity, which returns leading rusher Tim Phillips. St. Xavier returns just six starters this season, though one of them is All-State RB Rolandan Finch (1,555 yards, 15 STDs last season). The Male vs. Manual rivalry, which has lasted more than 125 years, would take the cake in most states, but not with Trinity-St. X dominating the landscape.
Future Star(s): QB Brandon Cresap (Shelby County)
Cresap filled in for injured Alex Matthews last year and threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns in his first game as a starter. Not bad for a freshman. He should put up some gaudy numbers as a sophomore in Shelby’s spread offense. Another sophomore Lamont McMurray probably won’t have such big numbers at St. Xavier because it has Finch at RB. But St. Xavier coach Mike Glaser thinks McMurray, who can play anywhere on the field, may be as good as anyone he’s ever coached, which is a mouthful.
Fun Fact
Three more highly-touted Kentucky prospects have already committed to the University of Kentucky – OL Larry Warford (Madison Central), RB Jarrell Greene (Dunbar) and WR LaRod King (North Hardin). … Warford already has NFL size at 6-4, 349. … King (6-6, 190) may also try out for Kentucky’s basketball team after averaging 20 ppg and 10 rpg for North Hardin’s hoop team last season.
MaxPreps Preseason All-State Team
WR - Jamarielle Brown, Lone Oak
WR - Ben Hartley, Lexington Christian
WR - LaRod King, North Hardin
TE - Jordan Aumiller, Boyle County
OL - Samuel Simpson, Henry Clay
OL - Chase Blackburn, Bryan Station
OL - Larry Warford, Madison Central
OL - Dominic Mainello, Beechwood
OL - Van Ingram, Elizabethtown
QB - Lucas Witt, Lexington Christian
QB - Zach Lewis, Clay County
RB - Spencer Greer, Bell County
RB - Jerrell Greene, Dunbar
RB - Deuce Finch, St. Xavier
Ath - Courtney Dalcourt, Franklin
K - Max Oldham, Bowling Green
DL - Mister Cobble, Central
DL - Ivan Lee, Belfry
DL - Trevor Foy, St. Xavier
DL - Roy Philon, Bryan Station
LB - Jordan Whiting, Trinity
LB - Mike Federspiel, Henry Clay
LB - Josh Carter, Fort Campbell
LB - Ridge Wilson, Central
LB - Joe Conlon, Tates Creek
DB - Austin Collinsworth, Highlands
DB - Yantae Williams, Owensboro
DB - Justin Green, Male
DB - Gary Demus, Lafayette
P - Ryan Johnson, DeSales
State Preview Video
