[EKUAlum05]

Win was not awarded to Beechwood, and they declined to finish the game later. When the teams met in the playoffs it was an absolute bloodbath. And to say Pikeville didn't play good teams is preposterous. If you are going to try to take away anything from those great Pikeville teams, you might as well put on a clown suit and a big red nose.irateSho

I never said they didnt play good teams, I said "elite" teams. Big difference. If you remove that Beechwood game that means they played only one team in the regular season in three years to reach the Semi-Finals and they lost.

There is no doubt that Pikeville played a solid schedule for a 1A team, I would even say it was a Championship caliber schedule for a 1A team. Just not a schedule that lent itself to being the best team regardless of class as you had previously inferred.

In 1987's final AP Poll Pikeville played three teams who all finished Top 5 in their respective classes (Belfry and Beechwood). Henry Clay finished tied for #5, but that was the last year when they separated Jefferson County AAAA and the rest of the state, so they were probably more in the 9-12 range for the entire class Lit Ratings had them at #13 overall and Cantrall had them at #21 overall in AAAA).

1988 and 1989, supporting your claim that 1987 was superior, played no teams who finished in their respective Top 5 in the AP Poll. FWIW, none of their wins also finished in the Top 5 of their respective classes in the Lit or Cantrall as well.

Bottom line is 1987 may not have impressed the CPU's but that was a great team and probably the best of the lot. I do think the tall tales of their legacy have turned into a bit of a fish story over the years though.




The 2019 Pikeville team might actually have the best claim statistically of all of them to be the GOAT if we are being honest.

- They were undefeated and unblemished. Only 1988 can really boast that.

- They beat two teams in the regular season who went on to the State Finals Perhaps the biggest thing none of those 80's team can boast

- One of which being a win over a State Champion from a higher class. Once again, 80's teams didn't touch that.

- They beat two Out of State Teams who entered the game ranked in the Top 5. An improvement over the non-district wins over teams like Western Hills or the 1A teams not in their district.

- The CPU's loved them and had them end up very high. Calpreps had them at #7 overall and as the #1 small school in the State. None of those 80's teams can boast a finish as the top small school team.

- They defeated two teams who finished in the Top 5 in the final AP Poll in the regular season. Ridgeview, VA also was a Top 5 finisher in the most universally accepted ranking for Virginia.

- They had the dominating margin of victory in the playoffs to match what those 80's teams did as well. No 1A team was within 3-4 TD's of them realistically once November came.

- They also had D1 talent. As good as those teams of the 80's were, none can boast having two guys who will eventually suit up at the Power 5 level, and with Pugh accepting his PWO to Louisville and Tinsley going to EKU, that is a high water mark for the great Panther program.


Now that we have separated urban legend from reality, in terms of the best of the best give me:

1. 2019
2. 1987

3. 1988

4. 2015
5. 1989

[jetpilot]

1987 was unblemished. 3 championships in a row. It was beautiful. Truly legendary. Take the L on this one and move on.:biggrin:

[jetpilot]

I never said they didnt play good teams, I said "elite" teams. Big difference. If you remove that Beechwood game that means they played only one team in the regular season in three years to reach the Semi-Finals and they lost.

There is no doubt that Pikeville played a solid schedule for a 1A team, I would even say it was a Championship caliber schedule for a 1A team. Just not a schedule that lent itself to being the best team regardless of class as you had previously inferred.

In 1987's final AP Poll Pikeville played three teams who all finished Top 5 in their respective classes (Belfry and Beechwood). Henry Clay finished tied for #5, but that was the last year when they separated Jefferson County AAAA and the rest of the state, so they were probably more in the 9-12 range for the entire class Lit Ratings had them at #13 overall and Cantrall had them at #21 overall in AAAA).

1988 and 1989, supporting your claim that 1987 was superior, played no teams who finished in their respective Top 5 in the AP Poll. FWIW, none of their wins also finished in the Top 5 of their respective classes in the Lit or Cantrall as well.

Bottom line is 1987 may not have impressed the CPU's but that was a great team and probably the best of the lot. I do think the tall tales of their legacy have turned into a bit of a fish story over the years though.




