2025 State Semifinals Offensive Standouts

As we approach the first weekend of December, the 2025 KHSAA State Championship matchups have been set. With that being said, I wanted to highlight some of the top performers from last week's semifinal action who helped set the stage for this weekend. To kick things off, here are some players who stood out on the offensive side of the ball in the state semifinals in Kentucky.    [player_tooltip player_id='374785' first='Zane' last='Johnson'] continued his undefeated playoff record last week, leading his team to a semifinal victory over St. Xavier. Johnson completed 12/15 passes for 272 yards and six touchdowns. He was very impressive under pressure, showing the ability to stand tall and maneuver in the pocket when necessary while still keeping his eyes down the field to find the open receiver. Johnson also showed off his strong arm which he was able to use to lead his receivers down the field with ease in the deep passing game. Zane currently holds offers from Akron, Eastern Kentucky, Appalachian State, Miami (OH), and Southern Mississippi, and I expect more to continue to stack up for him. Johnson and the Shamrocks will be looking to three-peat as 6A State Champions this week against South Warren.     [player_tooltip player_id='1954622' first='Kayden' last='York'] has had a strong senior year and continued to impress in last week's win over Ryle. York led his team in rushing, carrying the ball 29 times for 222 yards and four touchdowns. He proved to be a strong runner, should the ability to keep his legs driving through contact while maintaining his balance to break tackles with ease. Once he hit the open field, he showed the speed to run away from the defense. He also caught two passes for 13 yards in the win. York doesn't currently hold any offers but he deserves some attention from college coaches as he has the talent to play at the next level. Kayden will look to help South Warren put an end to Trinity's dominant run in the 6A State Championship Game this week.     [player_tooltip player_id='401707' first='Evan' last='Hampton'] continued to prove that he is the best running back in the state in Owensboro's impressive semifinal win over Woodford County. Hampton led the team in rushing, carrying the ball eight times for 266 yards and three touchdowns. He showed impressive vision, showing the patience to let his blocks set up then find the open running lane with ease. Once the running lane opened, he uses his speed to burst through it with a sense of urgency then break away on long runs. He also caught a 51-yard touchdown pass. Hampton signed with Vanderbilt where I can see him being a very productive back at the next level. Evan will be looking to lead Owensboro to a 5A State Championship win this week against a tough Pulaski County team.     [player_tooltip player_id='1688494' first='Jhet' last='Raleigh'] had a perfect game is Boyle County's hard-fought semifinal victory over Corbin, completing 13/13 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Raleigh showed an impressive quick release and accuracy, getting the ball out of his hands quickly to hit his receivers out of their breaks so that they could make catches in stride. He also showed the ability to escape the pocket while keeping his eyes down the field to make throws on the run. Jhet should be a quarterback to keep an eye on as he continues to develop moving forward. Raleigh and the Rebels have an intriguing 4A State Championship matchup ahead of them this week against an undefeated Franklin County team.     [player_tooltip player_id='1200686' first='Seneca' last='Driver'] continued to show why he is our top-ranked player in the state in his class in last week's semifinal win. He played a key role in the Rebels' passing attack, catching three passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns. Driver does a great job of using his strong hands to make catches away from his body then using his speed and strength as a ball carrier in the open field to pick up yards after the catch. He also ran the ball six times for 25 yards and a touchdown, and recorded four tackles in the win. Driver currently holds a long list of Power 4 offers and I expect more to continue to come for him over the next year.     [player_tooltip player_id='401929' first='Tyree' last='Stoner'] played a key role in CAL's semifinal win over Bell County this past week. Stoner carried the ball nine times for 101 yards and four touchdowns. Tyree showed an impressive burst of speed which he used to hit the running lane with a sense of urgency then run away from the defense. He also proved to be a strong runner, driving his legs through contact while keeping his balance to break tackles with ease. Stoner also threw a touchdown pass in the win. Tyree currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Kentucky Wesleyan, and I expect him to be a true impact player wherever he ends up playing at the next level. Stoner will be looking to help lead CAL to their fourth-consecutive 3A state title in a matchup against a talented Murray team this week.     [player_tooltip player_id='1157497' first='Dre'mail' last='Carothers'] continued to prove that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the state in his team's win over Beechwood last week. Carothers completed 26/33 passes for 372 yards and two touchdowns. Dre'mail showcased his very impressive arm strength which he was able to use to stretch the field with ease in the deep passing game. He also showed impressive ball placement, putting his passes in spots where only his intended receivers had a chance to catch them. Dre'mail currently holds offers from Kentucky, Missouri State, Eastern Kentucky, and Kentucky Wesleyan, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Division I caliber prospect. Carothers will be looking to guide his team to victory in the 2A State Championship Game against Lexington Christian Academy this week.     My final offensive standout from the state semifinal round in Kentucky is [player_tooltip player_id='1509008' first='Xavier' last='Maddox']. Maddox played a key role in Owensboro Catholic's victory, leading his team in receiving with four catches for 147 yards and a touchdown. Xavier is a dangerous deep threat, using his explosive speed to blow by opposing defensive backs to create separation. He is also very reliable in jump ball situations, using his athleticism to go up an attach the ball at its highest point and strong hands to bring in the catch, regardless of what type of coverage is around him. Maddox currently holds an offer from Kentucky Wesleyan and I wouldn't be surprised to see more come his way as he has the potential to be a very productive receiver at the next level.

As we approach the first weekend of December, the 2025 KHSAA State Championship matchups have been set. With that being said, I wanted to highlight some of the top performers from last week's semifinal action who helped set the stage for this weekend. To kick things off, here are some players who stood out on the offensive side of the ball in the state semifinals in Kentucky.