1983 Undeafeted Highlands at Conner, sub-district/district playoff game. Conner won 13-7.

In 2003 the number one team in 4-A, St. X, lost to a team that was 0-4. I still think that is the only time in 4-A history that the number one team has lost to an 0-4 team.

In 2003 the number one team in 4-A, St. X, lost to a team that was 0-4. I still think that is the only time in 4-A history that the number one team has lost to an 0-4 team.

 

I like that, but in the longrun of the season, you could say Manuals victory over Trinity that same year was far more shocking for most people. I think both games could go up there, potentially. Although I think a lot of people might throw the T-X game out the window because I believe Trinity got back a few key seniors for that game. Someone needs to make a top 20 list for this.

I like that, but in the longrun of the season, you could say Manuals victory over Trinity that same year was far more shocking for most people. I think both games could go up there, potentially. Although I think a lot of people might throw the T-X game out the window because I believe Trinity got back a few key seniors for that game. Someone needs to make a top 20 list for this.

I know for a fact one of the "key seniors" didn't get to play. That's what made the state game so special for him. Not sure on any others that may have been out?

I think you make a good point regarding state wide rankings (which mean nothing) regarding Lex Cath's win over Russell in 2000, but if you have ever played a Russell team at Russell in the playoffs you would understand what a huge win that was. That was a very young Lex Team that year also, with the Doss kid at QB just a sophomore. I think if you look at the context of the win from the perspective of the program that Lex Cath has now also, it might not seem huge, but that was right at the point when they were winning those types of games as their program climbed the ladder bringing them to where they are now. With all that taken into consideration and looking at it from the perspective of where their young program was heading, it was a huge win. I only brought it up because of the very fact that not many people would look at it as an upset, but taking all of these things in consideration, it was maybe not the biggest upset in the history of Ky high school football, but in the context of what it meant in the building of the Lex Cath program it was absolutely huge. I would venture to say, many a program have gone into Russell hoping to use them as a stepping stone on up the ladder to prominence in Ky high school football and have gone home with their tails tucked between their legs! Ole Ivan and those boys can flat do that to you!

I think you make a good point regarding state wide rankings (which mean nothing) regarding Lex Cath's win over Russell in 2000, but if you have ever played a Russell team at Russell in the playoffs you would understand what a huge win that was. That was a very young Lex Team that year also, with the Doss kid at QB just a sophomore. I think if you look at the context of the win from the perspective of the program that Lex Cath has now also, it might not seem huge, but that was right at the point when they were winning those types of games as their program climbed the ladder bringing them to where they are now. With all that taken into consideration and looking at it from the perspective of where their young program was heading, it was a huge win. I only brought it up because of the very fact that not many people would look at it as an upset, but taking all of these things in consideration, it was maybe not the biggest upset in the history of Ky high school football, but in the context of what it meant in the building of the Lex Cath program it was absolutely huge. I would venture to say, many a program have gone into Russell hoping to use them as a stepping stone on up the ladder to prominence in Ky high school football and have gone home with their tails tucked between their legs! Ole Ivan and those boys can flat do that to you!

 

 

 

I think the point about the 2000 Lex Cath win not being an upset was regardless of "seed" from a district Lex Cath lost only 4 times in 2 years (1999 and 2000) and that was four losses to Boyle County. In 2000 the only close games (games in doubt) that Boyle played in were the two against Lex Cath. Anyone (polls or not) knew that Lex Cath was the 2nd best team in AA that year behind Boyle. The Rebels may have had their most talented squad that season.

 

Beating an 8-3 Russell team in a thriller was big but not really an upset when you consider the lay of the land in AA football that year.

JC and Ashland.....with a field goal with 16 sec togo in the forth...... big upset for JC

North Laurel over Madison Central this past season. I don't think North had ever beaten a team ranked in the top 10 in 4A. It sure surprised me.

I would have to say the 1992 playoff game between Highlands and Cov Cath was an upset. I don't remember the score but Highlands won. Cov Cath was loaded that year. They beat Moeller. They destroyed us 53-9. That Cov Cath team has to be one of the best ever not to win a State Title. I was in the 10th grade that year. A couple of friends of mine and myself were listening to the game on the radio. After Highlands had won we went up to one of our friends house who lives on Dixie Hwy. We took his Tiger flag. We were running up and down Dixie Hwy waving it right around Beechwood road. Highlands fans were giving us cheers while the Cov Cath faithful was telling us what they thought of us LOL The funniest thing about this is that Coach B who is Bob Burnett drove right bye us. We thought for sure we would be in trouble. But he didn't say anything to us. He was just laughing at us as he drove away.

