KHSAA Week 1 Player Spotlight: Boyle County vs Owensboro Catholic

<p>It's Thursday, and you know what that means. We're one day away from kicking off the 2026 KHSAA football season. Let's take a closer look at one of the top games overall ahead of tomorrow night's big matchup in Boyle County vs Owensboro Catholic:</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Boyle County</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1688494' first='Jhet' last='Raleigh'] is regarded as one of the top junior quarterbacks in Kentucky, and for good reason. He led 4A in completion percentage (141-191, 73.8%) to go along with his 2,067 passing yards, 22 touchdown throws, and just two interceptions. His accuracy is on full display on medium and deep throws. He can fit the ball into the receiver's bread basket, away from the defender. He also has pinpoint precision while rolling out on the run or when he has to improvise. Moreover, he doesn't panic when he senses pressure. Instead, Raleigh steps up and stands tall in the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield to try and make a play.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1701070' first='Grant' last='Holman'] has the size and skill of a big-time college offensive lineman. He's put on 15 extra pounds over the offseason and will be an excellent right tackle for Boyle County en route to another state title this fall. What really impresses me about Holman is his ability to explode off the line of scrimmage and burst through the second level of defense. He's very athletic and, despite his height, can stay low and drive his defender for yards. Holman's explosiveness and speed make him exceptionally strong when pulling along the line of scrimmage. He also executes consistently in both run and pass-block situations, making him one of the top junior tackles in his class.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Boyle County boasts the No. 1 and No. 2 tight ends in Kentucky, [player_tooltip player_id='1200686' first='Seneca' last='Driver'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1200658' first='Maddox' last='Hager']. For Hager, he's 6'6", 220 pounds, and a dangerous weapon for the Rebels when Driver isn't on the field. However, Hager's length and athleticism allow him to slide into a hybrid H-back role where he can play in the slot. His height allows him to rise above defenders for contested catches, and he has soft hands for a TE his size. Another note on his height -- Hager can wrap around defenders and provide crucial blocking that allows Boyle County to keep the play alive on the outside, or to open up the C gap during running plays.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Owensboro Catholic</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">There is perhaps no quarterback returning across the Bluegrass who's coming off a more impressive season than [player_tooltip player_id='1157497' first='Dre'mail' last='Carothers']. Carothers finished last season with a 67.2% (287-427) completion percentage for 4,022 yards, 49 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. In recent scrimmages heading into Week 1, Carothers demonstrated his ability to throw accurately under pressure, place the ball over defenders and into the waiting hands of his receiver, and maintain a quality throwing motion that wastes no time. Mechanically, Carothers has an elite grasp of the fundamentals of the game. All signs point to him picking up right where he left off last season, and he has a heck of an opponent to showcase himself. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">There is no denying or hiding John "JP" Carrico when he steps onto a football field. At 6-foot-8, 295 pounds, he's regarded as a four-star offensive tackle by national recruiting outlets. If his height and weight aren't imposing, Carrico runs a 5.2 40-yard dash. His length and athleticism help him perform a multitude of blocking techniques. He can wrap or kick his defender out to help open massive gaps along the offensive line. This gives his quarterback or the ball carrier space to extend the play and make a move downfield. While he's an incredibly physical run blocker, Carrico has demonstrated great consistency in pass blocking and widening his QB's pocket. He has even demonstrated that he can take on multiple defenders at once to help protect his backfield.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2106532' first='Jude' last='Evans'] was one of the most prolific tacklers in the state last season. He finished his sophomore season with 130 total tackles and 10 tackles for loss, playing middle linebacker. Evans also proved himself as a defensive disruptor, forcing two fumbles in 2025. He flies to the football and always puts himself in a great position to make a play. Evans is also a running back offensively and broke off a 37-yard touchdown run in a preseason game vs. North Hopkins earlier this month. He has the potential to be a big-time contributor to Owensboro Catholic on both sides of the ball this season.</p>    <p></p>

It's Thursday, and you know what that means. We're one day away from kicking off the 2026 KHSAA football season. Let's take a closer look at one of the top games overall ahead of tomorrow night's big matchup in Boyle County vs Owensboro Catholic: