KSR’s 2025 Kentucky High School Football Preview: Class 2A

It’s almost football time in the Bluegrass. With the 2025 Kentucky high school football season set to begin on August 22nd, KSR will preview all 48 districts and all six classes. We’ve already covered Class 1A. Up next is Class 2A, home to the Beechwood Tigers, the defending Class 2A state champions and the No. 21 team in the state of Kentucky in the Massey Ratings.

The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

Class 2A | District 1

Caldwell County (2024: 5-7), Crittenden County (2024: 4-7), Mayfield (2024: 9-3), Fort Campbell (2024: 5-5), Todd County Central (2024: 2-9), Trigg County (2024: 3-7)

For the first time since 2008, Mayfield lost to rival Graves County last season in their season opener. Head coach Cliff Dew, who took over for the legendary Joe Morris, got his tenure started on a really, really bad note. However, the Cardinals would go on to win nine of their next 10 games, with their only loss in that span coming to Paducah Tilghman, who won the Class 4A state championship. Clearly, the future is very bright for Dew and Mayfield despite their early struggles.

The Cardinals could very well be the best team in Class 2A next season considering the fact that they are returning practically all of their offensive production from a year ago. Tailback Josiah England produced 1,568 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground last season, and Mayfield got 1,972 yards and 21 touchdowns from quarterback Gray Robbins last year too. Both will be back for their junior seasons.

Additionally, Mayfield’s top three receivers in 2024 will all be back for their senior seasons. Mak Hoover, Malik Kirby and Diego Torres combined for 1,756 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

Class 2A | District 2

Owensboro Catholic (2024: 14-1), McLean County (2024: 7-4), Hancock County (2024: 8-3), Fort Knox (2024: 0-10)

District 2 has belonged to Owensboro Catholic for about as long as they’ve been in it, and that should probably remain the case in 2025. Despite losing quarterback Brady Atwell to graduation this offseason, the Aces have junior Dremail Carothers behind center, who showed great flashes of his potential last year. Making appearances in all of Owensboro Catholic’s 15 games last year, Carothers posted 701 yards and eight touchdowns through the air. They also return their leading rusher, senior Miles Edge, who ran for 764 yards in 2024.

Speaking of talented backs, McLean County’s offense will be led by senior Aden Bolden. As a junior, Bolden recorded 1,439 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. He also spent some time behind center, throwing for 222 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 passing attempts.

Hancock County got out to a red-hot 7-0 start last year before ending the year by losing three of their last four games. Quarterback Dylan Morris graduated this offseason, so that’s a big piece of their offense that head coach Robert Eubanks will be missing this year. However, the Hornets do bring back junior Brady Eubanks, who ran for a team-high 470 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024.

Class 2A | District 3

Clinton County (2024: 4-7), Green County (2024: 2-9), Metcalfe County (2024: 4-7), Monroe County (2024: 7-6), Somerset (2024: 9-5)

11-2. 7-4. 10-3. Those are the records Green County had in head coach Colt Phelps’ three seasons leading the Dragons. In 2024, however, things took a turn for the worst. Green County went just 2-9, only winning their season opener against Casey County and a September 19th matchup against LaRue County. Those two teams that Green County beat went a combined 0-22 last year. If the Dragons played two teams with any sort of pulse in those two games, they may have gone winless themselves.

They lost quarterback Houston Hodges to a season-ending injury just three games into the season, and it was all downhill from there, basically. Hopefully, Phelps’ squad can bounce back in 2025.

Somerset, on the other hand, was one win away from making the state championship game for the first time since they won it all in 2019. Behind senior running back Kris Hughes, the Briar Jumpers may be able to get there in 2025. Last season, Hughes ran for 1,651 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also caught 36 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns last year.

Class 2A | District 4

#24 Lexington Christian Academy (2024: 11-3), Shawnee (2024: 3-8), Washington County (2024: 8-4), WEB DuBois (2024: 2-8), Danville (2024: 0-11)

Former LCA head coach Doug Charles, who took the Eagles to two state championship games in his six-year tenure, retired this offseason. If not for that, LCA may be one of the favorites to win the 2A state championship.

They do return some talent — mainly in their wide receiver core — that could help them get back to Kroger Field for the first time since the 2021 season. Per usual, they’ll be tested early and often, going up against North Hardin, Boyle County, CAL, Franklin County and Lexington Catholic to open their season. It won’t take long to get a feel for how good the Eagles really are.

Danville, however, is currently on a 23-game skid that dates back to 2022. Last season, they put on one of the worst displays of offense maybe ever. Through 11 games, the Admirals amassed a whopping 33 points. 33 points. In 11 games. That’s almost impressive. Let’s hope they can get back in the win column in 2025, for the sake of football.

