Class A Football

 Some of the big names in Class A football has moved on to the college game. The top running back such as Dominique Hayden of Lexington Christian, Ricky Buckler, Bellevue, Andrew Link, Harlan and Wesley Steele of Lynn Camp are beginning drills at colleges across the Commonwealth.

Quarterbacks such as Ryan Moses, Williamsburg; Aaron Schwoebel, Campbellsville and Lucas Witt of Lexington Christian are warming up their arms on other campuses.

Of the top 15 rushing leaders, only two are back, Casey Adkins of Betsy Layne and Michael Colosimo of Beechwood.

Six of the top 15 quarterbacks will be back on the high school sidelines including Raceland’s Tyler Farley, Mayfield’s Luke Guhy and Hazard’s Jon Combs.

The best crop of returnees may be in the receiving department where nine of the tops 15 are back. They include Williamsburg’s James (JP) Payne, who had 36 catches for 532 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Yellow Jackets.

Before we get into the Fall Preview of local teams, here is a look at each class, beginning with 1A, home of the Lynn Camp Wildcats and Williamsburg Yellow Jackets.

Here’s a quick look at who are the favorites along with a more in-depth look at region three. The season begins Friday, August 20.

District One: 1. Mayfield, 2. Crittenden County, 3. Ballard Memorial, 4. Fulton County, 5. Fulton City.

District Two: 1. Holy Cross, 2. Kentucky Country Day, 3. Bethlehem, 4. Caverna.

District Three: 1. Beechwood, 2. Bellevue, 3. Ludlow, 4. Walton-Verona, 4. Dayton, 5. Brossart.

District Four: 1. Frankfort, 2. Eminence, 3. Gallatin County, 4. Trimble Co., 5. Bracken County.

District Five: 1. LCA, 2. Raceland, 3. Fairview, 4, Nicholas Co., 5. Paris.

District Six: 1. Campbellsville, 2. Williamsburg, 3. Lynn Camp, 4. Berea, 5. Clinton County.

District Seven: 1. Hazard, 2. Pineville, 3. Harlan, 4. Jenkins

District Eight: 1. Pikeville, 2. Allen Central, 3. Paintsville, 4. Phelps, 5. Betsy Layne, 6. South Floyd.

REGION THREE

•Favorite: Lexington Christian went all the way last season and captured the school’s first football title in Class A. The Eagles lost almost all of their offense with the likes of Dominique Hayden, Lucas Witt and Branden Burdette. The Eagles have a new but veteran coach in Ray Graham. When you can pull in players from anywhere in the state, you have to be considered a team to beat.

•Not far behind: It would be nice to say someone is not far behind the Eagles, but there sure is a distance between LCA and the number two team in region three…Raceland. The Rams return a defense that gave up just 17.3 points a game against some outstanding opponents. The Rams have a capable quarterback with Tyler Farley, a senior, who threw for over 2,000 yards.

•Sleeper: Fairview tripped up Williamsburg before losing to LCA last season. The Eagles played stellar defense and have many of those guys back. They have size on the line led by Zach Segina at 6-3, 240-pounds. If they can get an offense untracked they might surprise LCA and Raceland.

Honor roll

•Top college prospect: Many feel LCA’s Zach West is one of the regions best on the line. He will be the target of many defenses, as the Eagles offense will run behind their prize lineman.

•Biggest shoes to fill: Chris Lowrie if he fills in for the departed Ryan Moses at Williamsburg. There have been some big numbers coming out of Williamsburg in recent years at the QB spot.

•The next big thing: Will it be Lynn Camp’s Clinton Jackson. The 5-10, 165-pound sophomore will get to carry the ball for the Wildcats. Can he take it to the end zone often?

Three things to watch

•Until someone knocks them off, LCA is the team to beat in region three. The Eagles will have a lot of holes to fill very quickly. Can Will Thomas Collins and Scott McCamey pull the trigger and make it happen?

•Jason Chappell inherited an outstanding Campbellsville team last season, but only made it to the second-round before Raceland eliminated the Eagles. With a very athletic team will the Eagles go farther this time around?

•Williamsburg lost some big guns, including quarterback Ryan Moses and receiver Dusty Brown, both among the top two in their position. Will the Jackets find replacements in a hurry?

Three must-see games

•Lynn Camp at Williamsburg, October 15. This game pretty much assures one of the local teams a spot in the playoffs. Williamsburg has had the upper hand, winning the last four games. The last time Lynn Camp won was October 28, 2005 when the Wildcats rolled to a 67-8 victory.

•That same night Lexington Christian goes to Raceland. The Rams could stand in the way of yet another regional title by the Eagles.

•A pair of big games for Lynn Camp and Williamsburg is where they play Campbellsville. Lynn Camp travels to the Taylor County School, September 24, while Williamsburg hosts the Eagles, October 8.