The KHSAA Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl is a series of football games, typically held on the first weekend of December, that determine the high school champions of the U.S. state of Kentucky. The tournaments that lead to the championship games, as well as regular-season competition, are governed by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA).
History The KHSAA began conducting state football championships in 1959. Throughout its history, the competition has been divided into classes based on enrollment (though with historic exceptions noted below). The history of classifications is as follows: 1959–1974: Three-class system. All schools in Jefferson County, which includes (and is now consolidated with) the state's largest city of Louisville, were placed in Class 3A regardless of enrollment. Remaining schools were placed in Class 2A or A based on enrollment. 1975–1986: Quasi-four-class system. Initially, all high schools in Jefferson County were placed in Class 4A regardless of enrollment, though by the end of this era smaller schools began to be placed in their appropriate enrollment classes. In this era, there were two separate 4A champions—a "State 4A" winner from outside Jefferson County and a "Jefferson County 4A" champion—that would meet for an overall 4A title. 1987–2006: True four-class system, with all Jefferson County schools classified according to their enrollment. 2007–present: Six-class system, again based on enrollment, but with a slight change in calculation of enrollment. Historically, schools were classified based on total enrollment in grades 9 to 12, with all-boys schools treated as having twice their actual enrollment. With the expansion to six classes, the KHSAA changed the basis for classification to enrollment of boys only in the same grades.
Traditionally, the championship games were held in Louisville, first at the old Cardinal Stadium on the grounds of the Kentucky Exposition Center and later at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, previously known as Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, on the campus of the University of Louisville. From 2009 to 2016, the games moved to Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium on the campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. In 2017, the KHSAA announced that the 2017 and 2018 games will be played at Kroger Field on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington. With the expansion to six classes, the Gridiron Bowl is now a two-day affair, with three championship games on Friday and three on Saturday.
List of champions Below is a complete list of state champions from all six of the KHSAA Divisions
6A state champions Year Champion Score Opponent State champion head coach 2025 Trinity 28-14 South Warren Jay Cobb 2024 Trinity 42-23 Ryle Jay Cobb 2023 Trinity 41-20 Bryan Station Jay Cobb 2022 Bullitt East 28-27 Male Keegan Kendrick 2021 St. Xavier 31-21 Male Kevin Wallace 2020 Trinity 28-0 Male Bob Beatty 2019 Trinity 28-6 Male Bob Beatty 2018 Male 37-20 Scott County Chris Wolfe 2017 Trinity 38-21 St. Xavier Bob Beatty 2016 Trinity 56-21 Lafayette Bob Beatty 2015 Male 41-14 Lafayette Chris Wolfe 2014 Trinity 47-14 Dixie Heights Bob Beatty 2013 Scott County 21-14 Meade County Jim Mckee 2012 Trinity 61-7 Pleasure Ridge Park Bob Beatty 2011 Trinity 62-21 Scott County Bob Beatty 2010 Trinity 38-0 Male Bob Beatty 2009 St. Xavier 34–10 Trinity Mike Glaser 2008 Trinity 48-0 Simon Kenton Bob Beatty 2007 Trinity 34-28 OT St. Xavier Bob Beatty
