While we're bored for the next 3 weeks waiting on the season to start, I'd like to hear who you think the best AA champions in the past 16 years are. Why 16 years you ask, because the Riherds Scoreboard goes back that far where it gives the records, schedules, points, etc., so, you can give them a look and make your choices.. We'll call it the best in the modern era...

 

What I'd like you to do is rank your top 5 teams, 1-5 and I'll talley the points up and we'll come up with a winner. Rank 1 to 5 only. I've also put together a statistical ranking of all the teams and came up with a Top 1 thru 16 of these teams and we'll compare the 2 and see who was closest based on the stats I put together.

 

Feel free to discuss anything you wish about any of the teams to make your case, but, not till after you vote. Once you've made your picks, discuss away, but, keep your picks seperate from any discussion. That'll make it easier for me to calculate the results.

 

I'll keep this up till next saturday, 8/9 and then will release the results on sunday, 8/10. Here's the teams to choose from:

 

98 - Caldwell Co Tigers - 14-1

99 - Boyle Co Rebels - 15-0

00 - Boyle Co Rebels - 15-0

01 - Bardstown Tigers - 15-0

02 - Breathitt Co Bobcats - 15-0

03 - Belfry Pirates - 13-2

04 - Belfry Pirates - 14-1

05 - Russell Red Devils - 14-1

06 - Mercer Co Titans - 15-0

07 - Ft Campbell Falcons - 13-2

08 - Ft Campbell Falcons - 14-1

09 - Ft Campbell Falcons - 15-0

10 - NCC Thoroughbreds - 13-2

11 - Covington Holy Cross Indians - 12-3

12 - NCC Thoroughbreds - 11-4

13 - Desales Colts - 14-1

 

Remember, rank them 1 to 5 only and then feel free to discuss.. Have fun...

2000 Boyle County. No doubt in my mind. Greatest talent and nearly set the state record for points scored.

 

54.2 points per game.

9 pts per game given up.

 

Jeff Duggins (Next years Mr Football) threw for over 2,000 yds and 31 TD's

Matt Quinn rushed for over 1700 yds and 34 TD's

 

WR Matt Miller, Tackle Travis Leffew, Tackle Justin Nichols, Kicker Taylor Begley, HBack Boomer Johnson, Michael Paul Webb at LB, Brodie Overstreet in the Line, Casey McCoy, etc.

 

And they did it without Jacob Tamme how suffered a broken leg in the 4th game.

 

Beat the Class A Champ, Danville, 47-0 (only loss for the Ads all year).

 

For the 2nd consecutive year they gave Lex Cath their only two losses of the season.

 

Beat Regional Finalist Breathitt County 69-8.

 

Also devastated two other playoff teams in Southwestern and Harrodsburg.

 

I still believe this was the best of Boyle County 5 Straight.

As to Ranking:

 

1. Boyle 2000

2. Belfry 2004

3. Breathitt 2002

4. Ft Campbell 2009

5. NCC 2010

 

I only chose who I thought was the best team of particular "run" through the titles.

That's a solid 5. That Mercer Co team was a juggernaut, as well and the 01 Bardstown team was pretty dominant. Hard not to put either of those somewhere on the list. Last years Desales team was awe fully good, too. Picking just 5 is tough.

No question 2000 Boyle is #1. Absolute machine.

 

I also have respect for that 1999 team.

 

For me:

1. 2000 Boyle- As mentioned think this is the only no brainer. Simply dominant.

2. 2002 Breathitt- tough to do this as a Belfry fan, but the Bobcats steamrolled nearly everything in their path and was stout on both sides of the ball.

3. 2004 Belfry- Perhaps the greatest rush offense the past twenty years in Kentucky. Jones and Howard were a machine. The only knock on this team was they were not a dominant defensive team.

4. 1999 Boyle- Not to the level of 2000 but a very good team with most of the same players and the Leffew Brothers as well.

5. 2006 Mercer County- I have to give them their credit as I think they were one of the Top 5 teams but I think they deserve an asterisk as a "2A" school. It is very clear the administration took advantage of a loophole that allowed a team to basically play down.

 

Lots of good schools on that list.

ttt

Figured we'd have 20-30 participants by now.

Figured we'd have 20-30 participants by now.

 

Figured we would at least have a Russell, NCC, or Ft. Campbell fan in here.

 

Those FC teams with Antonio Andrews were fun to watch. The '05 Red Devils were solid..though I think the '06 Russell team was better...just had the misfortune of Mercer County "playing down".

Yes, the 09 Ft Campbell team was loaded.. They beat Mayfield by about 50 that year, if I'm not mistaken. They could score points, but, they were a greater defensive team with speed everywhere..

Just from what I can remember abt each of these teams, I'd go:

 

1) 2000 Boyle Co

2) 2009 Ft Campbell

3) 2002 Breathitt Co

4) 2005 Mercer Co

5) 2013 Desales

Yes, the 09 Ft Campbell team was loaded.. They beat Mayfield by about 50 that year, if I'm not mistaken. .

 

You are mistaken!

They did not play Mayfield in 09

Not sure how back you want to go, but 1984 champions New Cath. Won the schools first football championship and had eventual Mr. Football Frank Jacobs. He later went on to play at Notre Dame. I believe he also played baseball there too.

I saw all those championship games except the 2001 Bardstown game and the 99 Boyle Co game. That Bardstown team thumped a pretty good Prestonsburg team in the finals by 30+. I have a hard time making a top 5 because of not actually seeing them play, but here is my best attempt.

 

Like HATZ, I will only include one team from a particular run. For instance, I'll use the 2000 Boyle Co team and not the 99, even though they probably merit inclusion.

 

 

2000 Boyle Co - fantastic team, really no contest IMO.

2002 Breathitt Co - put on a show and cruised to the championship

2004 Belfry - third all time rushing team, 5380 yards

2009 Fort Campbell - offensive firepower

2001 Bardstown

 

I wanted to include 2006 Mercer Co but opted for Bardstown instead. Tough list to make.

Not sure how back you want to go, but 1984 champions New Cath. Won the schools first football championship and had eventual Mr. Football Frank Jacobs. He later went on to play at Notre Dame. I believe he also played baseball there too.

 

If we went all the way back here's a few:

 

1977-78 Mayfield

1976-77 Corbin

1988 Ft Knox

1987, 1992, 93, 94 Danville

I really wish Boyle County was in AAA in 2000. In the mid-to-late 90s going in to the early 2000s AA was considered the weakest of the 4 classes, IMO. I never fully bought in to Boyle, because of that, until the '01 season. Maybe that is unfair but you cannot ignore the lack of strength in AA around that time.