ADDRESSES HIS SQUAD AFTER PRACTICE.
FOLEY’s SQUAD TO OPEN SEASON AGAINST OHIO COUNTY ON AUGUST 21
Jason Foley has been a busy man over the last six or seven months at Warren East High School.
The Raiders’ first-year head football coach inherits a squad with a proud tradition, one that dipped to 2-8 overall in 2025 after turmoil in the coaching ranks. Warren County ISD athletics director Greg Howard finished the season on the sideline, as the Raiders’ interim head coach, before Foley was hired in February.
Foley compiled a 63-29 overall record in seven seasons at Southwestern High School, in Somerset, before taking the job at Warren East. The Raiders’ coaches have emphasized the fundamentals and building a team culture since Foley’s arrival, and the team’s players are anxious to test themselves on the field.
“We really have to put everything (from 2025) behind us, and look to the future,” senior linebacker Sam Tunks said.
(THIRD FROM LEFT) MEETS WITH
HIS COACHES DURING A WATER BREAK.
THE SEASON AGAINST
OHIO COUNTY ON AUGUST 21.
That’s music to Foley’s ears, who got acquainted with his new team during spring practice before taking it to another level over the last few weeks.
The Raiders will have controlled scrimmages against Campbellsville and Metcalfe County before opening their season on the smurf turf at Jim Ross Field. They’ll play host to Ohio County on August 21 in the second game of a doubleheader on their home field. Ohio County also went 2-8 last year.
“For us, every day is trying to get better,” Foley said. “It’s a process, establishing a culture. We’re off to a good start. We just have to take it day by day.”
Former Warren East quarterback Xavier Isable passed for 1,862 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, before transferring to tradition-rich Paducah Tilghman, one of the Raiders’ rivals in the KHSAA’s Class 4A, 1st District.
Junior Brandon McCluskey is Isable’s projected successor, at quarterback, but Foley is quick to point out that he’s still in a preliminary stage in finding his starting personnel. The Raiders have about 55 players on their roster.
“It’s wide open. We’re just trying to evaluate where we are,” Foley said. “We just want to see how they do, when we get the pads on.”
Full-contact drills began Monday at KHSAA schools.
Warren East also has to replace departed running back Jeremiah Lee, who rushed for a team-high 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
“We’re off to a good start,” Foley said. “We just have to take it day by day.”
A 63-29 OVERALL RECORD
AT SOUTHWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL.
IN WIDEOUT/SAFETY WESTON AKINS (LEFT)
AND LINEBACKER SAM TUNKS.
No one has to tell Jason Foley about the challenge of competing in the KHSAA’s Class 4A, 1st District, which includes the likes of Paducah Tilghman, Logan County and Franklin-Simpson.
“It’s a tough district. We know there will be some bumps in the road,” Foley said. “It’s going to take a collective effort. It’s about coming together, as a team. I do think we’ve got some depth at the skill positions.”
Senior receiver/free safety Weston Akins said the Raiders understand the task at hand.
“We just have to push through the adversity,” Akins said. “You always want to challenge yourself.”
Warren East senior linebacker Sam Tunks agrees.
“Coach Foley likes to use the word ‘relentless,’ and that’s kind of become the motto for our team,” he said.
DANE PARSLEY AND WARREN EAST
FINISHED WITH AN 11-1 RECORD IN 2022.
