📰 HEADLINES
🏈 Kentucky’s 48 District Champs: Part 3
🏈 Three Points with … Lawrence County head coach Alan Short
🏐 Region championship results
🏈 Thursday’s scores
🏈 Friday’s schedule
🔗 Links
🏈 OUR 48 CHAMPS: PART 3
Every district champion has been decided … almost. Technically, 47 of the 48 crowns have been handed out; Friday night’s outcomes will technically determine District 1 in Class 6A, but it’s more or less settled. Let’s finish spotlighting all of Kentucky’s 2026 champions!
Today: Class 5A, Class 6A
Yesterday: Class 3A, Class 4A
Wednesday: Class A, Class 2A
Class 5A
District 1: Owensboro (7-2, 5-0)
District games: 48-7 vs. Graves County; 50-7 vs. Apollo; 57-7 at Marshall County; 48-7 at Muhlenberg County; 49-6 vs. Madisonville
You should know: If it repeats as state champion, Owensboro would become the furthest west team to do that since Mayfield won four in a row from 2012-2015.
Player to know: DaMarcus Ganaway Jr., who led the Red Devils to a state title in 2025, missed most of the season with a broken collar bone but is back at QB
District 2: Bowling Green (5-4, 4-0)
District games: 27-19 at Barren County; 49-0 at Warren Central; 45-7 at Greenwood; 54-7 vs. Grayson County
You should know: Three of the Purples’ losses were to teams they can’t see in the playoffs (CAL, South Warren and St. X). The other was a 51-44 barn-burner against Scott County.
Player to know: Anthony Davis has thrown 13 TDs to eight different receivers this season (and covered 1,524 yards in the process).
District 3: Atherton (8-1, 3-0)
District games: 49-0 at Butler; 49-0 at Seneca; 58-0 vs. Iroquois at Waggener
You should know: Ravens are vying for their first trip ever to the state finals (Pulaski County beat ’em 17-0 in the semifinals last year).
Player to know: While 16 different players have scored TDs this year for Atherton, Jason Briscoe’s covered almost every area: 4 receiving, 3 rushing and 1 60-yard interception return for a score.
District 4: Fairdale (8-1, 4-0)
District games: 46-6 vs. Jeffersontown; 21-13 at North Bullitt; 34-13 at Bullitt Central; 42-13 at Moore
You should know: Bulldogs visit Shelby County this week with a chance to win 9 regular season games for the first time since 2022.
Player to know: D
District 5: Cooper (7-2, 4-0)
District games: 22-21 at Conner; 25-13 vs. Dixie Heights; 35-7 vs. Scott; 41-7 at Boone County
You should know: Cooper’s defense ranks among Class 5A’s best in points allowed (14.9 ppg) but its offense ranks 24th of 38 teams in scoring (21 ppg)
Player to know: D
District 6: Woodford County (8-1, 4-0)
District games: 43-6 at South Oldham; 56-34 vs. Collins; 44-35 at Scott County; 42-8 vs. Anderson County
You should know: Yellow Jackets have been in the mix for several years but have only made one state final in their history (lost to Russell, 17-7, in the 1978 Class 3A championship).
Player to know: Foxx Coons (2,004 yards, 33 TD passes) is quietly on track to match or eclipse his output last year as a junior (3,331 yards, 41 TD passes).
District 7: West Jessamine (9-0, 3-0)
District games: 54-6 vs. Montgomery County; 47-15 at East Jessamine; 16-14 at Madison Southern
You should know: The Colts, ranked No. 2 in RPI, have never had an unbeaten regular season. They travel to Tates Creek (2-7) this week.
Player to know: Brody Houp has had an incredible productive season for a sophomore: 49 solo tackles, 15 tackle assists, 12 TFL, 1 interception TD, 2 forced and recovered fumbles
District 8: Pulaski County (9-0, 3-0)
District games: 66-31 at South Laurel; 36-8 vs. North Laurel; 49-6 at Southwestern
You should know: The Maroons, who won their only championship in 2014, are the only high school from outside one of the state’s five most densely populated cities to have won a Class 5A title. Somerset ranked 34th in the latest census, down from 32nd in the 2010 edition.
Player to know: Kal Ridner, a freshman, is already vetting Division I interest. The 6-foot-3 slinger has jolted the Maroons’ passing attack to the tune of 2,036 yards and 19 TDs.
