[DALE]

NewCath
1965- GCL runner-up
2005- The best team passing NewCath team ever, don't care what stats say.
2010- Could run over anyone. Absolute maulers. Great head coach.
2006- Battlers, started the season 1-5, came back from 17 down in the 4th to beat Danville
1993- With a different offensive philosophy this team is maybe #2 on the list. Absolutely loaded w/ talent.

30, how would you rank the 2001 team? That team was loaded with seniors that made a surprise visit as juniors to the state finals. Jeff Smith went on to play at Georgetown and was eventually being picked up as a FA by the Bengals for a short period of time. Then you had a beast in Everson in the backfield and Barto staring down the opposition. Should have won state against a mighty Danville team that year had Everson been 100% and the kick not clanked the crossbar.

[NKYfootballfan91]

For Bell County:

1. 1991. State champs
2. 2008. State champs
3. 1990. State semis lost to Ashland
4. 1996. State semis lost to Highlands
5. 2004. State semis lost to Highlands

You mention that 1990 team. Took some horrific officiating and a soaked field, although it hadn't rained for months, to beat a Lloyd team that should have won a 1A title that year. That Ashland team was really good, I will add that. Some would say, the three best backs together in the history of ky high school football.

[Panther Thunder]

I remember being a young boy and my dad talking about how crazy good Steven Bailey from Pikeville. I saw him play and my memory was a "David Jones type" guy for lack or more meaningful reference.

I have watched a TON of film over the past 3 years and he is my favorite player to watch out of it all, just a little in front of Brent Coleman and Cody Estep.

[RunItUpTheGut]

When it comes to Bell, I would rank the 04 team ahead of the 08 team if were talking a head to head matchup and not just the success.
I was there at that Highlands game. One of the best looking teams ive ever seen in EKY.
If not for Mitchell at Highlands, Bell would have won the game, and most likely the state title.

[Gitback Coach]

Middlesboro

1998 - Class A Champs
1975 - Class AA runner-up
1974 - Class AA runner-up
1965 - Class AA runner-up
1981 - 11-1, upset in round 1 of playoffs (15-14 to Somerset)

[Granny Bear]

Harlan County:

2013
2012
2011
2010
2009

Only had 5!

[3wishes]

Harlan County:

2013
2012
2011
2010
2009

Only had 5!

You forgot 2008

[bucslover68]

Cannot really argue much with the Belfry posts...I may switch the order around a little bit,but that is really splitting hairs. 1978 and 79 teams were really good and deserve mention. The 78 team lost at Russell by one on a controversial 2 point conversion...a tackle eligible that had been discussed with the officials before the game by the Belfry staff. Belfry converted the 2 points but it was wiped out by penalty...Russell went on to the 3A championship fairly easily. In 79 Belfry rolled to a 12-0 record including winning AT Highlands in the semis, but couldn't get past Franklin-Simpson in the finals. Two very good teams.

[Diogenes]

Johnson Central

2006: 10-0 regular season, first ever regional championship, 13-1 record, first ever semi-state appearance.
2000: First ever 10-0 regular season, first ever district championship.
2013: 10-0 regular season, district champions.
1998: First ever playoff appearance.
2008: 9-1 regular season, district champions.

One minor quibble. JC's first playoffs were in 1995, I believe, led by the Ward-Estep duo at QB. It resulted in what I recall being a long trip to Log Mountain to get waxed in the first round, but we did get there. I think the 2010 team would rank behind 2006 and 2013 and just ahead of 2000 and 1998. Both those Musick era teams should have advanced in the playoffs but were hurt by late game injuries to star players. JC was up 10-7 at Bell Co in 1998 and driving w 4 minutes left with Mike Bowlin went out with an injury. Drive stalled, we punted, and they ran repetitively right over Bowlin's vacated spot on D to score and win. 2000, were playing even with Tates Creek at home when Scott Salyer went out and Neal and Baltimore ran all over the place without him in at LB. What might have been...