5A State Champions Year Champion Score Opponent State Champion Head coach 2025 Owensboro 35-7 Pulaski County Damarcus Ganaway Sr. 2024 Bowling Green 37-20 Cooper Mark Spader 2023 Bowling Green 28-14 Cooper Mark Spader 2022 Frederick Douglas 28-7 Bowling Green Nathan McPeek 2021 South Warren 38-26 Frederick Douglass Brandon Smith 2020 Bowling Green 17-7 Owensboro Mark Spader 2019 Covington Catholic 14-7 Frederick Douglass Edward Eviston 2018 South Warren 20-16 Covington Catholic Brandon Smith 2017 Covington Catholic 49-13 Madison Southern Edward Eviston 2016 Bowling Green 70-22 Pulaski County Kevin Wallace Sr. 2015 Bowling Green 21-7 Pulaski County Kevin Wallace Sr. 2014 Pulaski County 14-7 Graves County John Hines 2013 Bowling Green 49-14 Pulaski County Kevin Wallace Sr. 2012 Bowling Green 34–20 Cooper Kevin Wallace Sr. 2011 Bowling Green 55–3 Anderson County Kevin Wallace Sr. 2010 Highlands 50–0 Christian County Dale Mueller 2009 Highlands 35-7 John Hardin Dale Mueller 2008 Highlands 35-15 Christian County Dale Mueller 2007 Highlands 28-7 Bowling Green Dale Mueller
4A State Champions Year State Champion Score State Runner-Up State Champion Head coach 2025 Boyle County 34-0 Franklin County Justin Haddix 2024 Paducah Tilghman 27–20 Franklin County Sean Thompson 2023 Boyle County 41-0 Covington Catholic Justin Haddix 2022 Boyle County 32-26 Corbin Justin Haddix 2021 Boyle County 30-13 Johnson Central Justin Haddix 2020 Boyle County 31-28 OT Franklin County Justin Haddix 2019 Johnson Central 21-20 Boyle County Jim Matney 2018 Franklin-Simpson 14-12 Johnson Central Doug Preston 2017 Franklin-Simpson 35-21 Johnson Central Doug Preston 2016 Johnson Central 48-0 Franklin-Simpson Jim Matney 2015 South Warren 36-6 Johnson Central Brandon Smith 2014 Highlands 49-42 Owensboro Brian Weinrich . 2013 Collins 37-34 Highlands Jerry Lucas 2012 Highlands 47-0 Collins Dale Mueller 2011 Highlands 42-14 Franklin-Simpson Dale Mueller 2010 Boyle County 21–14 Allen County-Scottsville Larry French 2009 Boyle County 42-39 (2 OT) Lone Oak Larry French 2008 Bell County 15-13 Bullitt East Dudley Hilton 2007 Lexington Catholic 49-7 Lone Oak Bill Letton 2006 Trinity (14) 41-7 Ryle Bob Beatty 2005 Trinity (13) 14-6 St. Xavier Bob Beatty 2004 St. Xavier (8) 49-9 Scott County Mike Glaser 2003 Trinity (12) 17-14 St. Xavier Bob Beatty 2002 Trinity (11) 59-56 Male Bob Beatty 2001 Trinity (10) 45-19 Male Bob Beatty 2000 Male (3) 34-14 Trinity Bob Redman 1999 St. Xavier (7) 34-31 OT Bryan Station Mike Glaser 1998 Male (2) 31-7 Tates Creek Bob Redman 1997 St. Xavier (6) 3-0 Trinity Mike Glaser 1996 Nelson County (1) 35-34 OT Paul Dunbar Mark Brown 1995 St. Xavier (5) 26-0 Henry Clay Mike Glaser 1994 Trinity (9) 21-7 Boone County Dennis Lampley 1993 Male (1) 29-7 Shelby County Bob Redman 1992 St. Xavier (4) 3-0 Boone County Mike Glaser 1991 George Rogers Clark (1) 28-21 St. Xavier Don Danko 1990 Trinity (8) 27-14 Warren Central Dennis Lampley 1989 Trinity (7) 28-14 Warren Central Dennis Lampley 1988 Trinity (6) 28-0 DuPont Manual Dennis Lampley 1987 Shelby County (1) 17-14 Boone County Tom Becherer 1986 St. Xavier (3) 27-14 Boone County Mike Glaser 1985 Trinity (5) 28-7 Lafayette Dennis Lampley 1984 Christian County (2) 14-10 Ballard Dan Goble 1983 Trinity (4) 26-7 Owensboro Roger Gruneisen 1982 Christian County (1) 10-3 Southern Dan Goble 1981 Henry Clay (1) 20-7 DeSales Jake Bell 1980 Trinity (3) 31-8 Paducah Tilghman Roger Gruneisen 1979 Butler (1) 21-7 Henry Clay Joe Hood 1978 St. Xavier (2) 42-21 Tates Creek Mike Stewart 1977 Trinity (2) 28-7 Greenup County Dave Moore 1976 Trinity (1) 28-24 Henderson County Dave Moore 1975 St. Xavier (1) 20-0 Ashland Blazer Bill Glaser
