1980

 

Laurel County High School 21

Lafayette High School 20

 

Lafayette was rated #1 in the state and was loaded with talent. This included future UK & NFL player, George Adams. The Lexington Herald Leaders sports writer (I believe Jake Reed was his name), picked the Generals to roll over the Cardinals and Adams to increase his 200+ yards per game average with a HUGE game over what he called a 'very overrated' Laurel County team who hadn't beaten anybody work beating. Both teams were undefeated (5-0 at that time I believe).

 

Adams returned the opening kickoff for a TD. 7-0 Generals. LC went 3 & out. After the Cardinal punt, Lafayette ran the option, the QB kept it with all the focus on Adams and raced 55 yards for a TD. Missed PAT, Generals were ahead 13-0 inside of 3 minutes played of the first quarter. The Cardinals looked shellshocked.

 

I am not sure what the offensive coordinator (Tom Larkey) and defensive coordinator (Inman Sherman) said to their units, but the Cardinals found a new focus and began to control the game on both sides of the ball. Putting together long scoring drives and keeping the General offense on the sidelines. Laurel County took the lead at the half 14-13.

 

The 2nd half was a defensive struggle with both D's stepping up big time after time. The Cardinal linebackers appeared to be very focused on Adams, and after taking a beating, he pulled himself from the game with a hip pointer. Lafayette scored early in the 4th, kicked the PAT and took the lead at 20-14. But the Cardinals responded and put together a marvelous drive, taking the lead at 21-20.

 

It was one of the biggest upsets I have ever seen. Yet, the next week, Lafayette fell from #1 to #2 and Laurel County did not move any higher.

 

I will say though that the most improbable was the North Laurel over Madison Central game this past season. North kept losing close game after close game and just couldn't seem to get over the hump. But somehow, they found a way to pull off the upset. I have never heard so few people in the stands make that much noise in my life!

May have been....... but I doubt it. They were still undefeated, had a TON of talent (just look at the college signees off that team that I mentioned), and were the favorites to win by as much as 40 according to some ppl.

By that standard, I could get three or four people to go along with me to pick Seneca to beat Trinity by 40 points and you could characterize it as a similar "upset."

Looking at their schedule, it's pretty evident that a lot of those stats came at the expense of mediocre-at-best teams.

Even if they were overrated, that doesnt cheapen Bell Co's upset over them, because Bell was supposed to have ZERO chance in winning that game.

Personally, I doubt there was "zero chance" of Bell winning the game, only in the minds of those that vastly overrated Lawrence. I wouldn't deny it's an upset, but of which magnitude is very debatable.

How about a recent any true Russell fans remember this game in the year 2002 when Brethitt County beat Russell in the semifinals.

1981 Somerset 15 Middlesboro 14 1st round of the AA Playoffs at Clark Field in Somerset. Briar Jumpers were State-Runners Up to Bardstown that year.:ylsuper:

May have been....... but I doubt it. They were still undefeated, had a TON of talent (just look at the college signees off that team that I mentioned), and were the favorites to win by as much as 40 according to some ppl. They were also the favorites to win the region, and featured one of the top backs in the history of this state (at least in regards to records.)

 

.

 

 

In an earlier post you stated:

 

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).

 

Not totally true. They were very talented but West was not the leading rusher in the state that year, he was 4th:

 

Individual Leaders

Top 20 Rushing Leaders

(ranked by yards per game)

Player, School Gms YDS P-Gm TD

Monquantae Gibson, Moore 12 2756 229.7 43

Arliss Beach, Ashland Blazer 12 2533 211.1 39

Eric Moore, Holy Cross (Lou) 13 2503 192.5 35

Michael West, Lawrence County 11 2086 189.6 28

Mark Dunn, Harrodsburg 12 2234 186.2 27

 

 

And while they were undefeated so was Rockastle County from the same area and to be honest no one in AAA was going to stop the Boyle streak that year. (Rebels fielded #1 scoring Offense {50.9 per} and the #3 Scoring Defense {8.7 per} in the State)

 

West had a fine career and is #3 in rushing for a career in the state. It was a large upset that should be listed. I think they were much more like Westsider stated. I just don't think that Lawrence County team was as great as perhaps painted in the original story.

 

Still a great notch in the belt of Bell County history and worthy of this thread in my opinion. :thumb:

By that standard, I could get three or four people to go along with me to pick Seneca to beat Trinity by 40 points and you could characterize it as a similar "upset."

Looking at their schedule, it's pretty evident that a lot of those stats came at the expense of mediocre-at-best teams.

Personally, I doubt there was "zero chance" of Bell winning the game, only in the minds of those that vastly overrated Lawrence. I wouldn't deny it's an upset, but of which magnitude is very debatable.

