Here are the picks for this weekend’s high school football state championship games from The Courier Journal’s Jason Frakes, Brooks Holton and Prince James Story and WHAS-11’s Kent Spencer.
All games will be played at the University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field in Lexington.
Jason Frakes’ pick: Sayre 20-12. Brock Coffman will make big plays on both sides of the ball to lead the Spartans to their first state title.
Brooks Holton’s pick: Sayre 35-14. The Spartans’ defense, which has surrendered only 79 points all season, will be the difference.
Kent Spencer’s pick: Sayre 21-20. Rams may be more comfortable in this spot, but I think Sayre continues to make statement after statement through these playoffs.
Prince James Story’s pick: Sayre 28-7. In 14 games, Sayre has outscored its opponents 621-79. The Spartans have dominated all year, and that shouldn’t change in the championship game. 
Frakes: Beechwood 42-40. Scoreboard operator will get a lot of work in this one. Tigers make just enough plays to return to the top of Class 2A.
Holton: Owensboro Catholic 42-28. The Aces are 28-1 dating back to 2023. That one loss? A 53-48 heartbreaker to Mayfield in last year’s state championship. They’ll make it happen this go-around.
Spencer: Beechwood 28-27. Tigers are battle tested and will add another championship to their collection.
Story: Beechwood 31-28. It should be a close game, and I think it will come down to a last-second field goal. 
Frakes: Paducah Tilghman 28-21. Blue Tornado won’t match its state-best 49.3 ppg average, but quarterback Jack James will make enough plays.
Holton: Franklin County 41-35. My pick for the best game of the weekend at Kroger Field.  
Spencer: Franklin County 28-24. It’s time for the Flyers to finish the job and capture a state championship.
Story: Paducah Tilghman 21-10. Earlier this season, Jack James broke the state record for career passing touchdowns, and he will likely finish his high school career on top by leading Paducah Tilghman to a state title.
Frakes: Christian Academy 38-20. The CAL juggernaut continues to roll and picks up a third straight state championship.
Holton: Christian Academy 38-28. Wise to go with the two-time defending champs here. Make it three in a row for the Centurions.
Spencer: Christian Academy 28-21. When the Centurions beat Central a couple rounds back, I believed that was for the state championship. It’ll be a three-peat for CAL.
Story: Christian Academy 35-14. CAL has the best player in 3A, quarterback Connor Hodge, and he is surrounded by weapons on the outside. The Centurions should complete the three-peat.
Frakes: Ryle 17-16. It’s hard to ignore Trinity’s record 28 state championships, but it’s also hard to ignore Ryle’s eight-game winning streak via eight straight running clocks. This isn’t the mismatch it was in the 2006 final.
Holton: Trinity 24-17. A topsy-turvy year for Class 6A ends in a rather predictable way, with the Shamrocks on top.
Spencer: Trinity 28-21. Rocks have done what it takes each and every week to advance through these playoffs. Raiders have been really good, but they haven’t faced anybody like Trinity.
Story: Trinity 21-7. Trinity has shut out its opponent six times this season. If Trinity’s defense can hold the Ryle offense to short possessions, then the Shamrocks can control the clock by getting the ball to the running back duo of Christopher Wilson and Jamaurion Berry. 
Frakes: Cooper 35-28. Jaguars avenge last year’s loss in state final and complete undefeated season with first state championship.
Holton: Cooper 45-27. The Jaguars average 46 points per game. I don’t think the Purples can keep pace.
Spencer: Cooper 28-21. Cooper feels like it has been a team of destiny the entire season in 5A. What better way to get to the top of the mountain than through the Purples.
Story: Cooper 42-21. It should be a fun quarterback battle between Bowling Green’s Deuce Bailey and Cooper’s Cam O’Hara. The Jaguars’ defense, which has forced 30 turnovers this year, will be the difference maker.
1. Frakes, 10-2 last week, 232-52 overall
2. Holton, 9-3 last week, 222-62 overall
3. Spencer, 8-4 last week, 214-70 overall
4. Story, 9-3 last week, 207-77 overall
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.
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