Beechwood beating Cincy Acadamy of Physical Education (CAPE) in 1984.

 

Cape was unbeaten and featured 3 DI players who went on to spend some time in The NFL.

 

CAPE had a rough go of it that year against Northern Ky. competition, as the basketball team featuring the same three standouts opened their hoops season with loss to Lloyd. :thumb:

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In 2001 the Bell County Bobcats traveled to Lawrence Co. to play the Lawrence Co. Bulldogs in the regional semifinals. Bell entered the game as a decisive underdog. The game was'nt even supposed to be close. Many fans were predicting LC to beat Bell by 40 or more.

 

LC was undefeated at that time, the favorite to win the region, a lock to the state finals, and alot of talk was circulating that that team could be the team to end Boyle Co.'s streak.

 

That LC team was a senior dominated team with lots of experiece and a ton of talent. It featured speedy QB Dontae Wright (Miami of Ohio signee), the leading rusher in the state in RB Michael West (Marshall signee), and 6'8 285 lb. MLB Jarrod Hostetter (University of Tennessee signee).

 

Bell County was a young team, with little playoff experience. They had finished 6-4 the year before, losing in the first round of the playoff's. They had graduated a load of senior starters and leaders the year before. They were a team looking to make a mark and re-establish Bell County's dominance in mountain football, as well as discover an identity under new Head Coach Dudley Hilton.

 

Lawrence County's stadium stands were packed with Bulldog fans, so much so that the field was surrounded by fans, 2 and 3 deep in some places. LC took the field running out of their "Dog Pound" Dog House with billowing smoke and "Who Let the Dogs Out" blasting over the PA. BC could barley run onto the field for the LC fans. I distinctly remembering one fan telling our players that they had made a long 4 hour trip for nothing.

 

However, despite the fact the Bobcats were outmatched, they would not be outplayed.

 

BC upset LC by a score of 8-0 in a defensive war. Dallas Greer scored on a qb sneak in the final minute of play, and RB Luke Akers topped the TD off with a 2-point conversion run.

 

LC got the ball back with several seconds remaining, but could do nothing. Wright completed one pass, was sacked by DE Justin Barton on the next play, and then Luke Akers picked off Wright as he flung a desperation hail marry pass in the finals seconds. BC kneeled out the clock.

 

The entire game was a war. Neither team could get much going offensively, and the defenses were playing extremely hard. It was one of the most physical and hard fought games I have ever been apart of. Afterward's I compared it to a title fight with both fighters just slugging it out, both drained and on their last legs, but neither wanting to fall. Giving and taking punches and stumbling and surviving.

 

West needed something like 115 yards to break the state record for most rushing yards in a season, or career (not sure which one). BC's defense held West to 18 yards.

 

That final drive you could just tell Bell was in better shape and wanted the game more. BC converted several big time 3rd downs, one in particular where it was 3rd and 3 and Akers got the ball, was hit in the backfield, fought off the defender, stumbled forward, then ran over Hostetter for the first by an inch. FB Kevin Napier also made some huge plays on that final drive, both blocking and rushing. I later compared the final, game winning drive of Bell as if their offense was a tank, slowly trucking down the field. It was 3 yards and a cloud of dust the entire drive. I don't think Bell Co. had more then maybe 5 yards on any run, and it really wore out the Bulldogs.

 

That was the biggest upset I have witnessed, or ever been a part of. It was pretty special, and you could feel the magic. A complete team effort, in every since of the term. It's games like that, that are the reason you play or coach in HS IMO.

going back a few years 1976 Corbin beat a Mayfield team that was said to be one of the top 50 teams in the nation for corbin 3rd state championship and 1st in 21 years 1980 corbin beat a fort cambell team that had the states longest winning streak at the time at one time that year corbin was 3-3 and and had to beat middlesboro the last game of the season to make the playoffs

In 2003 the number one team in 4-A, St. X, lost to a team that was 0-4. I still think that is the only time in 4-A history that the number one team has lost to an 0-4 team.

That was not an upset but it was a serious case of underachievement on the rocks part prior to that game.

That was not an upset but it was a serious case of underachievement on the rocks part prior to that game.

Oh really, The Rocks lost to eventual state champ MBA, GCL power Cinci St. X, a pretty tough Manual squad and eventual district champion Seneca. Each by a TD or less. Sounds more like the Rocks had a meatgrinder schedule. Luckily they we able to get it all together and defeat St. X on their way to defeating St. X yet again that year for their 15th title.