Class 6A
District 1: McCracken County (6-3, 1-1)*
District games: 24-21 loss at Christian County; 49-35 vs. Henderson County
You should know: *Henderson County defeated Christian County, so every team in this district finished 1-1. Final regular-season RPI is the tiebreaker, so the Mustangs should finish in front; they’re ranked No. 6 right now while the Tigers (16th) and Colonels (21st) both sit well outside the top 10. Still, this one isn’t finalized yet; if this projection proves wrong, I promise to make it up to the legitimate champ.
Player to know: Jakari Matchem is averaging just over 100 yards per game as well as a TD each time out.
District 2: South Warren (7-2, 3-0)
District games: 56-0 at Meade County; 56-0 vs. Central Hardin; 57-6 at Daviess County
You should know: Spartans could become the first team to win state titles in all three of the state’s largest divisions.
Player to know: Cole Kuzma has racked up 11 TFL and 48 total tackles along with a fumble recovered for a long return.
District 3: Manual (8-1, 3-0)
District games: 36-10 at St. Xavier; 54-6 vs. Pleasure Ridge Park; 42-7 vs. North Hardin
You should know: Manual hasn’t played in a region final since 2008. Its last six playoff losses — the last five in the second round — came by a combined 23 points, including an overtime loss in 2023.
Player to know: Jeremy Presley leads Class 6A in rushing yardage (1,367) and is tied with Madison Central’s Carson Herbst at the top for TDs (21).
District 4: Bullitt East (7-2, 3-0)
District games: 52-12 at Fern Creek; 49-6 at Southern; 41-38 (OT) vs. Male
You should know: Bullitt East is one of two schools outside of Louisville (Scott County) to have won a Class 6A state championship.
Player to know: Evan Clan has done a lot out of the defensive backfield. He leads the Chargers in tackles (53), has returned a fumble 68 yards for a TD and has two interceptions.
District 5: Trinity (9-1, 3-0)
District games: 73-0 vs. Ballard; 38-0 at Eastern; 49-0 at Oldham County
You should know: The Shamrocks have won three championships in a row four times including their current streak (1988-1990, 2001-2003 and 2010-2012). A win this year would be their longest run of dominance.
Player to know: Zane Johnson has started at quarterback since he was a freshman. He’s up to 2,093 yards and 25 TD passes this season, and has rushed for 5 scores.
District 6: Simon Kenton (5-4, 2-1)
District games: 21-14 loss at Great Crossing; 13-12 at Campbell County; 14-7 vs. Ryle
You should know: One of two district champs (Newport Central Catholic) that’s scored fewer total points (178) than it’s allowed (184).
Player to know: Grant Webb has been involved in 64% of the Pioneers’ offense. He’s thrown for 1,079 yards and 8 TDs and rushed for 566 yards and 2 TDs.
District 7: Paul Laurence Dunbar (5-3, 3-0)
District games: 28-27 at Tates Creek; 20-0 vs. Henry Clay; 14-10 vs. Lafayette
You should know: Bulldogs lost their Class 6A-leading rusher (Jayshawn Crosby) before their district-deciding game against Lafayette but rallied the troops.
Player to know: Noah Barrett has five interceptions this season and has caught a TD.
District 8: Frederick Douglass (9-0, 3-0)
District games: 21-14 at Madison Central; 25-12 vs. Bryan Station; 42-7 at George Rogers Clark
You should know: Frederick Douglass, which is in the midst of its 10th season of existence, has never lost to another team from Lexington.
Player to know: Dakari Talbert is perhaps the most dynamic athlete not yet committed to a college (he’s had some Division I late-comers). He’s got 1,117 rushing yards and 17 TDs to go along with 209 yards and 3 TDs on just 11 receptions.
🏈 THREE POINTS
… with Lawrence County’s Alan Short!
Lawrence County (8-1) for the second year in a row has a chance to enter the playoffs with just one loss; the Class 3A Bulldogs host 4A border rival Boyd County (6-3) on Friday night. If they do, they will have taken a highly unusual path.
When Lawrence County won 41-16 last Friday at Magoffin County to sweep its district, the Bulldogs’ overall record moved to 7-1. They rested for a day then started preparing for their next game: a Tuesday trip back to North Laurel, against whom a Sept. 18 contest was suspended with Lawrence County leading 13-7 at halftime. The Bulldogs took care of business, finishing with a 35-14 win, and tonight will look to win their third game in eight days.
Questions and answers lightly edited for clarity and flow.
KHSD: So was the plan always to resume this game this week? Was there ever any consideration to not play it?
Alan Short: This was a first time experience for us and them, I believe. In 21 years of coaching, we’d never had a game suspended at halftime due to lightning and when you start reading the rules and regulations set forth by the KHSAA, there's no such thing as a no contest. Once the game starts it has to be finished either by forfeit or by completion. We agreed on that day.
It’s kind of crazy thinking it was five or six weeks, but quite frankly, it’s a long ways from Louisa to London and we’re weren’t going to come back that Saturday and certainly weren’t going to come back on a Sunday with district play starting the next week. We were prepared to stay as long as we needed to that night to finish it then but their school administration said it wasn’t safe, so we agreed on October 27 after district play.
But by golly, Josh, when we went in the locker room at halftime it was perfectly nice and apparently the whole halftime it came a gully washer. We were in such a nice locker room, we didn’t even know it was raining. Then we went back out and it’s pouring, then they sent us back in due to lightning. We left out of London that night around 11:45.
KHSD: How do you feel about your team’s handling of this odd finish to the regular season?
Short: I’m just very proud of the maturity and level of focus that our guys displayed Tuesday and hopefully we got enough left in the tank to go do it again here Friday.
I feel like we’ve done a good job, our kids have, of getting a little bit better each and every day. They come and they bring it. We practice really hard on Tuesdays. The adage around the country, I guess, is “bloody Tuesday” practices. We certainly do those as well. We just framed it with our team that we were going to go have bloody Tuesday with North Laurel as opposed to beating on each other.
We came in on Sunday, first ever, and did a light walkthrough, a little bit of jogging and moving, to prepare for North Laurel. One day of regular practice and then we were played. So today (Wednesday) we're not gonna beat and thump and bang a lot, but we're gonna walk through, jog, move around, and then start prepping for Boyd County.
KHSD: Tell me about your team’s makeup. And who stands out? I’ve seen Kaden Johnson’s name a lot in stat reports.
Note: Johnson’s rushed for 1,023 yards, 15 TDs and 5 2-point conversions this season on 80 carries. He’s also thrown for 297 yards and a TD on 25 pass attempts and accumulated 262 yards and 4 TDs on 9 receptions. He’s contributed plenty in other phases too: 67 total tackles, 5 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and a punt return TD.
Short: We're very fortunate that we're around these guys all year long, at least the ones that aren't playing other sports. So we know what we have with our guys and that's not arrogance. They’re mature and a veteran football team, they handle their business. They're full of grit and toughness, and they showed it last night.
And Kaden Johnson is one of the best football players I've ever coached. He can do a little bit of everything. And what really sticks out to me is as talented as he is, he's an even better person. He's not a “Hey, look at me” kind of guy. It's not about himm tt’s about our team and that's what sticks out to me. Because I think it's no secret — he’s very gifted in all that he does. But the humility that he displays and that he's a great teammate? That’s what makes him special.
🏐 REGION CHAMPS
Match results from every region championship game played this week.
Region 1: McCracken County def. Marshall County (3-0)
Region 2: Christian County def. Henderson County (3-1)
Region 3: Apollo def. Daviess County (3-0)
Region 4: Bowling Green def. South Warren (3-0)
Region 5: Elizabethtown def. Taylor County (3-1)
Region 6: Mercy Academy def. Louisville Holy Cross (3-0)
Region 7: Assumption def. Sacred Heart (3-0)
Region 8: North Oldham def. Shelby County (3-1)
Region 9: Notre Dame Academy def. Beechwood (3-2)
Region 10: Bishop Brossart def. George Rogers Clark (3-0)
Region 11: Frederick Douglass def. Tates Creek (3-0)
Region 12: West Jessamine def. Trinity Christian Academy (3-0)
Region 13: Whitley County def. Corbin (3-0)
Region 14: Letcher County Central def. Knott County Central (3-1)
Region 15: Paintsville def. Shelby Valley (3-0)
Region 16: Rowan County def. Ashland Blazer (3-2)
🏈 TNF
I wonder if Panthers like cheese?
Fairdale 1, Shelby County 0
Shelby County forfeited due to inability to reschedule game, which was set to be played at Doss, per Jason Frakes of the Courier Journal. Frakes reported that the Rockets wanted to support their volleyball team in Thursday’s 8th Region championship game.
Ludlow 26, St. Henry 18
Owensboro Catholic 48, Elizabethtown 20
Aces have won nine straight since dropping their opener at Boyle County.
