11-27-2019, 12:32 AM
L was a big group! The next group is also large for M and N coming tomorrow.
Lancaster Green Devils(18?-1963) The first information I can find on a Lancaster High is from 1899, with first mention of a football team in 1901 when they played Centre College Second Eleven (assume JV), Lancaster closed in 1964 when Lancaster, Camp Dick, Paint Lick, Lancaster Mason and Buckeye consolidated with Garrard County High School. Like many of the schools in Garrard County, Lancaster never really seemed to stand out in football even though they fielded teams right up until they closed in â64.
Laurel County Cardinals (1970-1992) â Opened in 1970 in London, KY. Laurel County was the product of consolidation, when Hazel Green, Lily, London and Bush High Schools merged. The first year on the field Laurel seemed to be on the right track. Going 7-3(4-2) to finish 3rd in a 10 district behind Middlesboro and Corbin, they were predicted to finish 9th by a coachâs poll. Success was not to be sustained on the gridiron however, the cards won their only district title in 1985, and had only 5 winning seasons in football in their 22 years. Their Basketball team on the other hand is a different story, winning 6 state titles. In 1992 due to population growth Laurel County split into North and South Laurel. South would remain at the location of the old school and retain the name Cardinals but is not considered a direct continuation of Laurel County.
Lawrenceburg Bulldogs(18?-1948) â The first mention of a Lawrenceburg High School I can find is from 1896. The Bulldogs final record in 1948 was 0-7, scoring only 8 points and allowing 282. In 1949 Lawrenceburg would consolidate with Kavanaugh High School to become Anderson County High School. Like many small central Kentucky teams Lawrenceburg seems to have enjoyed it success on the hardwood.
Lebanon Yellowjackets (189?-1969) â Located in Marion County, Lebanon consolidated in 1970 with St. Charles and St. Augustine to form Marion County High School. The Jackets final two seasons before consolidation saw the team go 14-5(4-2), though the 1A school never finished higher than 4th in district play in the playoff era.
Lily Bulldogs (-1970) â Lily football data prior to 1961 is spotty. In 1961 Lily went 8-1, in 1962 they also went 8-1 and would play in their only playoff game, loosing to eventual state runner up and Eastern Ky power Lynch East Main 27- 0. Regions 1 thru 3 received first round byes (automatic region titles), only Lynch and Lily had to play a first-round game that year. 1963 would mark a downturn for Lily going 6-3, scoring only 26 points, they would not win more than 5 games in a single season until the school closed in 1970 to become part of Laurel County
Lincoln Institute Tigers (1912-1966) â An all-black boarding school, Lincoln was another product of segregation. Spending most of their years in the KHSAL, Lincoln was the first school in Ky named after President Lincoln, Berea schools had been integrated following the civil war until 1904 when Kentucky law ended the integration. The Lincoln Institute was created by the Berea College board of Trustees. As KHSAA organized football continued to evolve and the playoff structure began to form Lincoln struggled, desegregation caused a reduction in enrollment Lincolns only winning record was 1961 when they went 4-3. In 1964 the team struggled the worst putting up only 24 points.
London Tigers (??-1970) â Another of the High Schools that would become Laurel County. The first records I can find for the Tigers are 1958, though they had Football in the distant past, 1958 marked the return of it to the school until it closed, they would play the Kentucky School for the Deaf at KSD in their 1958 opener. From 1962-1966 things looked bright for football at London High, going 9-1 in 63 winning their district and making the playoffs. They would finish 2nd then next three years. In 1967 the team went 1-9 and by 1970 was swallowed up in consolidation.
Lone Jack Mustangs (-1984)â The Mustangs of Lone Jack are first mentioned as far as I can find in 1932, in a debate article. It has been nearly impossible to find any information about the Mustangs on the football field. Records show them fielding a team from 1978-1982 going 11-40 in that time frame. In 1984 Lone Jack was consolidated with Bell County and a new school was opened. The Mustangs Blue and White colors where kept and are Bell Counties colors today. There was some protest that the new school was not called Bell County Central or Bell Central. The two schools had been bitter sports rivals for years.
