There would be some significant alignment changes for high school football in the area under a proposal announced Thursday by the Board of Control of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. The change would affect several area teams, and could create district structure issues by the time all is said and done.
Under the proposed realignment, Caldwell County would drop back into Class 2A, after a four year run in Class 3A. To date, the Tigers have advanced to three regional finals in Class 3A, losing each time to Elizabethtown. The Tigers last won a state championship in 1998 in Class 2A, defeating Danville.
Also moving down in class would be the Fort Campbell Falcons. The Falcons drop back into Class 2A, after an eight year stint in 3A. During their time in Class 3A, the Falcons won a regional title in 2011, but have not won a playoff game since 2013. The Falcons have won four state championships in Class 2A.
The move of Caldwell County and Fort Campbell create a hole in their current district, which would likely be filled, at least partially by Webster County, who would move up to Class 3A, and likely join Trigg County, Union County, and Paducah Tilghman.
The Hopkinsville Tigers will also be impacted by the proposed realignment. The Tigers would move back up into Class 5A after a four year run in Class 4A. The move would add impetus to their annual showdown with Christian County, which would become a district battle.
Joining Hopkinsville in the move to Class 5A would be the Logan County Cougars, who also would move after a four year stint in Class 4A. In fact, the Cougars have moved between Class 4A and Class 5A since the state expanded to six classes in 2007. The Cougars were 4A in 2007, 5A in 2011, and 4A in 2015.
The shift of Hopkinsville and Logan County would leave a gaping hole in District 1 in Class 4A, unless other teams are shifted in. With the proposed move, that district would be left only with Calloway County, Hopkins Central, and Madisonville.
Before the proposal goes for a final vote, schools will have the option to petition the KHSAA over the next three weeks to play up in class, if the school feels the new alignment would create travel burdens. A timetable for final approval has not been set. Any changes would not take effect until the 2019 season.
Also on Thursday, the KHSAA Board of Control approved a motion to reseed the semifinal round of the high school football playoffs, beginning this season. What method used to determine the seedings is yet to be decided