Union County 26, Greenwood 14
Webster County 56, Todd County Central 0
Trojans got their first win of the season before a 3A playoff date at LaRue County next week. Rebels have lost 19 straight dating back to the 2025 season.
🏈 FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
All times local to site and p.m.
Casey County 1, Berea 0 (forfeit)
Allen County-Scottsville at Barren County, 7
Anderson County at DeSales, 7:30
Apollo at Daviess County, 7
Ashland Blazer at Lexington Catholic, 7:30
Ballard at Woodford County, 7:30
Bardstown at Washington County, 7:30
Bath County at Nicholas County, 7:30
Beechwood at Campbell County, 7
Bell County at Pulaski County, 7
Bellevue at Covington Holy Cross, 7
Bethlehem at Hancock County, 7
Betsy Layne at Leslie County, 7:30
Bishop Brossart at Pendleton County, 7:30
Boyd County at Lawrence County, 7:30
Breathitt County at Russell, 7:30
Bullitt Central at Marion County, 7:30
Butler County at Russellville, 7
Calloway County at Marshall County, 7
Campbellsville at Adair County, 7
Central Hardin at North Bullitt, 7:30
Clay County at Lynn Camp, 8:30
Danville at Bourbon County, 6:30
Dayton at Trimble County, 7
East Carter at Raceland, 7:30
East Jessamine at Green County, 7
Edmonson County at Metcalfe County, 7
Eminence at Owen County, 7:30
Fairview at Lewis County, 7:30
Fern Creek at Christian Academy of Louisville, 7:30
Floyd Central at Fleming County, 7:30
Fort Knox at Breckinridge County, 6:30
Franklin County at Bowling Green, 7
Frederick Douglass at Boyle County, 7:30
Fulton County at Trigg County, 7
Gallatin County at Carroll County, 7:30
Glasgow at Franklin-Simpson, 7
Graves County at McCracken County, 7
Great Crossing at Corbin, 7:30
Harlan at East Ridge, 7:30
Harrison County at Newport, 7:30
Hart County at Grayson County, 7
Hazard at Somerset, 7:30
Henry Clay at Conner, 7:30
Holmes at Scott, 7
Hopkins County Central at Crittenden County, 7
John Hardin at Mercer County, 7:30
Kentucky Country Day at Henry County, 7:30
Lafayette at Oldham County, 7:30
LaRue County at Taylor County, 7:30
Letcher County Central at Belfry, 7:30
Lexington Christian at Pleasure Ridge Park, 7
Lincoln County at Garrard County, 7:30
Lloyd Memorial at Boone County, 7
Louisville Holy Cross at Butler, 7
Madison Southern at Whitley County, 7:30
Manual at Male, 7
Mayfield at Central, 7
McLean County at Ohio County, 7
Meade County at Bullitt East, 7:30
Middlesboro at Sayre, 7:30
Montgomery County at Greenup County, 7:30
Muhlenberg County at Ballard Memorial, 7
Murray at Caldwell County, 7
Newport Central Catholic at Mason County, 7:30
North Laurel at Wayne County, 7:30
North Oldham at Atherton, 7
Owensboro at Henderson County, 7
Paducah Tilghman at Christian County, 7
Paintsville at Martin County, 7:30
Paris at Morgan County, 7:30
Paul Laurence Dunbar at Eastern, 7:30
Pickett County (Tenn.) at Clinton County, 7
Pikeville at Bracken County, 7:30
Pineville at Jackson County, 7:30
Powell County at Pike County Central, 7:30
Prestonsburg at Estill County, 7:30
Ridgeview (Va.) at Perry County Central, 7:30
Rockcastle County at Southwestern, 7:30
Russell County at Monroe County, 7
Ryle at Dixie Heights, 7
Seneca at Thomas Nelson, 7
Shelby Valley at Harlan County, 7:30
Simon Kenton at Cooper, 7
South Oldham at Bryan Station, 7:30
South Warren at Logan County, 7
Southern at Jeffersontown, 6:30
Spencer County at Nelson County, 7:30
St. Xavier at Madison Central, 7:30
Valley at Moore, 7
Waggener at Shawnee, 7
Walton-Verona at Grant County, 7:30
Warren Central at Madisonville, 7
Warren East at North Hardin, 8
West Carter at Rowan County, 8
West Jessamine at Tates Creek, 7:30
Western at Doss, 6:30
Western Hills at Frankfort, 7:30
Williamsburg at Knox Central, 7:30
🔗 LINKS
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