Lone Oak Purple Flash (1919-2013) â It hasnât been long since Lone Oak shut it doors to become part of newly consolidated McCracken County with Reidland and Heath. Lone Oak fielded their first football team in 1968, though they only played a JV schedule. In 1969 the began playing in district play. For the first 20 years of their existence the Purple Flash where a mid to bottom of the pack program with a few 6-win seasons but nothing memorable. In 1991 when the KHSAA expanded to accept 4 teams per district Lone Oak made the cut at 4th and won a playoff game upsetting Region 1 District 2 champ Owensboro Catholic 21-14. They would not taste playoff success for 16 years, then in 2007 KHSAA expanded to 6 classes and Lone Oak appeared to be a benefactor of the change. Going 10-0 the Purple Flash won their first district title and would storm through the first three rounds of the playoffs to win their first regional title. They would beat Warren East in the semi-finals before falling in the 4A state title game. They would repeat this success 2 years later finishing as runners up. In 2007 it was decided a new Lone Oak high school would be built to deal with overcrowding, in 2008 McCracken County School received approval to build a single new school, forcing the consolidation that would end Lone Oak. Knowing itâs days were numbered Lone Oak succeeded on the football like it never had before from 2007-2012 the Purple Flash went 53-7 (14-6 playoffs) with 4 District titles, 2 Region Titles and 2 State Runner Up trophies. Lone Oak seemed poised to benefit from the new 6 class system like many other schools but as it does consolidation swallowed up what could have been
Louisa Bulldogs (1922-1977) â The precursor to Lawrence County high school, Louisa started playing football in 1922, in 1926 the team went 6-0-2. From 1947-1949 Jim Caldill lead the team to a 29-4 record. A new coach in 1950 saw a new norm in Louisa as the team began to feast near the bottom of the standings with few back to back seasons of sustained success, a 6 or 7 season win here or there for the next 18 years. The team would have their best season in the playoff era going 9-1(1-1) in the playoffs beating Shelbyville in the 1A playoffs 27-20 before loosing 14-8 to Elkhorn City in the semi-finals. In 1977 a new facility was completed and the schools name changed to Lawrence County
Loyall Indians (??-1966) â played their first season of football in 1935 and appears to have been a middle of the pack team in Harlan county in the 40s and 50s, in 1948 the team went 0-11 only to turn it around in 49 to go 6-3. This was pretty much the story of Loyall football. In 1966 Loyall would consolidate with Heat (who had earlier absorbed what was left of Black Star) and Wallins to form James A. Cawood. It took several years but this consolidation would lead to on field success for the former communities.
Louisville Country Day Hawks (1950-1972) â The story of the Hawks is tangled up with the origins of Kentucky Country Day. Records are confusing due to a Catholic Country Day that existed from 57-61. In 1950 the school planned for 120 students. Known by Kentucky Country Day due to a headache inducing number of mergers, Country Day was the only school not taken into class AAAA when all Jefferson County Schools were in 1974.
Lynch East Bulldogs (-1980) â Lynch in Harlan County was considered the Cadillac of Coal Towns, once boasting over ten thousand residents from 38 countries, the town now has a population of about 600. Had its own pro-baseball team sponsored by US Steel in the 1920s. With all of its deep-rooted coal history, it may be Ed Miracle and his Lynch Bulldogs that stand the test of time. Lynch began itâs rise in Football in the 1950s. In 1958 the team went 9-1-1 then in 1959 the KHSAA started the playoff system and from 1959-1973 there may have been no more feared team in the mountains of Eastern Ky. The Bulldogs would win 4 state titles, appearing in the first 5 single A title games going 3-2. By the time 1971 was over the Bulldogs would win another title and two more runner up trophies. From 1058-1973 Lynch would go 131-19 in the regular season and 18-8 in the playoffs. An entire book could be written on Lynch East. If you are ever in Lynch you can visit the Bulldog room on Main Street to take in a ton of its history.