[geauxtigers75]

When it comes to Bell, I would rank the 04 team ahead of the 08 team if were talking a head to head matchup and not just the success.
I was there at that Highlands game. One of the best looking teams ive ever seen in EKY.
If not for Mitchell at Highlands, Bell would have won the game, and most likely the state title.

Watched that game as well. I remember that Bell team very well, mostly because my school had to play them. They were 1 fumble away from another title. Robbins was an absolute beast at RB, and Barton, Rogers and Henderson on Defense, very tough squad.

[Hatz]

Since there are no Danville fans on here that I can discern, here's a shot at them. I will only rank the teams from the playoff era on.

1. 1992. Undefeated AA champs that mopped the floor with everyone they played. They were a machine. Blew Mayfield out in the title game from late in the 3rd quarter on.

2. 1984. Unbeaten AAA champs. I rank them just below the above team. Awesome defense and underrated offense. Had 27 players on the roster if memory serves. Duffy's first title team. Decimated a highly ranked Cov Cath team in the Regional final, 28-0. Beat Hoptown in the finals 24-6 with the Tigers only score coming late in the game.

3. 1993. Lost in the State Semi-finals by one to Prestonsburg. Probably the best of all the Admiral teams but had a bad night vs. a very good Blackcat squad. Danville beat the AAAA runner-up (Shelby County) by 14 and throttled the AAA runner-up (Lincoln County) in the regular season. One of the best rushing attacks from any school. Might add they finished the regular season ranked #1 by Litkenhouse regardless of class.

4. 2003. Lost only one game, to AAA State Champ Boyle. Beat HHS, and Manual. Penix and Turner were a strong backfield combo. Throttled a 13-2 Beechwood team in the final, 42-7.

5. 1994. 15-0 again. Not really challenged by anyone that season. Finished 3rd in the state regardless of class in the Lit ratings.

Honorable Mention to:

1962 AA State Champs.
1980 Tom Duffy's first Danville Squad.
1987 AA State Champs
2000 A State Champs

[3wishes]

Rockcastle County

2001: 14-1 State Runner Up, Most points scored in school history (703), second in points given up (106). Completely balanced team with 2,832 yards rushing and 2,835 yards passing. Beat by Boyle County.

2000: 13-1 Semi-Finalists, 1st Regional Championship Team, Least points ever given up in school history (96), third most points scored (574), still really balanced team with 2,536 rushing and 1,808 passing. First 10-0 regular season, allowed only 87 yards rushing per game. Also record 50 yard FG. Beat by one of best ever in Highlands.

2002: 13-2 State Runner Up, allowed only 30 yards per game rushing, little less balanced, still had one of best rushing attacks in state with over 3,800 yards and still almost managed 2,000 passing yards. Beat by Boyle County.

1991 11-2 Regional Runner Up, only 9 points per game given up, scored almost 400 points running power football exclusively. Breakout year, the year that put Rock on the map for football. WYMT was exploding with Rocket highlights that year. Lost to an awesome Danville team on two controversial calls 18-13 at Admiral Stadium, first regional championship appearance. First team to beat Corbin twice in same season.


1995 9-2 Lost both games to Boyle County and Whitesburg by 1 point each, probably the best tandem of running backs in history of school. Beat a lot of talented EKY and CKY schools that season.

Honrable Mention:

1987: 9-2, kinda of a resurrection year after lots of down years, got the momentum going for the next three decades. Tons of school spirit that year.

1974: 7-4, lost 4 games by an average of 3 points per game.

1977: 8-2, lost two games by a total of 8 points and two overtimes.

1982: 9-3, first team to beat Bell County, high on scoring list and low on points given up. Lost two games to get into playoffs by 2 points total.

1993: Destroyed Hazard who was coming off a State caliber year, lost to Danville in Region. Lots of points.

1999: 10-3, really started another great run for the Rockets and surprised a lot of people with wins on the road in the playoffs. Regional Runner Up, lost to Lawrence County.

