Atherton football pushes toward state title berth after years of steady growth

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Atherton has had a slow build to respectability and then relevance and now legitimate state championship contender under seventh year head coach Anthony White and his staff.

The first winning season came in 2022 at 7-5 with a second round playoff defeat. The Ravens went 11-2 in 2023 with a third round defeat. There was another third round defeat last season, finishing 10-3.

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This year's group has amassed a 12-1 mark with last week's 49-21 win over Bowling Green avenging a one-sided loss to the Purples in last year's playoffs.

"It did a lot for them confidence-wise because everybody always said Atherton was city good, but it wasn't state good," White said. "For us to go and knock off a state champion, that did a lot for our confidence as a school, program, team and staff. We needed that."

Atherton is outscoring opponents by an average of 40-6 and that includes eight shutouts.

Now, they travel to Pulaski County to challenge the Maroons, on Friday at 7 p.m. The winner gets a berth in the 5A State Championship game next Saturday in Lexington.

The Ravens are one of the multiple area teams still playing in this Friday's semi-finals.

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