Lancaster Green Devils(18?-1963) The first information I can find on a Lancaster High is from 1899, with first mention of a football team in 1901 when they played Centre College Second Eleven (assume JV), Lancaster closed in 1964 when Lancaster, Camp Dick, Paint Lick, Lancaster Mason and Buckeye consolidated with Garrard County High School. Like many of the schools in Garrard County, Lancaster never really seemed to stand out in football even though they fielded teams right up until they closed in â64.
Laurel County Cardinals (1970-1992) â Opened in 1970 in London, KY. Laurel County was the product of consolidation, when Hazel Green, Lily, London and Bush High Schools merged. The first year on the field Laurel seemed to be on the right track. Going 7-3(4-2) to finish 3rd in a 10 district behind Middlesboro and Corbin, they were predicted to finish 9th by a coachâs poll. Success was not to be sustained on the gridiron however, the cards won their only district title in 1985, and had only 5 winning seasons in football in their 22 years. Their Basketball team on the other hand is a different story, winning 6 state titles. In 1992 due to population growth Laurel County split into North and South Laurel. South would remain at the location of the old school and retain the name Cardinals but is not considered a direct continuation of Laurel County.
Lawrenceburg Bulldogs(18?-1948) â The first mention of a Lawrenceburg High School I can find is from 1896. The Bulldogs final record in 1948 was 0-7, scoring only 8 points and allowing 282. In 1949 Lawrenceburg would consolidate with Kavanaugh High School to become Anderson County High School. Like many small central Kentucky teams Lawrenceburg seems to have enjoyed it success on the hardwood.
Lebanon Yellowjackets (189?-1969) â Located in Marion County, Lebanon consolidated in 1970 with St. Charles and St. Augustine to form Marion County High School. The Jackets final two seasons before consolidation saw the team go 14-5(4-2), though the 1A school never finished higher than 4th in district play in the playoff era.
Lily Bulldogs (-1970) â Lily football data prior to 1961 is spotty. In 1961 Lily went 8-1, in 1962 they also went 8-1 and would play in their only playoff game, loosing to eventual state runner up and Eastern Ky power Lynch East Main 27- 0. Regions 1 thru 3 received first round byes (automatic region titles), only Lynch and Lily had to play a first-round game that year. 1963 would mark a downturn for Lily going 6-3, scoring only 26 points, they would not win more than 5 games in a single season until the school closed in 1970 to become part of Laurel County
Lincoln Institute Tigers (1912-1966) â An all-black boarding school, Lincoln was another product of segregation. Spending most of their years in the KHSAL, Lincoln was the first school in Ky named after President Lincoln, Berea schools had been integrated following the civil war until 1904 when Kentucky law ended the integration. The Lincoln Institute was created by the Berea College board of Trustees. As KHSAA organized football continued to evolve and the playoff structure began to form Lincoln struggled, desegregation caused a reduction in enrollment Lincolns only winning record was 1961 when they went 4-3. In 1964 the team struggled the worst putting up only 24 points.
London Tigers (??-1970) â Another of the High Schools that would become Laurel County. The first records I can find for the Tigers are 1958, though they had Football in the distant past, 1958 marked the return of it to the school until it closed, they would play the Kentucky School for the Deaf at KSD in their 1958 opener. From 1962-1966 things looked bright for football at London High, going 9-1 in 63 winning their district and making the playoffs. They would finish 2nd then next three years. In 1967 the team went 1-9 and by 1970 was swallowed up in consolidation.
Lone Jack Mustangs (-1984)â The Mustangs of Lone Jack are first mentioned as far as I can find in 1932, in a debate article. It has been nearly impossible to find any information about the Mustangs on the football field. Records show them fielding a team from 1978-1982 going 11-40 in that time frame. In 1984 Lone Jack was consolidated with Bell County and a new school was opened. The Mustangs Blue and White colors where kept and are Bell Counties colors today. There was some protest that the new school was not called Bell County Central or Bell Central. The two schools had been bitter sports rivals for years.