2005: 11-3, lost to Danville, Bell County and Lexington Catholic. Great balance, 2,600 rushing, 2,100 passing. Youtube controversial call at Bell County for fun, I'm sure it is on there. Ended up shutting Bell County out in playoffs for revenge game. Semi Finalist in State.

2006: 11-2, lost to Lincoln and Johnson Central, exclusive rushing attack with 4,000 yards. Regional Runner Up. Beat Bell County twice in same year.

[Hatz]

Watched that game as well. I remember that Bell team very well, mostly because my school had to play them. They were 1 fumble away from another title. Robbins was an absolute beast at RB, and Barton, Rogers and Henderson on Defense, very tough squad.

Hear that a lot of times. Would love for Boyle to have played Bell to have found out if that was true. :Thumbs:

[geauxtigers75]

Hear that a lot of times. Would love for Boyle to have played Bell to have found out if that was true. :Thumbs:

True, may have been incorrect to assume such, but I watched Highlands and Boyle in the final that year as well and I came away from it thinking Bell could have won it had they made it. Would have definitely enjoyed seeing Bell/Boyle in that final.

[TopCat]

This thread is turning out to be my all-time favorite. I love reading about the other schools best squads.

[EKUAlum05]

When it comes to Bell, I would rank the 04 team ahead of the 08 team if were talking a head to head matchup and not just the success.
I was there at that Highlands game. One of the best looking teams ive ever seen in EKY.
If not for Mitchell at Highlands, Bell would have won the game, and most likely the state title.

To play Devil's Advocate that 2004 Bell team was very good..but IMHO they were probably the 3rd best team in EKY that year.

They lost to a very good Pburg team who was absolutely loaded and possibly one of their 5 best teams... but Pburg in turn lost twice in narrow games to the 2004 Belfry team that went on to win it all.

2004 was one of the strongest year's in Mountain History, IMHO in terms of the top of the heap. All three of those teams I mentioned were loaded to the gills.

2004 Pburg was much better than their fate showed.Truly a State Championship calibur team that just had the misfortune of a buzzsaw in their same District/Region.

[30 going on 40]

30, how would you rank the 2001 team? That team was loaded with seniors that made a surprise visit as juniors to the state finals. Jeff Smith went on to play at Georgetown and was eventually being picked up as a FA by the Bengals for a short period of time. Then you had a beast in Everson in the backfield and Barto staring down the opposition. Should have won state against a mighty Danville team that year had Everson been 100% and the kick not clanked the crossbar.

I liked that team alot. Set a state record for the amount of plays run. I actually forgot about them. I'd have them on the list and #4. 3 things stick out about that Danville game.
A. The dropped TD pass in the 1st quarter that would have swung momentum to NewCath.
B. Leading receiver Sean Kelly being out w/ a bum ankle really hurt them.
C. Left Tackle Kevin Eviston being out w/ an injured knee. He was dominant that season.
If they had those 2 players, or the that pass was caught, NewCath wins that game, IMO, going away.

[TopCat]

Bell was up 21-0 on p'burg at p'burg. Then some fancey officiating started. Bell had 275 yds rushing by halftime. In 2nd half only 2 first downs and 150 yds in penalties. Before the half P'burg threw up a hail mary pass that was caught atleast 5 feet out of bounds......................guess what it was called complete. The WR didn't belive it he was running back up the field to the previous spot hitting himself in the helmet. 2nd half was a festival of FLAGS!!!!! Holding calls, false starts and facemasks. All the side judges must have been drunk b/c the never walked straight on the spots. When Bell had the ball they staggered back toward the LOS or behind it, when p'burg had it the wandered away from the LOS. That was 1 of only 2 game films Dudley ever sent to KHSAA.

P'burg did have a nice team but dang that was 1 of the worse exhibitions of officiating I have ever seen and that is saying something.

[strawberryshakeman]

I liked that team alot. Set a state record for the amount of plays run. I actually forgot about them. I'd have them on the list and #4. 3 things stick out about that Danville game.
A. The dropped TD pass in the 1st quarter that would have swung momentum to NewCath.
B. Leading receiver Sean Kelly being out w/ a bum ankle really hurt them.
C. Left Tackle Kevin Eviston being out w/ an injured knee. He was dominant that season.
If they had those 2 players, or the that pass was caught, NewCath wins that game, IMO, going away.

