[Hatz]

They were actually 9-3 and its still odd they didnt make the playoffs, They beat Bell County in the very first meet of the series.

In many places in those days there was simply a District rather than Sub-Districts. You loose a key game in the District and you sit at home. For examples see:

1979 Boyle is 9-1. But stays home because of upset loss to 7-4 Russell County.

1982 Somerset is 10-1 has defeated eventual AA champ Corbin convincingly but sits at home because they lose 28-17 to 8-2 Boyle in the District.

1984 Boyle at 3-7 is playing in the District Final as Sub champs because they beat a .500 Russell county club.

That would be my guess is what happened.