[AtlPirateFan]

Several topics on the site lately got me to thinking about the most successful programs to never win the big one. You can quantify "success" however you wish but here is my list based on regular season win/loss records and overall W/L. *when considering recent history such as 10 win seasons, undefeated regular seasons, etc only the last 24 years is taken into account using KHSAA records


Somerset Briar Jumpers - The jumpers have amassed a record 665-387-43 and tried to bring home the golden trophy on 5 separate occasions, falling short every time. The Jumpers have 2 Undefeated regular seasons, six 10+ win seasons and a surprising 11 loosing seasons over the past quarter century.Will such a storied program ever get over the hump?

Glasgow Scotties - With a 609-368-29 record and 4 appearances in the State Finals the Scotties failed to come out on top. In the past 24 years Glasgow has won 10+ nine times, 1 Undefeated regular season and have only 5 seasons below .500. Is a soft schedule to blame for 4 State Title flops?

Paintsville Tigers - The first team on my list from the Painstville area standing at 552-350-27. The Tigers played in two close title games in '78 and '85 coming up on the short end of the stick both times. Over the past 24 years the Tigers have only managed four seasons with 10+ wins and 9 loosing seasons. Will the Tigers ever return to prominence?

Johnson Central Golden Eagles - All time win/loss record unknown, but 4 undefeated regular seasons, eight 10 + win seasons and 9 loosing seasons squarely place the second team from the Paintsville area on my list. Will the new 4A landscape be more kind to the Eagles?

Honorable Mentions:
Prestonsburg: 2 Attempts one of the more successful EKY teams
Harrodsburg: 3 failed attempts before they finally saw gold after consolidating into Mercer Co
Owensboro Catholic: 4 Attempts


Thoughts, criticisms, insights? Any older schools or teams to never play in a championship qualify in your eyes?

[Hatz]

Several topics on the site lately got me to thinking about the most successful programs to never win the big one. You can quantify "success" however you wish but here is my list based on regular season win/loss records and overall W/L. *when considering recent history such as 10 win seasons, undefeated regular seasons, etc only the last 24 years is taken into account using KHSAA records


Somerset Briar Jumpers - The jumpers have amassed a record 665-387-43 and tried to bring home the golden trophy on 5 separate occasions, falling short every time. The Jumpers have 2 Undefeated regular seasons, six 10+ win seasons and a surprising 11 loosing seasons over the past quarter century.Will such a storied program ever get over the hump?

Glasgow Scotties - With a 609-368-29 record and 4 appearances in the State Finals the Scotties failed to come out on top. In the past 24 years Glasgow has won 10+ nine times, 1 Undefeated regular season and have only 5 seasons below .500. Is a soft schedule to blame for 4 State Title flops?

Paintsville Tigers - The first team on my list from the Painstville area standing at 552-350-27. The Tigers played in two close title games in '78 and '85 coming up on the short end of the stick both times. Over the past 24 years the Tigers have only managed four seasons with 10+ wins and 9 loosing seasons. Will the Tigers ever return to prominence?

Johnson Central Golden Eagles - All time win/loss record unknown, but 4 undefeated regular seasons, eight 10 + win seasons and 9 loosing seasons squarely place the second team from the Paintsville area on my list. Will the new 4A landscape be more kind to the Eagles?

Honorable Mentions:
Prestonsburg: 2 Attempts one of the more successful EKY teams
Harrodsburg: 3 failed attempts before they finally saw gold after consolidating into Mercer Co
Owensboro Catholic: 4 Attempts


Thoughts, criticisms, insights? Any older schools or teams to never play in a championship qualify in your eyes?

I don't think any amount of scheduling would have helped Glasgow in '99 or '00. They played Boyle at the beginning of their run and most agree the '00 team was the most talented. :Thumbs:

[Hatz]

You might add Frankfort to your list. Only to the finals twice but have had some pretty good success through the decades.

Boone County would be the NKY team you would want to mention. I don't believe they have ever won the state title.

[samson81]

Boone Co. definitely belongs on this list. I believe Owen Hauck guided the Rebels to the 4A title game on four occasions without a win ('86,'87 '92, &'94).

Also Rockcastle Co. has ten seasons of 10 or more wins in the last 24 years, as well as two failed attempts in title games ('01 & '02). Boyle Co. has single handedly kept Rockcastle and Glasgow on this list.