All of those teams had great talent, no doubt about it. The favorite teams always seem to fall in the championship or runner up category. Some of my favorite teams were from the late 70's and early 80's when NewCath was competing 3a in a 4 class system. During that era the enrollment at NC was way down, but the talent was still there. You don't hear the names like Robinson, Sandfoss or Kremer brought up much in todays conversations. Right before NC merged with OLP to make a coed school there was less than 200 boys in all grades. NC was 8-2 during the 81 season and 7-4 during the 82 season. Not bad for teams that should of been playing in 1a but were going up against schools like Highlands, Boone Co, Conner, CovCath etc. Maybe it was an era when schools didn't care so much about what class they played in or they just wanted to play the best. Any thoughts?

[Old Jumper]

Somerset

1. 1916 (7-0-1)
2. 1982 (10-1)
3. 1983 (14-1)
4. 1984 (13-1)
5. 2009 (14-1)

[Hatz]

Somerset

1. 1916 (7-0-1)
2. 1982 (10-1)
3. 1983 (14-1)
4. 1984 (13-1)
5. 2009 (14-1)

Good list Old Jumper. Like the love for the '82 team. They were a pretty awesome squad.

How do you think the '78 team would stack up to the others on your list. They were pretty potent on the ground if I recall.

[blue1424]

Collins

1. 2013 (13-2)
2. 2012 (11-4)
3. 2011 (11-3)
4. 2010 (11-2)

They haven't even had 5 seasons yet!

[Old Jumper]

Good list Old Jumper. Like the love for the '82 team. They were a pretty awesome squad.

How do you think the '78 team would stack up to the others on your list. They were pretty potent on the ground if I recall.

The '78 team is likely 6th best all-time, and yes, that was Pete Venable's senior season, so the ground game was pretty solid. I would rank the next five Jumper squads like this:

6. 1978 (9-4)
7. 1988 (11-3)
8. 1949 (9-2)
9. 2010 (13-1)
10. 1981 (11-3)

[Buc Wild]

Bell was up 21-0 on p'burg at p'burg. Then some fancey officiating started. Bell had 275 yds rushing by halftime. In 2nd half only 2 first downs and 150 yds in penalties. Before the half P'burg threw up a hail mary pass that was caught atleast 5 feet out of bounds......................guess what it was called complete. The WR didn't belive it he was running back up the field to the previous spot hitting himself in the helmet. 2nd half was a festival of FLAGS!!!!! Holding calls, false starts and facemasks. All the side judges must have been drunk b/c the never walked straight on the spots. When Bell had the ball they staggered back toward the LOS or behind it, when p'burg had it the wandered away from the LOS. That was 1 of only 2 game films Dudley ever sent to KHSAA.

P'burg did have a nice team but dang that was 1 of the worse exhibitions of officiating I have ever seen and that is saying something.

I must have watched a different game than you. The one I remember Pburg took it to Bell and some Robbins fumbles didn't help matters for Bell at all.

Belfry
'03
'04
'85
'89
'07
'95
'91
'12
'03
'97

[sstack]

[quote=birdman44]Highlands Post 1980:

1. 1998 Lorenzen Smith
2. 2009 Collinsworth Roller
3. 2000 Guidugli Hamblen
4. 2011 Towles Sheehan
5. 1982 Kramer or Abner? Ulbricht?

honorable mention
1996 Frisk Lickert

you kind of have to go undefeated/one loss to a GCL and win state to be considered to be on this list.
It kindof breaks down to the hot years of the 96-00 era and the 07-12 era.










I know there are a lot of ole timey squads that were great too... don't knowmuch earlier than 80[/QUOTE


That 82 team was best in the state that year having beat 4A champs (only 4 classes that year) Christian co, and ranked in top25 in nation. Do not forget bankamper, ,maile, whalie, fisher and I am forgetting middle LB name (165pound guy who played like he was 210).