The 2019 Pikeville team might actually have the best claim statistically of all of them to be the GOAT if we are being honest.

- They were undefeated and unblemished. Only 1988 can really boast that.

- They beat two teams in the regular season who went on to the State Finals Perhaps the biggest thing none of those 80's team can boast

- One of which being a win over a State Champion from a higher class. Once again, 80's teams didn't touch that.

- They beat two Out of State Teams who entered the game ranked in the Top 5. An improvement over the non-district wins over teams like Western Hills or the 1A teams not in their district.

- The CPU's loved them and had them end up very high. Calpreps had them at #7 overall and as the #1 small school in the State. None of those 80's teams can boast a finish as the top small school team.

- They defeated two teams who finished in the Top 5 in the final AP Poll in the regular season. Ridgeview, VA also was a Top 5 finisher in the most universally accepted ranking for Virginia.

- They had the dominating margin of victory in the playoffs to match what those 80's teams did as well. No 1A team was within 3-4 TD's of them realistically once November came.

- They also had D1 talent. As good as those teams of the 80's were, none can boast having two guys who will eventually suit up at the Power 5 level, and with Pugh accepting his PWO to Louisville and Tinsley going to EKU, that is a high water mark for the great Panther program.


Now that we have separated urban legend from reality, in terms of the best of the best give me:

1. 2019
2. 1987

3. 1988

4. 2015
5. 1989

nicker:

[EKUAlum05]

1987 was unblemished. 3 championships in a row. It was beautiful. Truly legendary. Take the L on this one and move on.:biggrin:

Unfortunately, facts don't support your feelings

I am having a little fun with you, but did want to share one other thing from my deep dive into history.

DeAnthony Honaker= BAD MAN

I always thought Rayquan Horton was the clear cut best D-Linemen to ever come out of EKY along with Jeremy Caudill (who never really dominated like he should in High School), but I had completely forgot about DeAnthony Honaker and that guy was a physical monster. Horton gets the edge, but Honaker is right in the same company. Shame both he and Horton never really got the chance to show how good they were at the next level.

Bob Shurtleff and DeAnthony Honaker both probably deserve more love than they are given and both probably are on any all-time team you build for EKY history along with the great Steve Bailey.

[jetpilot]

Unfortunately, facts don't support your feelings

I am having a little fun with you, but did want to share one other thing from my deep dive into history.

DeAnthony Honaker= BAD MAN

I always thought Rayquan Horton was the clear cut best D-Linemen to ever come out of EKY along with Jeremy Caudill (who never really dominated like he should in High School), but I had completely forgot about DeAnthony Honaker and that guy was a physical monster. Horton gets the edge, but Honaker is right in the same company. Shame both he and Horton never really got the chance to show how good they were at the next level.

Bob Shurtleff and DeAnthony Honaker both probably deserve more love than they are given and both probably are on any all-time team you build for EKY history along with the great Steve Bailey.

I am enjoying it as well, at the end of the day it's all in fun. There is just one day each fall I am not for Belfry. Belfry is like the former LSU basketball coach Dale Brown, you hate him when he is playing you and you love him when he's playing everyone else.:biggrin:

[Texans_99]

No offense to any Pikeville fan on here. But I don’t think that team was anywhere near being nationally ranked. Lit rankings had them at #12 in the state. A great KY High school football team and one of the best ever in EKY. But to say they had National ranking is incorrect. Here’s USA Today’s poll from that year.

