At the Jan. 16 Kentucky High School Athletic Association Board of Control meeting in Lexington, Holmes High School presented the option to opt out of postseason play for the next two seasons as they try to build things back up.
The request was approved, meaning the Bulldogs will not be required to play a district schedule and won’t be eligible for postseason play. In the newly formed alignment for the 2025 and ’26 season, Holmes is in the Class 4A, 5th District with Covington Catholic, Highlands, Mason County and Harrison County.
In the request to opt out, Holmes mentioned, “They’re trying to save the football program” with this request.
The Bulldogs have fallen on hard times recently, failing to register a win the past two seasons. They’ve lost 22 straight games and numbers in the program have taken a dip. They had 23 players on the KHSAA roster for the 2024 season.
They experienced a solid stretch of seasons from 2019-22 where they won two regular season district titles, went 29-15 and won a playoff game in 2019.
Coach Ben Nevels will enter his 13th season with the team in the 2025 season.