From CAL to KCD, what to know about Louisville area's Class A to 3A football teams

Here’s a look at the Louisville-area high school football teams in Class 3A, Class 2A and Class A for the 2024 season:

Class 3A

Central

Head coach : Marvin Dantzler (eighth season, 61-28)

Last season: 7-6; lost to Christian Academy in the Class 3A quarterfinals

Key players (college offers/commits): Cortez Stone (Austin Peay, Miami (Ohio), Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee State, Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Ball State), Amontez Woolfolk (Tennessee-Martin and Marian), Avaion Johnson-McNeal (Pikeville and Marian).

Offense (10 starters back): Last year, Stone was named second-team All-State by The Courier-Journal after he rushed for 1,871 yards and 23 touchdowns. With all five offensive line starters returning, Stone is poised to have another great year rushing.

Defense (8 starters back): Defensive back Johnson-McNeal was the team's best defender last year. He totaled 84 tackles, intercepted four passes and forced two fumbles.

Outlook: Dantzler said the Jackets have basically their whole offense returning, but there will be some changes on defense that will boost that unit.

Schedule:

Aug. 23 – Manual

Aug. 30 – at St. Xavier

Sept. 6 – at Butler

Sept. 20 – Bullitt East

Sept. 27 – Central Hardin

Oct. 4 – Elizabethtown

Oct. 18 – Christian Academy

Oct. 25 – at LaRue County

Nov. 1 – DuBois

Christian Academy

Head coach: Hunter Cantwell (fifth season, 54-11)

Last season: 14-1; won the Class 3A state championship for the second consecutive year

Key players (college offers/commits): Connor Hodge (East Carolina commit), Ben Stotts (Austin Peay commit), Trey Cotton (Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Lindenwood, Southeast Missouri State, UT-Martin ) Garyon Hobbs (Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami (Ohio), Purdue), Ja'Hyde Brown (Kentucky, Miami (Ohio), Toledo), Stone Perkins, Miami (Ohio), Kellan Hall (Kentucky), Man Robinson (Purdue, Eastern Kentucky), Tyree Stoner (Kentucky Wesleyan), Jason Coleman (Kentucky Christian).

Offense (7 starters back): Connor Hodge will take over at quarterback after older brother Cole graduated last year. As a receiver, Connor recorded 1,494 yards and 23 touchdowns. This is Connor's first year playing QB for CAL, so his rhythm and chemistry with receivers will be key. Defense (6 starters back) : Hodge was a member of The Courier Journal's All-State team as a defensive back, so CAL is losing a key piece of its defense if he doesn't play on both sides of the ball. Linebacker Hobbs, who had 26 tackles for loss last year, leads the defense. Outlook: The Centurions have a young, talented linebacking corps with great potential. There are concerns about the offensive and defensive lines because both units are replacing more than half of their starters.

Schedule:

Aug. 23 – at Owensboro

Aug. 30 – Heritage Hills

Sept. 6 – North Hardin

Sept. 13 – at Lexington Christian

Sept. 20 – Ryle

Sept. 27 – at Manual

Oct. 4 – LaRue County

Oct. 18 – at Central

Oct. 25 – at Elizabethtown

Nov. 1 – Fern Creek

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Class 2A

DuBois Academy

Head coach : George Durant (second season, 2-8)

Last season : 2-8

Key players : Jaden Mostiller, Mareese Naves, Jordan Dickinson, Wychoff Morris, Diontae Bennett

Offense (8 starters back): Brian Dickerson and Delshawn Hatchett are battling to be the starting QB. Hatchett is a senior, and Dickerson is a sophomore. Both QBs started five games last year.

Defense ( 7 starters back) : Bennett was an all-district selection last year at safety. Durant said he had a great offseason and should be even better this year. Santee Brock, who led the team in tackles (83) and tackles for loss (13) last year, also returns.

Outlook: 2023 was the school's first season playing varsity football, and Durant said the goal is to continue to gain experience and double everything: wins, touchdowns, tackles, etc. Sending the seniors out with a winning record and being competitive in the district are also goals.

Schedule:

All home games will be played at Moore High School.