1987
1. Pittsburgh North Hills (13-0)
2. Plano (Texas) (16-0)
3. Fontana (Calif.) (14-0)
4. Dandridge (Tenn.) Jefferson County (15-0)
5. Brockton (Mass.) (11-0)
6. Union (N.J.) (11-0)
7. Doylestown (Pa.) Central Bucks West (11-0)
8. Alexandria (Va.) T.C. Williams (14-0)
9. Hobart (Ind.) (14-0)
10. Lawton (Okla.) (14-0)
11. Cincinnati Princeton (12-1)
12. Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest (13-1)
13. Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst (12-1)
14. Pascagoula (Miss.) (14-0)
15. Orange (Texas) West Orange Stark (15-0)
16. Garner (N.C.) (15-0)
17. Baltimore City (11-0)
18. Liverpool (N.Y.) (10-0)
19. Morrow (Ga.) (14-1)
20. Manchester (Conn.) East Catholic (11-0)
21. Danville (Calif.) Monte Vista (13-0)
22. Arkadelphia (Ark.) (14-0)
23. Lake Oswego (Ore.) Lakeridge (14-0)
24. Moorhead (Minn) (14-0)
25. Los Angeles Carson (11-1)

[MayfieldCardinal]

Late 70's Mayfield teams were the Cards greatest teams. Playing a national schedule unlike beating up on the locals as Pikeville was doing. Nashville Brentwood, East St Louis, Memphis Douglas. 78 Mayfield, #1 ranked team in any class unlike #12 in the state for Pikeville. They would have provided bashings to any team from any year Pikeville has ever had. Men vs boys.

[EKUAlum05]

Late 70's Mayfield teams were the Cards greatest teams. Playing a national schedule unlike beating up on the locals as Pikeville was doing. Nashville Brentwood, East St Louis, Memphis Douglas. 78 Mayfield, #1 ranked team in any class unlike #12 in the state for Pikeville. They would have provided bashings to any team from any year Pikeville has ever had. Men vs boys.

FWIW and if anyone was curious about a fact check, Mayfield was #1 overall after the final full Lit Ratings on 11-7-1978.

It was the only time they reached #1 that year, but they were Top 5 most of the season and #2 for the two or three weeks ending up to them overtaking Bowling Green.

[Micro-Brew]

Bill Brasky

[jetpilot]

Late 70's Mayfield teams were the Cards greatest teams. Playing a national schedule unlike beating up on the locals as Pikeville was doing. Nashville Brentwood, East St Louis, Memphis Douglas. 78 Mayfield, #1 ranked team in any class unlike #12 in the state for Pikeville. They would have provided bashings to any team from any year Pikeville has ever had. Men vs boys.

nicker:

[Snakesnot]

While I respect what Pikeville has accomplished, their pedigree is not the same as Mayfield's.

[EKUAlum05]

While I respect what Pikeville has accomplished, their pedigree is not the same as Mayfield's.

[Image: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/...k5Qca0tEuE]

[MayfieldCardinal]

[Image: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/...k5Qca0tEuE]

nicker: This threads nature was bound to take this path, we all knew that before reading any of it

[HAIL PIKEVILLE!]

All I’m saying is....If I were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet against the ‘87 Pikeville Panthers....

[PHS DYNASTY]

All I’m saying is....If I were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet against the ‘87 Pikeville Panthers....

Totally agree. Another poster felt the 88 team was the better. I disagree with that. For one, Hillard Howard told me both were great teams, but felt the 87 team was the better in terms of coachability and overall talent. Had slightly more leadership with Chris McNamee, Matt Blair, Trey Deskins and others.

[Gus McCrae]

Any of you Mayfield fans got any footage of that 78 team ?

[Gus McCrae]

I never said they didnt play good teams, I said "elite" teams. Big difference. If you remove that Beechwood game that means they played only one team in the regular season in three years to reach the Semi-Finals and they lost.

There is no doubt that Pikeville played a solid schedule for a 1A team, I would even say it was a Championship caliber schedule for a 1A team. Just not a schedule that lent itself to being the best team regardless of class as you had previously inferred.

In 1987's final AP Poll Pikeville played three teams who all finished Top 5 in their respective classes (Belfry and Beechwood). Henry Clay finished tied for #5, but that was the last year when they separated Jefferson County AAAA and the rest of the state, so they were probably more in the 9-12 range for the entire class Lit Ratings had them at #13 overall and Cantrall had them at #21 overall in AAAA).

1988 and 1989, supporting your claim that 1987 was superior, played no teams who finished in their respective Top 5 in the AP Poll. FWIW, none of their wins also finished in the Top 5 of their respective classes in the Lit or Cantrall as well.