 

Terrible analogy. Look at the situations you are comparing:

 

1.) A school with the tradition and program of Trinity being defeated by a school like Seneca just because Seneca has alot of seniors and is playing at home.

 

2. ) Very similar programs like BC and LC.

 

Not to mention that my standard included 3 MAJOR D1 signees, an undefeated record at 11-0, a team that was the regional favorite, and a team that had one of the states top rushers. When was the last time Seneca had 3 major D1 signees on one team, was undefeated in the regular season, was the favorite to win their region, and had a record breaking RB???

 

Once again, a terrible analogy.

 

LC was good, really good...... and coming from a participant in that game and someone who is fairly knowledgable about the game and witnessed different levels of talent, BC was completely overmatched and undermanned. We should not have been in that game. But when it was 0-0 heading into the 4th, something clicked and we knew it was our game for the taking, and we did that.

 

I know that most ppl throughout the region were banking on Lawrence to win by at least 21, and some were even saying up to a 40 point blowout.

 

The fact is that BC's win over LC put BC back on the map in mountain football, and it helped Bell to reestablish their reputation as one of the top 2 or 3 mountain teams every year, as well as a consistent 3A contender.

In an earlier post you stated:

 

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).

 

Not totally true. They were very talented but West was not the leading rusher in the state that year, he was 4th:

 

Individual Leaders

Top 20 Rushing Leaders

(ranked by yards per game)

Player, School Gms YDS P-Gm TD

Monquantae Gibson, Moore 12 2756 229.7 43

Arliss Beach, Ashland Blazer 12 2533 211.1 39

Eric Moore, Holy Cross (Lou) 13 2503 192.5 35

Michael West, Lawrence County 11 2086 189.6 28

Mark Dunn, Harrodsburg 12 2234 186.2 27

 

 

And while they were undefeated so was Rockastle County from the same area and to be honest no one in AAA was going to stop the Boyle streak that year. (Rebels fielded #1 scoring Offense {50.9 per} and the #3 Scoring Defense {8.7 per} in the State)

 

West had a fine career and is #3 in rushing for a career in the state. It was a large upset that should be listed. I think they were much more like Westsider stated. I just don't think that Lawrence County team was as great as perhaps painted in the original story.

 

Still a great notch in the belt of Bell County history and worthy of this thread in my opinion. :thumb:

 

At the time West was the leading rusher in the state. One thing you left out on those stats was # of games played. The 3 guys above him all got 1 or 2 more games, whereas West just got 11. At the time of the regional semifinals, West was leading the state in rushing. Needless to say his 18 yards against Bell in that 11th game didnt help that stat out, not to mention he didnt get to play anymore. That is why the season ending stats have West at #4, instead of #1. Going into the Bell game West was #1.

 

I also stated that he was going for the leading rusher in the state for a career. Did my research and found out it he needed 100+ yards to reach #2 for a career, and surpass Jeremy Britt of Danville. Alot of ppl thought he would come by that 100+ easily against BC.

 

Irregardless. To say that an 11-0 team that featured a Marshall signee, a Miami of Ohio signee, and a UT signee wasnt as talented as pictured is pretty laughable.

 

I never said I thought they could knock off Boyle, because I dont think anyone was going to do that. I simply said alot of ppl on these boards were saying that they had the talent to do so, and that if it was going to happen it would have to be LC to do it.

 

I too remember the undefeated Rock team you mentioned. We played them the next week and were beaten 28-14 in another physical, tough game. Still........ Lawrence was the favorite to win the region in most minds, although Rock was seen as the only other team in the region capable of winning it. Very few thought that a young, inexperienced Bell team should have been in the region finals, let alone beat LC and hang tough with a Rock team that had destroyed them earlier in the season by 30 points or so.

The year was 1992, the upset was when Pikeville beating Hazard 18-13. Hazard was number one rated team in class A for most of the season then lost to the pathers in the second round of the playoffs. The bulldogs was 11-1 and the best team in Hazard's history.

At the time West was the leading rusher in the state. One thing you left out on those stats was # of games played. The 3 guys above him all got 1 or 2 more games, whereas West just got 11. At the time of the regional semifinals, West was leading the state in rushing. Needless to say his 18 yards against Bell in that 11th game didnt help that stat out, not to mention he didnt get to play anymore. That is why the season ending stats have West at #4, instead of #1. Going into the Bell game West was #1

 

 

I don't want to get this into a "you say this, I say that." I respect what Bell County did and said so.

 

But your stats are interesting.

 

If West was leading the state and held to 18 yards in his last game that means he entered the game with 2068 yards.

 

Gibson rushed for 2756 in one game more.

 

So you are saying that Gibson rushed for 698 yards in his last two games to become the State's leading rusher? (That means average 349 yards rushing in the last two games) That's what he would have to be at the least to be trailing West going into week 11 and playing only through 12 weeks.