[strawberryshakeman]

Cottingham?

[charlie22]

[quote=birdman44]Highlands Post 1980:

1. 1998 Lorenzen Smith
2. 2009 Collinsworth Roller
3. 2000 Guidugli Hamblen
4. 2011 Towles Sheehan
5. 1982 Kramer or Abner? Ulbricht?

honorable mention
1996 Frisk Lickert

you kind of have to go undefeated/one loss to a GCL and win state to be considered to be on this list.
It kindof breaks down to the hot years of the 96-00 era and the 07-12 era.










I know there are a lot of ole timey squads that were great too... don't knowmuch earlier than 80[/QUOTE


That 82 team was best in the state that year having beat 4A champs (only 4 classes that year) Christian co, and ranked in top25 in nation. Do not forget bankamper, ,maile, whalie, fisher and I am forgetting middle LB name (165pound guy who played like he was 210).

82 team was very, very good.

Birdman, I'd reverse your top 2 and put 2009 at the top. Lorenzen and Smith were obviously studs, but when you look at the complete team and consider all the units (D, O and Specials), the 09 team was better in my opinion. Even after that team lost its starting QB (Bardo, whom has gone on to do really big things on University of Dayton's football team) and lost its starting RB for 5 games during the season (Collinsworth), the Birds O continued to dominate opponents. Defense was stellar throughout the season. Birds had an exceptional kicker (Weinel) and great return game too lead by Collinsworth. The 09 team was the complete package. 98 team had the O, no doubt about that. But the D and Specials weren't as good as they were on the 09 team.

If a tie braker was to be needed, I go with the 09 win over Cincy X as the tie braker. That was a very good X team. They lost to Elder during the playoffs by a point or two (after beating Elder in the regular season) and then Elder went on to lose in the D1 Ohio championship game by a narrow margin. X was one of the top 3 or 4 teams in Ohio that year (which is saying a lot) and if you watched that game, Highlands dominated X everywhere but on the scoreboard (only winning by 5, but even then the only points put on the board by X were in the last minute and a result of Highlands playing prevent defense to stop X from scoring quickly).

[30 going on 40]

All of those teams had great talent, no doubt about it. The favorite teams always seem to fall in the championship or runner up category. Some of my favorite teams were from the late 70's and early 80's when NewCath was competing 3a in a 4 class system. During that era the enrollment at NC was way down, but the talent was still there. You don't hear the names like Robinson, Sandfoss or Kremer brought up much in todays conversations. Right before NC merged with OLP to make a coed school there was less than 200 boys in all grades. NC was 8-2 during the 81 season and 7-4 during the 82 season. Not bad for teams that should of been playing in 1a but were going up against schools like Highlands, Boone Co, Conner, CovCath etc. Maybe it was an era when schools didn't care so much about what class they played in or they just wanted to play the best. Any thoughts?

It is hard to compare, really. The guys from the early and mid 80s were the best football players that NewCath had since the Rapp, Mason, Ziegler and Muench days. Mike and Joe Kiernan, Mike Robinson, Red Kremer, Jeff Brady, and Frank Jacobs were better than anything that NewCath has had individually since then (w/ the exception of Eddie Eviston in my humble opinion.) However, the teams that NewCath had, and the philosophy change in the beginning of the 00s has made the teams better, IMO. As great as Frank was, he still only touched the ball 3xs a game. You can game plan around that. Maybe it is unfair to compare teams from different eras, but when you are saying "best teams" you have to rank how they did against the competition they were playing. Would '10 Breds have beaten the '82 Birds and made it into the AAA playoffs (trying to compare Robinson's senior year to a team on my list)? Who knows, probably not seeing as HHS was in the Super 25 that year, but we can't know.

[proud44pirate]

The 07 team was a lot better than the 13 team. I had sons on both teams and can say it.

[Do-double-gg]

Lawrence Co.
1991
1997
1998
1999
2001