3A State Champions Year State Champion Score State Runner-Up State Champion Head coach 2025 Christian Academy-Louisville 42-7 Murray Thomas Cantwell 2024 Christian Academy-Louisville 42-21 Union County Thomas Cantwell 2023 Christian Academy-Louisville 41-16 Bell County Thomas Cantwell 2022 Christian Academy-Louisville 38-0 Bardstown Thomas Cantwell 2021 Belfry 33-28 Paducah Tilghman Philip Haywood 2020 Ashland Blazer 35-14 Elizabethtown Tony Love 2019 Belfry 30-20 Bell County Philip Haywood 2018 Louisville Central 20-19 Corbin Marvin Dantzler 2017 Boyle County 40-21 Corbin Chuck Smith 2016 Belfry 52-31 Louisville Central Philip Haywood 2015 Belfry 43-0 Lexington Catholic Philip Haywood 2014 Belfry 14-7 Louisville Central Philip Haywood 2013 Belfry 3-0 Wayne County Philip Haywood 2012 Louisville Central 12-6 (OT) Belfry Ty Scroggins 2011 Louisville Central 15-14 Belfry Ty Scroggins 2010 Louisville Central 46–7 Belfry Ty Scroggins 2009 Paducah Tilghman 21–0 Somerset Randy Wyatt 2008 Louisville Central 40-19 Breathitt County Ty Scroggins 2007 Louisville Central 27-17 Belfry Ty Scroggins 2006 Covington Catholic 28-7 Bowling Green Jon Rodenberg 2005 Lexington Catholic 49-21 Bowling Green Bob Spire 2004 Highlands 22-6 Boyle County Dale Mueller 2003 Boyle County 44-10 Highlands Chuck Smith 2002 Boyle County 21-0 Rockcastle County Chuck Smith 2001 Boyle County 49-14 Rockcastle County Chuck Smith 2000 Highlands 48-27 Owensboro Dale Mueller 1999 Highlands 48-10 Waggener Dale Mueller 1998 Highlands 56-7 Waggener Dale Mueller 1997 Covington Catholic 21-13 Hopkinsville Lynn Ray 1996 Highlands 21-14 Hopkinsville Dale Mueller 1995 Bowling Green 28-12 Highlands Dan Haley 1994 Covington Catholic 24-21 Bowling Green Lynn Ray 1993 Covington Catholic 28-13 Lincoln County Lynn Ray 1992 Highlands 15-6 Paducah Tilghman Tom Duffy 1991 Bell County 35-13 Meade County Dudley Hilton 1990 Paul Blazer 45-13 Lincoln County Vic Marsh 1989 Highlands 27-3 Paducah Tilghman Tom Duffy 1988 Covington Catholic 30-24 OT Paducah Tilghman Lynn Ray 1987 Covington Catholic 16-6 Paducah Tilghman Lynn Ray 1986 Owensboro 14-0 Belfry Larry Moore 1985 Paducah Tilghman 29-14 Belfry Allan Cox 1984 Danville 24-6 Hopkinsville Tom Duffy 1983 Conner 12-7 Franklin-Simpson Bob Lewis 1982 Highlands 6-0 Franklin-Simpson Bob Herrmann 1981 Highlands 40-24 Elizabethtown Bob Herrmann 1980 Franklin-Simpson 16-0 Conner James Matthews 1979 Franklin-Simpson 33-0 Belfry James Matthews 1978 Russell 17-7 Woodford County Ivan McGlone 1977 Highlands 6-0 Shelby County Bob Herrmann 1976 Lloyd Memorial 30-0 Shelby County Jim Dougherty 1975 Highlands 21-0 Franklin-Simpson Roger Walz 1974 St. Xavier 48-14 Westport Bill Glaser 1973 Trinity 16-0 Southern Dave Moore 1972 Trinity 21-0 Butler Jim Kennedy 1971 FlagetClosed in 1974. 7-7 Thomas JeffersonClosed as a high school; still exists as a middle school. Peter Compise 1970 Butler 20-0 Trinity Elmer Collina 1969 St. Xavier 15-0 Butler Leon Dunagan 1968 Trinity 29-18 Seneca Jim Kennedy 1967 Flaget 21-0 Thomas Jefferson Norm Mackin 1966 DuPont Manual 33-6 Butler Charlie Bentley 1965 Seneca 13-12 Flaget Ron Cain 1964 Male 27-0 Eastern Charlie Kuhn 1963 Male 23-7 Waggener Charlie Kuhn 1962 St. Xavier 7-6 Valley Johnny Meihaus 1961 Flaget 41-13 Fairdale Paulie Miller 1960 Male 1-0 Eastern Charlie Kuhn 1959 DuPont Manual 44-14 Durrett Tom Harper
2A State Champions