[baseball1974]

I think my pick is Owensboro Catholic as you mentioned already. They're 0-4 in state title games. They went to 3 of them in 8 years and then their last one in 2010 I think. Definitely the Buffalo Bills of KY high school football.

[jim rome]

JC should not even be mentioned for this. Their all-time record in 43 years of football is 198-254.

[Granny Bear]

^
What do you have against Johnson Central??? Serious question here.

I really liked the fan base and the facilities when we visited.

[mysonis55]

2011 Mayfield Cardinals

[pjdoug]

2011 Mayfield Cardinals

program?

[RoShamBo]

^
What do you have against Johnson Central??? Serious question here.

I really liked the fan base and the facilities when we visited.

I don't have a problem with Johnson Central, but he's not wrong. How the OP includes them in his top 4 while considering Prestonsburg and Harrodsburg honorable mentions is beyond me. JC has had some solid seasons in recent history but they have barely sniffed a state title appearance.

Obviously I'm going to go for Somerset on this one but it's not exactly something I take pride in. With some of the teams and players we have had over the years you would have thought we would get at least one. Some of Kentucky's greatest players and greatest wins in high school football have come from Somerset and yet a state title has eluded them. We are one of the oldest active programs in the state, we are top 10 in the state in all time wins (at least we were a couple years ago), and we have been top 100 in the nation in all time wins (again, this may also not be the case anymore). I may be wrong, I was once before, but I believe one of the early 80's teams was even nationally ranked in the preseason.

[AtlPirateFan]

In this case my honorable mentions where that and not part of the actual list because I was running out of time at the keyboard and wanted to include those three schools but did not have the time to fully add in the details.

[samson81]

I might add Lawrence Co. as an honorable mention. They're certainly one of the best to have never even reached a title game, but were one of the states winningest teams of the '90s. Probably should have won it all in '97. They were also a worthy contender in '98 as well. Had a great run from '97-'99, with no championship to show for it.

[AtlPirateFan]

Also Johnson Central probably doesn't belong on this list, there inclusion was more due to Matney who probably belongs on a "Good Coaches to Never win it all" list.

[Scotty_Bronson]

Raceland has yet to get to a state final game in almost 100 years of football, but have only had I believe 5 losing seasons since the inception of the program at the school. For years they were paired with the NKY districts with Bellevue when the Sutkamps ran crazy over everyone, then the Montoya era Beechwood teams, then the Schneider coached NCC. More often than not, losing to the eventual state champ in a regional semi or regional championship game. So i think they could at the very least recieve an honorable mention. Lawrence Co, could be in the same regaurd. They have had a slury of good seasons, but had to deal with Sheldon Clark in their hay day and Belfry. I agree with Paintsville being on the list as well, the BMR years had some pretty good teams. What about Prestonsburg and Somorset? They have bith had good teams over the years, but have either won titles?

[Scotty_Bronson]

Raceland has yet to get to a state final game in almost 100 years of football, but have only had I believe 5 losing seasons since the inception of the program at the school. For years they were paired with the NKY districts with Bellevue when the Sutkamps ran crazy over everyone, then the Montoya era Beechwood teams, then the Schneider coached NCC. More often than not, losing to the eventual state champ in a regional semi or regional championship game. So i think they could at the very least recieve an honorable mention. Lawrence Co, could be in the same regaurd. They have had a slury of good seasons, but had to deal with Sheldon Clark in their hay day and Belfry. I agree with Paintsville being on the list as well, the BMR years had some pretty good teams. What about Prestonsburg and Somorset? They have bith had good teams over the years, but have either won titles?

just read the threads beginning paragraph abd got my answer to Prestonsburg.

[AtlPirateFan]

Also Johnson Central probably doesn't belong on this list, there inclusion was more due to Matney who probably belongs on a "Good Coaches to Never win it all" list.

Their inclusion not there inclusion....I really need to quit posting before my brain is fully engaged

[LClion4life]

Raceland and Mason County come to mind for me.

[EKUAlum05]

1. Somerset
2. Glasgow
3. Harrodsburg
4. Frankfort
5. Owensboro Catholic

If we are talking all-time programs.





In terms of best programs in the recent era:
You can add Johnson Central and Pulaski County. Both have had very strong teams for over a decade.