Bottom line is 1987 may not have impressed the CPU's but that was a great team and probably the best of the lot. I do think the tall tales of their legacy have turned into a bit of a fish story over the years though.




The 2019 Pikeville team might actually have the best claim statistically of all of them to be the GOAT if we are being honest.

- They were undefeated and unblemished. Only 1988 can really boast that.

- They beat two teams in the regular season who went on to the State Finals Perhaps the biggest thing none of those 80's team can boast

- One of which being a win over a State Champion from a higher class. Once again, 80's teams didn't touch that.

- They beat two Out of State Teams who entered the game ranked in the Top 5. An improvement over the non-district wins over teams like Western Hills or the 1A teams not in their district.

- The CPU's loved them and had them end up very high. Calpreps had them at #7 overall and as the #1 small school in the State. None of those 80's teams can boast a finish as the top small school team.

- They defeated two teams who finished in the Top 5 in the final AP Poll in the regular season. Ridgeview, VA also was a Top 5 finisher in the most universally accepted ranking for Virginia.

- They had the dominating margin of victory in the playoffs to match what those 80's teams did as well. No 1A team was within 3-4 TD's of them realistically once November came.

- They also had D1 talent. As good as those teams of the 80's were, none can boast having two guys who will eventually suit up at the Power 5 level, and with Pugh accepting his PWO to Louisville and Tinsley going to EKU, that is a high water mark for the great Panther program.


Now that we have separated urban legend from reality, in terms of the best of the best give me:

1. 2019
2. 1987

3. 1988

4. 2015
5. 1989

Jmo, and really has no bearing on anything, but i think 2019 and 1987 could interchange. A toss up.

[PHS DYNASTY]

Unfortunately, facts don't support your feelings

I am having a little fun with you, but did want to share one other thing from my deep dive into history.

DeAnthony Honaker= BAD MAN

I always thought Rayquan Horton was the clear cut best D-Linemen to ever come out of EKY along with Jeremy Caudill (who never really dominated like he should in High School), but I had completely forgot about DeAnthony Honaker and that guy was a physical monster. Horton gets the edge, but Honaker is right in the same company. Shame both he and Horton never really got the chance to show how good they were at the next level.

Bob Shurtleff and DeAnthony Honaker both probably deserve more love than they are given and both probably are on any all-time team you build for EKY history along with the great Steve Bailey.

Good choices, but give me Tim Honaker from Pikeville De Anthony's (big) brother. Tim started as a Freshman at DT, OT both sides. Tim led the team in tackles his Freshman yr. (85). Was named AP first team all state both his Junior and Senior yr. (little) brother DE Anthony was a monster in size and ability, and led the team in tackles his Senior yr. IMO, Tim had the strength(500lb.+ bench press his Senior yr.) and technique to make him the best lineman ever to play at Pikeville High School and one of, if not the best linemen to come out of East Ky. Jmo.

[Gus McCrae]

One note to make: DeAnthony did go on to the next level at UK, and did a good job at the OL position. If i'm not mistaken, he had to step down due to a bad knee injury ?

[Westside]

The 2019 Pikeville team played a few very close games. The 1987 team blew everyone away. I would take the 87 team over the 88 and 2019 teams. The Pike County Bowl game in 1987 against Beechwood, Pikeville committed four 1st half turnovers and were still down by only 1 point. As far as DeAnothony vs Tim. DeAnothony was bigger but Tim was faster and stronger. I remember Tim bench pressing 450 in a competition his senior year. DeAnothony was really good but sometimes didn't have the speed getting to some blocks going down field. I remember reading in the Lexington Herald Leader than when he reported to U.K. that he weight in the upper 300's and they had to put him on a weight loss program because he was too big. He started a couple games his senior year, but he wasn't a consistent starter.

[MayfieldCardinal]

Any of you Mayfield fans got any footage of that 78 team ?

