Here’s a preview of Kentucky’s Class 5-A football season, including The Courier-Journal’s preseason poll of coaches:
Rank, team (FPV) 2015 record
1. Bowling Green (15) 14-1
2. Highlands (2) 8-6
3. Pulaski County 13-2
4. Owensboro 11-2
5. Christian County 8-4
6. Fern Creek 12-2
7. Covington Catholic 5-8
8. Pulaski Southwestern 8-4
9. North Laurel 11-2
10. South Oldham 10-3
Others receiving votes: Graves County, Anderson County, Dixie Heights, Harlan County, Madison Southern, Greenwood, Montgomery County, North Bullitt, Letcher County Central, Whitley County, Bullitt East, Doss, Fairdale.
* Favorite: Bowling Green returns 10 starters on offense from last year’s 14-1 team that won the state title for the fourth time in five years. Running back Jamale Carothers has committed to Navy, and the Purples’ defense got a boost with the transfer of junior linebacker Justice Dingle from Tennessee.
* Not far behind: Highlands struggled to a 1-5 start last year but still managed to reach the state semifinals before falling to Pulaski County. Coach Brian Weinrich expects seniors Grant Murray and Jared Pulsfort to form a solid 1-2 punch at running back.
* Sleeper: Pulaski Southwestern has eight starters back on both offense and defense and could give rival Pulaski County a push as the top team from the east.
* Top college prospect: Bowling Green running back Jamale Carothers committed to Navy after also considering Army, Marshall and Western Kentucky. The 5-8 190-pounder rushed for 1,341 yards and 20 touchdowns on 205 carries last season and also posted 44 receptions for 719 yards and six scores.
* Three must-see games: Christian County at Bowling Green, Aug. 26; Covington Catholic at Highlands, Oct. 14; Pulaski County at Pulaski Southwestern, Oct. 21.