High school football practice won’t start until July 10, but it’s never too early to look ahead to some of this season’s top games involving Louisville-area teams.
Go ahead and circle your calendars for the big rivalry matchups such as St. Xavier - Trinity , Male - Manual and Christian Academy - Central .
Here’s a week-by-week breakdown of the biggest games in 2024:
It’s the annual season opener for a pair of Louisville public schools with high expectations. Keith Eckloff, previously the head coach at Seneca , will make his coaching debut at Manual after taking over from Josh Gillispie. Expect another big season from Central running back Cortez Stone, who enters his senior year with 5,439 career rushing yards.
Three more to see: Ballard vs. South Warren (at Campbellsville), Christian Academy at Owensboro, Trinity at Bryan Station.
These Class 6A powers split a pair of matchups last season, with the Broncos winning 17-14 in the regular season and the Shamrocks getting revenge 14-7 in overtime in the state semifinals. Sophomore quarterback Zane Johnson and senior wide receiver Jeremiah Lynn will give Trinity one of the state’s top passing combinations. Frederick Douglass senior Aveion Chenault (Western Michigan commit) is a speedy weapon at wide receiver.
Three more to see: Male at Ballard, Pleasure Ridge Park at Bullitt East, Central at St. Xavier.
The Tigers have won three of the past four matchups in this rivalry, including 20-10 last season . Junior wide receiver Marlon Harbin should have a big season for St. X after catching 60 passes for 703 yards and six touchdowns last season. Male senior Antonio Harris ( University of Louisville commit ) is a weapon at wide receiver and cornerback.
Three more to see: Ballard at Pleasure Ridge Park, DeSales at Kentucky Country Day, Frederick Douglass at Manual.
It’s a rematch from last year’s Class 6A state semifinals, with the Defenders pulling out a 24-21 victory . Matt Kuehn is the new head coach at Ballard after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant on defense for the Bruins. Bryan Station returns one of the state’s top running backs in senior Kalen Washington (1,311 yards, 16 touchdowns as a junior).
Three more to see: Christian Academy at Lexington Christian, Jeffersontown at Holy Cross, Trinity at Carmel (Ind.).
Trinity dropped a 37-20 decision at Male last season and then won 10 straight games on its way to the Class 6A state championship. Male has won four straight meetings in the series and will lean on one of the state’s top recruits in the Class of 2025 — offensive lineman Spike Sowells . The 6-foot-2 292-pounder has narrowed his college choices to Kentucky, Miami (Fla.), N.C. State and South Carolina.
Three more to see: Ryle at Christian Academy, Manual at South Warren, St. Xavier at Cincinnati Elder.
The Shamrocks dominated both meetings in this rivalry last season, winning 45-10 during the regular season and 38-14 in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs . The regular-season victory was a coming-out party for Trinity quarterback Zane Johnson , who passed for 249 yards and four touchdowns. Trinity holds a 50-40-2 advantage in the series that began in 1956.
Three more to see: North Hardin at Bullitt East, Christian Academy at Manual, Male at Pleasure Ridge Park.
After facing Trinity in August and Manual in September, this will be the third matchup of the year for Frederick Douglass against a Louisville 6A powerhouse. The Broncos posted a 21-20 victory at Male in the third round of the playoffs last year. After pulling within 21-20 with 4:17 remaining, Male chose to go a for a 2-point conversion that failed. “It’s just a brutal existence,” Bulldogs coach Chris Wolfe said of the defeat that ended the Bulldogs’ season with an 11-2 record.
Three more to see: Ryle at St. Xavier, Woodford County at South Oldham, Cincinnati St. Xavier at Trinity.
Louisville’s two Class A programs hadn’t met since 2018 before realignment placed them in the same district last year. KCD won the regular-season meeting 19-16 on its way to an 11-3 campaign that ended in the state semifinals. The Bearcats lost their quarterback (Ethan Harris), top running back (Kassani Wilson) and top two wide receivers (Cam Edwards, Troy Humphreys) to graduation. Holy Cross returns junior quarterback Jamie Jones and junior running back Jamari Pennebaker.
Three more to see: Ballard at Trinity, Bullitt East at Fern Creek, Manual at St. Xavier.
An instant rivalry was created when these two powerhouses were moved into the same Class 3A district last year. The Centurions won both matchups — 13-6 in the regular season and 52-13 in the third round of the playoffs — on their way to winning a second straight state championship. CAL will have a different look this season with second-team All-State quarterback Cole Hodge now at East Carolina. Central star running back Cortez Stone tallied just 85 rushing yards in two games against CAL last season.
Three more to see: Jeffersontown at DeSales, Fern Creek at Male, Pleasure Ridge Park at Manual.
Atherton had a breakthrough season in 2023 , finishing 11-2 after reaching the third round of the Class 5A playoffs. The Ravens should be solid again as senior quarterback QuaShawn Thompson and senior running back Michael Curry both return. Fairdale also reached the third round of the playoffs last season, finishing 7-6, and will look to avenge a 24-6 loss to Atherton last season.
Three more to see: Male at Bullitt East, South Oldham at Collins, Campbellsville at Kentucky Country Day.
The Old Rivalry has been lopsided in recent years, with Male running its current winning streak to 10 after last year’s 30-23 victory . Manual’s last win in the series came in 2013, a 32-29 victory. The series began in 1893, and Male leads 90-45-6.
Three more to see: Woodford County at Ballard, Fern Creek at Christian Academy, Bowling Green at St. Xavier.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.
More high school sports: Ranking the top 10 moments from the 2023-24 season
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA football schedule: From St. Xavier-Trinity to Male-Manual, top games to see in 2024
Most Popular
Comments / 0