For years no one could find any footage but recently someone uncovered most of the state title game footage. I was able to get it on dvd. The schools copies of all those games was/is on that 16mm or maybe its 9mm. Something like that. It was stored and has never been found. I would love to see more of that team. I have memories of them in my mind from when I was a kid. I my memories they were like a NFL team. Im sure being a kid made them seem that way but that's how they remain in my memories

[Hatz]

Any of you Mayfield fans got any footage of that 78 team ?

[Gus McCrae]

Much thanks Hatz.

[RoShamBo]

[Image: https://media1.tenor.com/images/b2067f6f...d=12902578]

[jetpilot]

87 Pikeville would have demolished that Mayfield team I just watched.

[Hatz]

87 Pikeville would have demolished that Mayfield team I just watched.

You might be correct. However it is hard to judge from different eras and even film vs video. Film moves slower than in real life and video captures what is there more quickly.

I only saw the '87 team against Russelville and they were dominant against them.

However the film you see of Mayfield in '78 is vs a Somerset squad that was very good and very quick. I think they were a far superior opponent than Russelville.

The RB you saw in white was Pete Venable who played four years at UK. Those Mayfield teams from the 70's were a ball control, power team vs the Cardinals that emerged out of the 90's and into today.

[Snakesnot]

You might be correct. However it is hard to judge from different eras and even film vs video. Film moves slower than in real life and video captures what is there more quickly.

I only saw the '87 team against Russelville and they were dominant against them.

However the film you see of Mayfield in '78 is vs a Somerset squad that was very good and very quick. I think they were a far superior opponent than Russelville.

The RB you saw in white was Pete Venable who played four years at UK. Those Mayfield teams from the 70's were a ball control, power team vs the Cardinals that emerged out of the 90's and into today.

The 78 team had Marcus Moss who most consider the best rb to ever play at Mayfield. The 78 team was loaded top to bottom.

[MayfieldCardinal]

87 Pikeville would have demolished that Mayfield team I just watched.

I will try and see if we can start a GoFundMe here on BGR for some prescription eye wear, its clear your blind as a bat nicker:

[Gus McCrae]

87 Pikeville would have demolished that Mayfield team I just watched.

After watching that film i wasn't that impressed. What Hatz explains lends some credence to Mayfield fans claims; they remind me of typical Belfry teams, stout line play, ball control, ground and pound, and a few passes to keep the D honest. After saying all of that, the 87 Pikeville team still seemed to have more team speed and quickness, a brutal run game, as well as a great passing game, just because it was there. No need to pass the ball for that team, but sling it around some because they were blessed to have it.

[EKUAlum05]

You might be correct. However it is hard to judge from different eras and even film vs video. Film moves slower than in real life and video captures what is there more quickly.

I only saw the '87 team against Russelville and they were dominant against them.

However the film you see of Mayfield in '78 is vs a Somerset squad that was very good and very quick. I think they were a far superior opponent than Russelville.

The RB you saw in white was Pete Venable who played four years at UK. Those Mayfield teams from the 70's were a ball control, power team vs the Cardinals that emerged out of the 90's and into today.

FWIW, Somerset lost three games in '78:
Henry Clay 15-0
Madisonville 26-22
Corbin 6-3

It is worth noting, none of those three teams reached the playoffs in their respective classes. With that said, Henry Clay and Corbin both were in the Top 15 Overall in the Final Lit Ratings. Henry Clay was the #1 AAAA Public school until they lost in the regular season finale to Lafayette by a point and missed the playoffs as a result. Corbin also missed the playoffs because Middlesboro was their lone loss (Somerset beat in Round 1). They also defeated Richmond Madison who went on to reach the 1A Semi's.




Russellville '87
The Panthers also were a 3-loss team.

They lost to:
Ft. Campbell 6-0
Glasgow 17-8
Franklin- Simpson 21-6

Franklin-Simpson and Glasgow lost in Round 1 (2 Teams Per District made it in '87). Ft. Campbell made it to the 2nd Round. None of those three teams finished in the Top 5 of the AP Poll or among the Top 5 teams in their class or Final Top 25 teams regardless of class in KY in either the Lit or Cantrall Ratings.


In-Terms of Runner-Up Pedigree... '78 Somerset >>> '87 Russellville if that means anything.