[ColtPride]

I would say Somerset is #1. When I played football at Pulaski back in the 80's we were a new struggling program. If you would have told me at that time that we would have the opportunity to win a State title before Somerset, I would have told you that you were crazy. Good luck on Friday Maroons.

[Emmit Brown]

Raceland has yet to get to a state final game in almost 100 years of football, but have only had I believe 5 losing seasons since the inception of the program at the school. For years they were paired with the NKY districts with Bellevue when the Sutkamps ran crazy over everyone, then the Montoya era Beechwood teams, then the Schneider coached NCC. More often than not, losing to the eventual state champ in a regional semi or regional championship game. So i think they could at the very least recieve an honorable mention. Lawrence Co, could be in the same regaurd. They have had a slury of good seasons, but had to deal with Sheldon Clark in their hay day and Belfry. I agree with Paintsville being on the list as well, the BMR years had some pretty good teams. What about Prestonsburg and Somorset? They have bith had good teams over the years, but have either won titles?

I only know of BMR being at the helm for one really good team, that was the 2005 team that went 10-3 and was Regional Runner-up. He then took a break and came back as HC in 2012 and guided the Tigers to a 3-8 record. Overall 2yr record of 13-11. Now, when David Lemaster was the coach they had several good teams and a regional championship.

[FarristownFlyer]

I would agree with Rockcastle Co. being on this list, but that was Larkey's boys. Rockcastle will be a little better the next few years, but not a State Title contender for quite some time.

[Warrior 2002]

^
What do you have against Johnson Central??? Serious question here.

I really liked the fan base and the facilities when we visited.

Johnson central might be the most underachieving team in Kentucky high school football the last decade. All of those 8-2 9-1 10-0 seasons and early exit from the playoffs

[Westside]

In 1993 Prestonsburg had an amazing team that ended Danville's 42 game win streak but we're defeated by Mayfield in the state championship. They appeared to score a go ahead touchdown late in the 4th quarter but it was called back for holding. Also I think they had the second best team in 2a back during one of Belfry' s state championship runs.

[E's Army]

Somerset has been right on the cusp several times but has. It been able to climb the mountain. They have been flirting with a title for 40 years. Danville and Corbin have ended a lot of seasons for the Bunnies.

[Lynch47]

Johnson central might be the most underachieving team in Kentucky high school football the last decade. All of those 8-2 9-1 10-0 seasons and early exit from the playoffs

Failing to get out of a region that has produced the state champion 8 of those 10 years, Highlands and CovCath, is nothing to hang your head about, neither is the state-semi loss to state champ CCH in 2006. What is Southwestern's excuse? I mean they can't even hang with a team that JC has defeated 5 of the last 6 games even after refusing to play unless they can have the home field advantage each of those years.

[Mountain maniac]

Johnson Central easy, such a great program

[HAROLD]

In Single A, you could say that Cumberland is a team that belongs on this list. They had 3 trips in the 80's that made the title game only to lose. They had 2 or 3 teams in the 90's that probably should have won the title.

[Hoot Gibson]

I only know of BMR being at the helm for one really good team, that was the 2005 team that went 10-3 and was Regional Runner-up. He then took a break and came back as HC in 2012 and guided the Tigers to a 3-8 record. Overall 2yr record of 13-11. Now, when David Lemaster was the coach they had several good teams and a regional championship.

Paintsville's best teams were coached by Walter Brugh and David Lemaster. Lemaster was a very underrated coach, IMO. When Matney took over at Johnson Central, it no longer mattered who coached Paintsville, the Tigers were not going to be competitive with the Golden Eagles.

Paintsville's football program may have been saved when the Apple Bowl series was canceled. A good football team from a small 1A school should never be competitive with a good team from a large 4A school. Unfortunately, a small number of Paintsville fans could not understand that fact and Lemaster's coaching career ended way too soon, IMO. The Tigers' football program fell on hard times when Lemaster stepped aside. I am glad to see it finally recover.

[0ff The Chain]

LC had some great teams and rolled through the 90's and early 2000's but always had Ft. Thomas to deal with and now Belfry it seems. In almost all of those years we had a bell cow running back and that is something we have lacked of late. Lot of good backs but not really one stud rb to pound the ball on people. Raceland has had many good seasons as well but I think they will be getting a championship sooner than later.

[Redneck]

Paintsville had some great teams in the 70's and 80's that probably should have won a championship. Some of the older posters could tell ya more then I can considering I wasn't born until 85.