Worse loss for me was when we played Belfry in the first round of the playoffs several years ago. It was one of those No. 1 seed against the last seed playoff games with us being last. The game was close before the opening kickoff. A minute into the game the nail biter was busted wide open by Belfry....we lost 42-6.....fellas I am telling you I think about that game every second of my day. At least four times a week I break out in cold sweats and can't eat or sleep...??

A couple of years ago when Graves County upset the Bowling Green Purples. I still cant even talk about the game. No way that should have happened, but it did.

I follow a few teams, so one for each

 

Lloyd: 2003 state semis against Belfry

Holy Cross: 2009 against Beechwood

CovCath: 2001 state semis against Rockcastle County

Newport: 2005 regional vs. Russell

Brossart: 2015 playoff vs. Raceland

1994 - Whitesburg 14 Russell 7 - Regional Championship

 

Russell had completed it's first unbeaten regular season in over 40 years and was ranked #2 in the state in 2A behind Danville. Collectively, I think the Russell/Flatwoods community was looking ahead to a showdown with the Ads in the semifinals. After scoring on the first possession of the game, Russell's offense was stymied time and time again by the Yellowjackets D. In the final minutes of the game, Russell drove the ball deep into Whitesburg territory, but a pass was picked off at the 5 yard line.

 

It's doubtful that Russell would have beaten Danville's juggernaut '94 team in the semis, but it would've been nice to have had the chance.

 

 

 

1996 - Breathitt County 20 Russell 14 - 2nd Round of the Playoffs

 

Breathitt was in the midst of a 42 game winning streak and back to back state championships. For the second year in a row, Russell had to make the long, winding bus ride through the mountains to Jackson for the 2nd round of the playoffs. We gave the Bobcats all they could handle before falling in tight one. My memory is a little foggy, but I remember there being a controversial play on a Breathitt County punt return late in the 4th quarter. Russell led 14-13 at the time but, following that controversial play, Kyle Moore orchestrated a clutch drive to give Breathitt the winning score. We got the ball back with about a minute to play, but the wing-t isn't really built to go 80 yards in under a minute. For a moment, I thought we were going to end their streak at 26. Mike Holcomb and Co. had other ideas.

 

 

 

2002 - Breathitt County 28 Russell 27 (OT) - Semifinals

 

Russell led by three scores in the second half of this semifinal game before QB Justin Haddix and the high flying Bobcat offense finally woke up and rallied to tie the game at 21. The Red Devils lost in overtime on a missed extra point. Personally, I don't think there's a worse way to lose a football game. The pain Russell felt in the aftermath was compounded by the fact that a week later, Breathitt destroyed Corbin in the 2A state championship game by a record margin of 51-0.

 

 

 

2006 - Mercer County 15 Russell 12 - State Championship

 

Despite being the defending 2A champs, Russell was a considerable underdog to the Titans in the eyes of almost everyone outside of Flatwoods. Mercer County entered the championship game unbeaten, averaging 53 ppg and surrendering only 9. Only Boyle County had stayed within two TDs of the Titans through 14 games. Russell's defense brought it's A-game and shut down the vaunted Mercer County running game, holding them to less than half of their season average. Unfortunately for Russell, Mercer's defense came to play as well. Even in defeat, the Red Devils could walk off the field that day with their heads held high after playing their tails off.

 

Being able to repeat as champions can greatly enhance how history reflects on a program. A decade later, this one still stings a bit.

I follow a few teams, so one for each

 

Lloyd: 2003 state semis against Belfry

Holy Cross: 2009 against Beechwood

CovCath: 2001 state semis against Rockcastle County

Newport: 2005 regional vs. Russell

Brossart: 2015 playoff vs. Raceland

 

That was a great game. Russell had to uncharacteristically go to the air to force overtime. Like I said in my post above, losing because of a missed extra point in OT is about as bad as it gets. Newport was always a hard place for Russell to get a win, going back to the mid to late 90's when they were in the same district.

 

 

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In Cooper's short existence I think they are two that stick out the most.

 

State championship game in 2012 against Bowling Green. First two offensive series were turnovers and final score ended up being a 14 point loss. Very even game after the jitters but couldn't overcome those early turnovers.

 

2015 Regional Final against Simon Kenton. This was a game last year not many people gave Cooper a chance to win and without a kicker (appendicitis) Cooper went for two with a minute left and didn't convert and lost 13-12.

Beechwood over Dayton. It's been a few years ago and Dayton featured a kid by the name of Skirven. In a once in a several decade situation Dayton had a chance to take down the Tigers. Skirven got stopped at the goal line as time expired. Great game. I went with my dad and several other older gents that all grew up in Dayton. They were all crushed.

Last year's playoff loss to Male. Male was clearly the better team athletically. Trinity played terribly their first meeting but came out and played their hearts out in the playoffs. Had a huge drive to get within one late in the game but lost on a missed extra point.

NewCath semifinal against Somerset in 1983. Game was played at Newport Stadium. With about 2 minutes left, NewCath had the ball 1st and 5 on the Somerset 5. Somerset was winning 7-6. Three straight runs and the ball was placed on the Somerset 6 inch line. NewCath went for the field goal and we missed it.

