It took former NFL quarterback Chad Pennington seven years to lead Sayre High School to a Kentucky high school football championship. Friday, Pennington and his Spartans beat Raceland 27-22 to capture the state’s 1A title in the school’s backyard, Kroger Field, home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
After 40-years of no football at Lexington private school, Sayre restarted the program in 2018 with Pennington at the helm.
In 2023, Sayre finished 12-1, losing to the team they beat today (Raceland) in the the state quarterfinals.
Friday’s win caps a perfect 15-0 season with Sayre outscoring opponents 648-95.
Pennington was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft. During his 11 year career, he led the league twice in completion percentage and once in passer rating. His career completion percentage is 66.0-percent with 102 touchdown passes.
Scholastically, Pennington began playing football during his freshman year at the Webb School in Knoxville, Tennessee.