Aug. 24 – Thomas Nelson

Aug. 30 – Atherton

Sept. 6 – at Southern

Sept. 13 – Seneca

Sept. 28 – Fort Knox

Oct. 5 – Fern Creek

Oct. 11 – Washington County

Oct. 18 – Lexington Christian

Oct. 25 – Shawnee

Nov. 1 – at Central

Shawnee

Head coach : Vernon Gibson (fourth season, 8-24)

Last season: 3-8

Key player : Darrell Hayden-Board

Offense (3 starters back) : Projected starting QB Jeremiah Forrest broke his foot over the summer, so Shawnee is getting its backup QB up to speed. Senior Jaymont Ware will play running back this season after playing wide receiver last year.

Defense (4 starters back) : Although the Golden Eagles lost their top four tacklers to graduation last year, Gibson said the linebackers and secondary will be strengths.

Outlook: "Darrell Hayden-Board and Kyresse McAtee are both returning starters. Senior Jaymont Ware and Christian Wright are both projected starters and expected to be very good," Gibson said. The offense may be a concern because of injuries and position changes.

Schedule:

Aug. 23 – at Moore

Aug. 30 – Jeffersontown

Sept. 6 – at Valley

Sept. 13 – Jackson County

Sept. 20 – at Caverna

Sept. 27 – Lexington Christian

Oct. 4 – Washington County

Oct. 11 – at Fort Knox

Oct. 25 – at DuBois

Nov. 1 – Waggener

Class A

Holy Cross (Louisville)

Head coach : Eric Dick (fifth season, 32-16)

Last season: 6-6; lost in the second round of Class A playoffs

Key players (college offers/commits): Michael Wortham (Pikeville), Jamari Pennebaker, Aiden Dewees, Cooper Render

Offense (2 starters back) : Pennebaker rushed for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore. The Cougars will most likely lean on him again this year to power their offense.

Defense (4 starters back): Last year, LB Dewees led the team in tackles (97), tackles for loss (18), forced fumbles (3) and fumble recoveries (6). Now a senior, Dewees will continue to lead the Cougars on and off the field.

Outlook : "We are a very young team, only returning a total of six starters on both sides of the ball," Dick said. "The youth of this team will need to mature quickly. The makings of a great team are in there; time will tell how quickly we will jell as a team to reach those goals."

Schedule:

Aug. 23 – at North Bullitt

Aug. 30 – TBA

Sept. 6 – at Western

Sept. 13 – Jeffersontown

Oct. 4 – Nelson County

Oct. 11 – Kentucky Country Day

Oct. 18 – at Campbellsville

Oct. 25 – Bethlehem

Nov. 1 – at Butler

Kentucky Country Day

Head coach : Matthew Jones (12th season, 108-42)

Last season: 11-3; lost in Class A semifinals

Key players : Caden Long, Xavier Crawley, Bowen Johnson, Maclean Cantley, Filip Popa, Miller Bates

Offense (2 starters back) : "Caden Long will begin his first season at QB for the Bearcats after working very hard this offseason," Jones said of the junior. "He is a talented runner and passer that brings toughness and strong leadership to the team." Cantley is the fastest player on the team, Jones said, and is a big-play threat whenever he touches the ball.

Defense (4 starters back): After recording 134 tackles as a sophomore, Johnson is poised to lead the defense again, and Jones said he should be one of the state's best linebackers.

Outlook: The Bearcats' junior class (24 players) is taking on new leadership roles this season, with only four seniors on the roster. The Bearcats finished 11-3 last year and have gone 53-12 over the last five seasons. "We need to stay healthy up front due to our lack of depth," Jones said. "The players have had a great summer; they like each other, and they love football."

Schedule:

Aug. 23 – Atherton

Aug. 30 – at Carroll County

Sept. 6 – DeSales

Sept. 13 – at Walton-Verona

Sept. 20 – John Hardin

Sept. 27 – LaRue County

Oct. 11 – at Holy Cross (Louisville)

Oct. 18 – at Bethlehem

Oct. 25 – Campbellsville

Nov. 1 – at Henry County

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Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: From CAL to KCD, what to know about Louisville area's Class A to 3A football teams