Lone Oak Purple Flash (1919-2013) â It hasnât been long since Lone Oak shut it doors to become part of newly consolidated McCracken County with Reidland and Heath. Lone Oak fielded their first football team in 1968, though they only played a JV schedule. In 1969 the began playing in district play. For the first 20 years of their existence the Purple Flash where a mid to bottom of the pack program with a few 6-win seasons but nothing memorable. In 1991 when the KHSAA expanded to accept 4 teams per district Lone Oak made the cut at 4th and won a playoff game upsetting Region 1 District 2 champ Owensboro Catholic 21-14. They would not taste playoff success for 16 years, then in 2007 KHSAA expanded to 6 classes and Lone Oak appeared to be a benefactor of the change. Going 10-0 the Purple Flash won their first district title and would storm through the first three rounds of the playoffs to win their first regional title. They would beat Warren East in the semi-finals before falling in the 4A state title game. They would repeat this success 2 years later finishing as runners up. In 2007 it was decided a new Lone Oak high school would be built to deal with overcrowding, in 2008 McCracken County School received approval to build a single new school, forcing the consolidation that would end Lone Oak. Knowing itâs days were numbered Lone Oak succeeded on the football like it never had before from 2007-2012 the Purple Flash went 53-7 (14-6 playoffs) with 4 District titles, 2 Region Titles and 2 State Runner Up trophies. Lone Oak seemed poised to benefit from the new 6 class system like many other schools but as it does consolidation swallowed up what could have been
Louisa Bulldogs (1922-1977) â The precursor to Lawrence County high school, Louisa started playing football in 1922, in 1926 the team went 6-0-2. From 1947-1949 Jim Caldill lead the team to a 29-4 record. A new coach in 1950 saw a new norm in Louisa as the team began to feast near the bottom of the standings with few back to back seasons of sustained success, a 6 or 7 season win here or there for the next 18 years. The team would have their best season in the playoff era going 9-1(1-1) in the playoffs beating Shelbyville in the 1A playoffs 27-20 before loosing 14-8 to Elkhorn City in the semi-finals. In 1977 a new facility was completed and the schools name changed to Lawrence County
Loyall Indians (??-1966) â played their first season of football in 1935 and appears to have been a middle of the pack team in Harlan county in the 40s and 50s, in 1948 the team went 0-11 only to turn it around in 49 to go 6-3. This was pretty much the story of Loyall football. In 1966 Loyall would consolidate with Heat (who had earlier absorbed what was left of Black Star) and Wallins to form James A. Cawood. It took several years but this consolidation would lead to on field success for the former communities.
Louisville Country Day Hawks (1950-1972) â The story of the Hawks is tangled up with the origins of Kentucky Country Day. Records are confusing due to a Catholic Country Day that existed from 57-61. In 1950 the school planned for 120 students. Known by Kentucky Country Day due to a headache inducing number of mergers, Country Day was the only school not taken into class AAAA when all Jefferson County Schools were in 1974.
Lynch East Bulldogs (-1980) â Lynch in Harlan County was considered the Cadillac of Coal Towns, once boasting over ten thousand residents from 38 countries, the town now has a population of about 600. Had its own pro-baseball team sponsored by US Steel in the 1920s. With all of its deep-rooted coal history, it may be Ed Miracle and his Lynch Bulldogs that stand the test of time. Lynch began itâs rise in Football in the 1950s. In 1958 the team went 9-1-1 then in 1959 the KHSAA started the playoff system and from 1959-1973 there may have been no more feared team in the mountains of Eastern Ky. The Bulldogs would win 4 state titles, appearing in the first 5 single A title games going 3-2. By the time 1971 was over the Bulldogs would win another title and two more runner up trophies. From 1058-1973 Lynch would go 131-19 in the regular season and 18-8 in the playoffs. An entire book could be written on Lynch East. If you are ever in Lynch you can visit the Bulldog room on Main Street to take in a ton of its history.