The top 3 players in Belfry history has to be Rick Kestner, James Ramey and David Jones. All 3 went on to play at Kentucky.

 

1. Rick Kestner - was a 3 year letterman receiver for UK in the 60s, and held several receiving records. His jersey was retired and his name is on the Commonwealth Stadium wall. Rick is known for his most famous performance in catching 9 passes for 185 yards in UK's upset of #1 Ole Miss in 1964. Kestner is unanimously considered the best player to ever come out of Pond Creek. Rick enjoyed a successful career in the NFL, spending 1 year with the Colts and about 11 years with the Dolphins.

 

2. David Jones - was a star for Belfry in 2003 and 2004 leading the Pirates to their only two state championships in school history. He shared the backfield with Doug Howard and Gary Childers combining to be the best backfield ever to wear the red and white. David went on to lead the KY all stars in a victory over TN and had a successful career at UK where he returned a kickoff for a TD in their Music City Bowl win in his senior season. David is one of the fastest players in Belfry history. David was drafted by the Ravens, but he never quite made the opening day roster.

 

3. James Ramey - played DE/LB at UK in the late 70s under Fran Curci and was instrumental in UK's 76 Peach Bowl win. UK hadn't been to a bowl game in 25 years and Ramey sparked them to their first score by recovering a North Carolina fumble en route to a 21-0 victory. Ramey was drafted in 79 by the Browns and played a season for St Louis in the NFL.

Fantastic thread and information Watusi.

 

I strongly encourage anyone that wants to start a Top 3 thread about their school to follow this format.

And are they in order 1, 2, 3 as you have them listed?

I listed them chronologically.

 

I never saw Kestner play, but based on accomplishments and testimony, I have no problem putting him at #1.

 

I saw Jones do some amazing things on both sides of the ball against high school competition and would put him at #2.

 

Ramey would be #3, although I only saw him play in college. His spot on this list is the one that may be in jeopardy, and a case could be made for Doug Howard if we are talking about high school performance only.

I listed them chronologically.

 

I never saw Kestner play, but based on accomplishments and testimony, I have no problem putting him at #1.

 

I saw Jones do some amazing things on both sides of the ball against high school competition and would put him at #2.

 

Ramey would be #3, although I only saw him play in college. His spot on this list is the one that may be in jeopardy, and a case could be made for Doug Howard if we are talking about high school performance only.

 

Thanks, I did a quick edit of your post to include order.

2. David Jones - was a star for Belfry in 2003 and 2004 leading the Pirates to their only two state championships in school history.

 

This surprised me - only two state championships for Belfry?

This surprised me - only two state championships for Belfry?

Yes, those 2 are it to go along with 7 runner up trophies.

 

In the old 4 class system, Belfry was runner up in AAA in 79, 85 and 86, then they won championships in AA in 03 and 04.

 

In the new 6 class system, they have 4 AAA runner up finishes in 07, 10, 11 and 12.

Yes, those 2 are it to go along with 7 runner up trophies.

 

In the old 4 class system, Belfry was runner up in AAA in 79, 85 and 86, then they won championships in AA in 03 and 04.

 

In the new 6 class system, they have 4 AAA runner up finishes in 07, 10, 11 and 12.

 

That's why I was surprised to see only two titles. I knew they had been to the championship game many times over the years. Thanks for the info.

 

By the way. I've said it before and I will say it again - Belfry is one of my favorite stadiums in the state.

It is a very good place to watch football.

 

When were you there VOR?

Great thread. Always thought Jones was best college prospect but felt like Doug Howard was possibly the better back on that team. Both very talented!!

Great thread. Always thought Jones was best college prospect but felt like Doug Howard was possibly the better back on that team. Both very talented!!

Having those two in the same backfield sure made Friday nights a lot of fun on Pond Creek.

Watusi, do you know any of those guys? Are they still around Belfry?

 

I remember watching those mid-2000s Belfry teams and just being wowed by the skill in the backfield.

Rick Kestner passed away last year and there was a nice coverage of him in the HL and on some of the news websites. Great guy, I went to school with his kids and Rick was around a lot back then. I was always in awe of him.

 

I never knew James Ramey, but I do know his brother, Kelly, who played on Belfry's 1979 runner up team. Kelly lives locally but I don't know about James. Seems like I remember hearing he lives in Florida but I am not sure on that.

 

I know David Jones. David has played a couple of seasons with East Ky Miners indoor football league team, and coached some for UPike. He is still around a lot and has been involved with Belfry sports from time to time. He has a relative that will be a freshman at Belfry next year.

1. Kestner- Watusi nailed it.

2. Ramey- Watusi nailed it.

3. Doug Howard- David Jones was the best athlete to ever come out of Belfry and made some simply jaw dropping plays, but in terms of football players Doug Howard had him edged out. Doug was that rare combination of shear strength and toughness and the uncanny ability to make "the big play" when it was needed. I have never seen the veer ran at the HS level better than that Belfry team and literally every time Howard or Jones touched the ball the odds seemed to be greater they would break a TD rather than an ordinary 3-4 yard gain.

 

Howard was the heart and soul of those 2003/2004 teams on Defense as well. Simply fantastic LB who was always in the right place at the right time and seemingly never missed a tackle. Offensively he was the consummate prototypical HS RB. He could beat you inside, he could beat you outside, he could get the 2 yard gain on 4th Down, he could break an 80 yard gain on the first play from scrimmage, he could break ankle sin the open field, he cold knock a bigger LB out of the game when he lowered his shoulders. In all my years of watching Football I have still yet to see a more amazing stiffarm than the one Howard put on a Pburg defender in 2004.

 

 

Watusi,

 

I want to know who your honorable mentions would be... I am sure that list would bring back some memories.

Great info, ATL, and I was hoping you'd make a case for Howard. I love Doug Howard and he was fantastic. If you'd asked me this question at the end of their senior season, I would have likely agreed with you and put Doug in the top 3. He is the leading rusher in Belfry history and also one of the better defensive players. Just an amazing player, and he played 4 years where Jones only played 2. Given the benefit of knowing what all those guys did post high school, however is the reason I would put Doug at #4, just slightly behind Jones and Ramey.

 

I'll put some thought into an honorable mention team. That would be tough to narrow down to a reasonable number. I have to ponder on that a bit.