Danville last year in the regional championship. They gave LCA a beat down. Many kids have that game marked on their calendar for next year. They were embarrassed!

Garrard - probably the 1993 Regional Finals loss to Bardstown. Teams were both undefeated and came in ranked 1 & 2 in Class A.

 

The 2011 Semi-final loss to Belfry was tough, but there was also probably the sense among fans that GC gave Belfry its best shot. The Bardstown game was really dominated by the Golden Lions, by what was maybe the best team ever fielded by Garrard County... There was a freak TD at the end of the 1st half on a "trick" play, GC fumbled once in Bardstown's territory in the 2nd half, a mishandled snap on a PAT, and a missed last-second field goal. 14-13 Bardstown.

 

Honorable mention for Garrard County is the 1991 playoff loss at Washington County. Numerous oddities that night, including a field goal called "no good" that most saw as "good". That was the second year under Perry, but first time Garrard was a contender. Loss hurt, but was a sign of positive things to come.

Mine are easy...

2010 State Semi Finals, lost 28-23 at Belfry, finishing the season 13-1 and a 2 year run at 27-2...it was the last time I'd ever see my son in Purple and Gold.

 

2009 State Finals Somerset loss to Paducah Thilghman 21-0. Somerset shot themselves in the foot on the field and in the coaches box all day. Team had rebounded from coach quitting 10 days before the season to run off an undefeated season including the first win over Sam Harp and Danville in many years. Somerset beat a Channing Fugate led Breathitt Co. in an unbelievable Region Final 51-33, that they trailed early in the second half. Going 14-1 was a fine accomplishment but once again Somerset loses in the State Finals (0-5).

 

1982 (I think it was 82) Somerset lost by one point to a decent but not great Boyle County team. Lost on a 2pt conversion where the QB may or may not have gotten in before being pushed back. This may have been the Best of All Somerset Teams in History and didn't make the playoffs due to only one team per district getting in back then. Somerset beat 4A Henry Clay and eventual 2A State Champ Corbin @ Corbin easily.

 

Jumper that '82 Somerset team was one of the best to never win a state title IMO. They had everything that year. Boyle had a very good team (8-2) but Somerset had more weapons. That game the Bunnies put up like 400 yards of offense but Boyle big played them to death with a PR for TD and KO for a TD if I recall. That last 2 pt conversion I never understood why Cain didn't give it to Stephens cause he was unstoppable that night. Neikerk kept it and got stopped just short by the 2 Rebel LB's.

 

Boyle would lose to Corbin at Corbin in the Regional. Rebels could have played better but Corbin and Somerset were better teams.

Playing in, has to be the loss to Raceland in the 1st round in '97. Muddy field, we completely overlooked them and they brought it to us.

 

Watching has to be the '01 1A title loss to Danville, basically on a missed extra point. They got the ball back with under 2 minutes to go, and threw an INT in the end zone. Gut....wrenching.

Jumper that '82 Somerset team was one of the best to never win a state title IMO. They had everything that year. Boyle had a very good team (8-2) but Somerset had more weapons. That game the Bunnies put up like 400 yards of offense but Boyle big played them to death with a PR for TD and KO for a TD if I recall. That last 2 pt conversion I never understood why Cain didn't give it to Stephens cause he was unstoppable that night. Neikerk kept it and got stopped just short by the 2 Rebel LB's.

 

Boyle would lose to Corbin at Corbin in the Regional. Rebels could have played better but Corbin and Somerset were better teams.

 

It was supposed to go to Stephens and I was told QB decided to keep it....yeah that team was loaded.

CovCath-2001/Rockastle County in the state semi final has to be the most painful.

 

Cov Cath vs Highlands. Every year. LOL

 

CovCath: 2001 state semis against Rockcastle County

 

Judging from your posts, I'm going to blame it on youth....but I have to disagree with all three of you.

 

The Rockcastle County loss was tough because we managed to get past Highlands only to lose in the semis, just short of playing in Louisville. However, that wasn't a first time for that. Same thing took place in 1991. We didn't even have to play Highlands in the playoffs because the Birds didn't make it that far (and we beat them 21-6 in the regular season). But anyway, we beat Greenup County 34-0 in the first round, Montgomery County 29-0 in the second round, and Ashland Paul Blazer 41-24 in the third round, only to lose in the state semis 3-12 to Dudley Hilton's Bell County Bobcats, who went on to win the AAA championship that year.

 

Also, yes, every loss to Highlands burns. However, no Highlands loss burns so much as the one in the 1992 playoffs. Cov Cath came into the third round of the playoffs with a 12-0 record, 15 individual and team records broken during the season, and what may well be the best team ever fielded by Cov Cath - this was also the year they shocked Cincinnati Moeller by handing the Crusaders a 22-17 loss at Moeller. The Colonels had beaten the Birds in the regular season by scoring 20 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to win 41-21. Cov Cath's quarterback, Adam McCormack, even had his picture on the cover of the KHSAA program for the football state finals...which the Colonels never made it to, because Highlands handed them a loss at Wooten Field in the rain and mud, winning 14-7 and ending Cov Cath's season with a 12-1 record. And THAT was the most painful loss Cov Cath ever had.