Kentucky high school football: Top teams, games, players and prospects ahead of 2020 season

The Labor Day weekend is over and three more states kick off their seasons. Kentucky is among those with teams taking the field as early as Thursday. As things stand, the postseason is set to begin Nov. 13 with championship games scheduled for Dec. 11-12.

Kentucky is one of 35 states planning to play football this fall. Fifteen others plus the District of Columbia have moved their respective seasons to 2021.

In Kentucky, a total of 123 games are set to kick off Thursday through Saturday.

In advance of season openers, here's a look at what you need to know about Kentucky football in 2020.
Top games

Male (Louisville) at Trinity (Louisville), Sept. 18
North Hardin (Radcliff) at Belfry, Oct. 9
Belfry at Johnson Central (Paintsville), Oct. 30
DuPont Manual (Louisville) at Male (Louisville), Oct. 30
Bowling Green at Trinity (Louisville), Oct. 30



Top teams

1. Trinity (Louisville)
2. Covington Catholic (Park Hills)
3. Frederick Douglass (Lexington)
4. North Hardin (Radcliff)
5. Male (Louisville)

Defending champions

6A: Trinity (Louisville)
5A: Covington Catholic (Park Hills)
4A: Johnson Central (Paintsville)
3A: Belfry
2A: Somerset
1A: Pikeville

Top recruits
National ranking per 247Sports in parenthesis

1. Jager Burton, G, Frederick Douglass (Lexington), (125)
2. Jantzen Dunn, S, South Warren (Bowling Green), (192)
3. Dekel Crowdus, WR, Frederick Douglass (Lexington), (246)
4. Jordan Dingle, TE, Bowling Green, (447)
5. Jordan Lovett, S, North Hardin (Radcliff)

Returning stat leaders

Passing
Adrian Stringer, Hopkins County Central (Madisonville) | 191-368 (52%), 2,459 yds., 19 TD
John Ben Brown, Graves County (Mayfield) | 147-279 (53%), 2,079 yds., 22 TD

Rushing
Azariah Israel, George Rogers Clark (Winchester) | 287 car., 2,346 yds., 28 TD
Clint McKee, Graves County (Mayfield) | 203 car., 1,134 yds., 7 TD



Receiving
Brandon McClendon, Jr., Holy Cross (Covington) | 46 rec., 1,118 yds, 9 TD
Braden Mundy, Owensboro Catholic (Owensboro) | 54 rec., 1,080 yds, 7 TD