 

I hope someone can clear that one up for me. :thumb:

I don't want to get this into a "you say this, I say that." I respect what Bell County did and said so.

 

But your stats are interesting.

 

If West was leading the state and held to 18 yards in his last game that means he entered the game with 2068 yards.

 

Gibson rushed for 2756 in one game more.

 

So you are saying that Gibson rushed for 698 yards in his last two games to become the State's leading rusher? (That means average 349 yards rushing in the last two games) That's what he would have to be at the least to be trailing West going into week 11 and playing only through 12 weeks.

 

I hope someone can clear that one up for me. :thumb:

 

WOW...... you must really want to prove me wrong or something to do all that math. No doubt you did it with every RB ahead of West, because "Q," as Gibson is better known, was the only RB that that math works with.

 

Gibson had 571 yards in 1 game against Shawnee. If I am not mistaken, Gibson had right around what you averaged out in the following 2 games against Russel and Bardstown. I can email him and find out for sure...... but I think I'm gonna be right on this. Maybe not though. But if I am not mistaken "Q" had 2 huge rushing games against Russel and Bardstown, one for a lil over 350, and then another one for 330 or so.

Terrible analogy.

You're entitled to your opinion.

1.) A school with the tradition and program of Trinity being defeated by a school like Seneca just because Seneca has alot of seniors and is playing at home.

It happened in 2003, but the relative strength of the teams isn't the issue. You're calling Bell over Lawrence a huge upset because some yahoos on the Internet predicted a 40-point win for Lawrence ... big deal.

Not to mention that my standard included 3 MAJOR D1 signees, an undefeated record at 11-0, a team that was the regional favorite, and a team that had one of the states top rushers.

And a team that had a glossy record against a so-so schedule, a record that doesn't look as impressive upon closer examination.

Lawrence Co was favored but I don't know a soul that would put them as 40 point favorites over Bell Co??????????????????? West and Wright were one of the best one two punches to ever come out of the mountains but that team would rank around number 4 in an 8 year span there at LC. Upset...yes....as big as it's being made out too be..... NO!

Dontae Wright might be the most underrated player to come out of Eastern KY while we are on the subject. I really look for him to start at outside LB'er for Miami of Ohio this year.

WOW...... you must really want to prove me wrong or something to do all that math. No doubt you did it with every RB ahead of West, because "Q," as Gibson is better known, was the only RB that that math works with.

 

Gibson had 571 yards in 1 game against Shawnee. If I am not mistaken, Gibson had right around what you averaged out in the following 2 games against Russel and Bardstown. I can email him and find out for sure...... but I think I'm gonna be right on this. Maybe not though. But if I am not mistaken "Q" had 2 huge rushing games against Russel and Bardstown, one for a lil over 350, and then another one for 330 or so.

 

 

Thanks for the insight. :thumb:

 

 

It wasn't hard math to do.

Lawrence Co was favored but I don't know a soul that would put them as 40 point favorites over Bell Co??????????????????? West and Wright were one of the best one two punches to ever come out of the mountains but that team would rank around number 4 in an 8 year span there at LC. Upset...yes....as big as it's being made out too be..... NO!

Dontae Wright might be the most underrated player to come out of Eastern KY while we are on the subject. I really look for him to start at outside LB'er for Miami of Ohio this year.

 

Will ppl lay off the 40 point underdog deal. I was simply stating that some ppl on this board that LC to be favored by as much as 40.

 

Bell was supposed to get blown off the field, and wasnt supposed to even be able to play with LC. Not neccessarily because of how GREAT LC was, although they were a very good team, but because of how young and inexperienced Bell was. Bell had a few seniors that played alot and contributed, but for the most part they were made up of juniors with little game experience, sophomores, and a few outstanding freshman.

 

I think a guy who played in the game would know, and to be honest, BC was totally outmanned and outmatched. We shouldnt have been within 14 points of LC. As a matter of fact, if the Wright TD run that got called back for holding hadnt have got called back, I think LC might have ended up winning by several TD's. That TD really took the wind out of the sails of BC, but when it got called back it really made BC believe fate was on their side.

 

I also agree with the statement that Wright is one of the most underrated players to ever come out of the mountains. That kid could really play football. A great runner and a physical player with the size and speed to match.

Thanks for the insight. :thumb:

 

 

It wasn't hard math to do.

 

I know...... just thought it funny that you brought it up, although it was a great point.

 

I am still not sure if "Q" did have games like that against Russel and Bardstown though. I am waiting on a reply. I am pretty sure he did though. But if not...... West was still the #2 rusher in the state at the time and averaging some 230+ yards a game. To hold him to 18 is impressive, especially for a Bell defense that featured alot of young, inexperienced players. Although, to West's credit. He was on a bad ankle, and did have a starting O-Linemen out of the game with the flu.