Class 2A | District 5

#21 Beechwood (2024: 14-1), Bracken County (2024: 9-3), Gallatin County (2024: 1-9), Owen County (2024: 6-5), Walton-Verona (2024: 5-6), St. Henry (2024: N/A)

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s welcome the St. Henry Crusaders to Kentucky high school varsity football! In 2024, St. Henry fielded a junior varsity squad, but for the first time ever, they’ll now be playing varsity football.

Beechwood, however, should be the talk of District 5, and right now, the talk of all of Class 2A considering they’re the defending state champions. They had quite the 2024 season, going 14-1 and only falling to Covington Catholic in a September 20th bout. They did lose quarterback Clay Hayden and running back Chase Flaherty to graduation, but the Tigers have always been able to reload and revamp.

Bracken County, however, returns potentially the best player in all of Class 2A, senior running back Daulton Tarter. In 2204, he rushed for 2,083 yards and 32 touchdowns — just absolute monster numbers. They also get back senior quarterback Jackson Whitten, who threw for 683 yards and nine touchdowns last year.

Class 2A | District 6

Breathitt County (2024: 6-6), West Carter (2024: 5-6), Jackson County (2024: 5-5), Morgan County (2024: 4-6)

Breathitt County football has been a bit of a roller coaster under head coach Kyle Moore. Back in 2013, he took over the program, and the Bobcats have gone from going 4-7, to 13-1 in 2019 and now, 6-6 in back-to-back seasons. However, 2025 can be a big year for Breathitt County.

For starters, they return practically all of their production on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Miles Hollon and running back Eli Thomas put up pretty impressive numbers as freshmen last year, and they’re back to lead the Bobcats in 2025. Hollon threw for 1,949 yards and 21 touchdowns, while Thomas ran for 920 yards, recorded 341 yards receiving and tallied 16 total touchdowns.

Following a four-game winning streak before their season-ending loss to Beechwood in the playoffs, Breathitt County could be riding some positive momentum heading into 2025.

Class 2A | District 7

Floyd Central (2024: 0-11), Knott County Central (2024: 7-4), Martin County (2024: 9-4), Prestonsburg (2024: 11-2), Leslie County (2024: 6-5)

In his first season at Prestonsburg, head coach Wes Hager led the Blackcats to a very, very impressive 11-2 record. They started the year 9-0 before falling to Breathitt County on the road in their regular season finale. However, it’ll be interesting to see just how well they do this year, especially considering that they lose two 1,200+ yard rushers to graduation.

Junior quarterback Bryce Holbrook could take that next step with some experience under his belt. As a sophomore last season, he threw for 651 yards and 10 touchdowns. It also helps that Kain Patton and Brady Allen, the Blackcats’ top two receivers from a year ago, will be back for their senior seasons. They combined for 423 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024.

Last season, Martin County experienced its best season in the program’s six-year history, going 9-4 and making it to the third round of the playoffs before falling to the eventual Class 2A champs, Beechwood. They could be really, really good this year again. Devan Maynard, who ran for 1,189 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2024, returns for his senior campaign. Behind him, the Blackcats could continue to set new standards for their program.

Class 2A | District 8

Betsy Layne (2024: 9-3), East Ridge (2024: 2-9), Pike County Central (2024: 4-7), Shelby Valley (2024: 5-7), Belfry (2024: 11-3)

Realignment has completely shaken up District 8. No longer should Betsy Layne be the team that easily wins the district. Instead, it could be Belfry who takes the cake in 2025. Following the tragic passing of the winningest coach in Kentucky high school football history, Phillip Haywood, the Pirates will be led by first-year head coach Matt Varney in 2025. Last year, they made it to the fourth round of the 3A playoffs, and they have the potential to wound up at Kroger Field this December.

Belfry returns practically all of its talent on offense, most notably senior running back Jeremiah Austin, who ran for 1,574 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024. Senior quarterback Matt Varney is also back, and he’s got a very experienced group of wide receivers to work with this season. Varney posted 1,473 yards and 16 touchdowns through the air as a junior. Belfry could be dangerous this year.

Of course, Betsy Layne will do what they can to make sure they remain atop District 8. They lose running back Andrew McCutcheon, however, who ran for an insane 2,190 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. Senior quarterback Carter Parsons will have to put on his Superman cape in 2025 in order to keep the Bobcats on the rise. He threw for 910 yards and 11 touchdowns while running for 902 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago.

KSR’s Preseason Honors:

• Class 2A Player of the Year – Daulton Tarter (Bracken County)
• Class 2A Coach of the Year – Jay Volker (Beechwood)
• Class 2A State Champion – Beechwood Tigers