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.

 

A couple of press photos of the Colonels after the loss.

 

Rick Woolf (brother to Mike Woolf and Timmy Woolf).

 

John Kirschner

On a Personal level:

 

1980. Senior Year. Boyle vs Russell County for the District Crown. Rebels were 6-0, coming off of a 9-1 season and we had steamrolled everyone except a close game with Somerset. In the Mud of Russell Springs we scored on a pass play where the receiver lost the ball after catching it and our RB ran it in from about 30 yards on a scoop and score. 6-0. But our Kicker/DT was hammered on the EP and had a concussion so he was put out of the game.

 

Held on to the lead through a first half where our passing game clicked but we had miscues galore. Our WR was on a post route and wide open only to have the ball hit him in the helmet, bounce in the air, and it was intercepted. Later in the half our QB threw an INT in the End Zone when we at about the 10 yard line.

 

Second Half the Lakers pounded the side of our defense where the DT was missing and the strong side LB was out for the whole game with a hamstring injury. I think we had another turnover if memory serves and the Lakers chewed up clock and yardage to go up 13-6.

 

Fourth Quarter we marched from our own 1 yard line to the 20 of RC but the drive stopped. Then after forcing a punt with under a minute to go, C.T. Wolfe hit Lee Scheuer with a wheel route pass for a 35 yard TD with :23 to play. We went for 2 with a HB pass we had never ran before. The pass was tipped away at the last instant from the hands of our WR. Game Over 13-12 and the hopes of a playoff spot dashed. I still haven't recovered. I've lived with it. But never recovered.

 

For Boyle. I thought of a few.

 

1976. Boyle lost by 1 to Frankfort on a late Panther Kick Off Return. Then lost by a TD to Chris Jones and Danville on a late Punt Return. Boyle finished 10-2 but outside the playoffs due to the old Dickinson Point System. Win those two and they have enough points to edge out Somerset for the Title.

 

1995. Rebels lose a heartbreaker to Danville in the 2A Regional Final, 10-7. If memory serves, Boyle leads 7-3 in the final couple of minutes but turned the ball over and it led to a quick strike score by the Ads to keep "the streak" alive and end Boyle's hopes. The streak would end at the same spot the next season.

 

2008. Boyle vs. Bell County. 4A State Semi-Finals. Great game but Rebels fell short. Both teams unbeaten. 17-15 Bell. Rebels had 6 turnovers I believe. Boyle would return the favor to the Bobcats the next two seasons. The Rebels were that close to going 45-0 and winning three straight state titles.

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.

 

The irony is I would suggest Male's home overtime loss to Trinity in the playoffs the year before. The ending was similar to how the Patriots beat Seattle a few years ago for the Super Bowl. Could have run the ball in from the goal line, instead try to pass. Game over.

 

Considering the outcomes of both victors it is easy to suggest these two games were IN FACT for the 6A championship the past two seasons. Can't wait to see what happens this season.

I believe it was 2006, Beechwood vs NCC in the playoffs. It was my son's senior year and his last chance to get a state ring. NCC won in a very controversial call in the end when a Beechwood player was called as being an ineligible receiver after catching what would have been the game winning touchdown. Very tough loss. I believe it was argued over by both sides on BGP afterwards.

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.

 

Right game, but your memory deceives you on the ending. 1996 season. On the last play of the game, down 4, rather than give it to their All State back Skirvin, the Greendevils opted to play fake and Jerry Cline threw low to Neil Richardson in the back of the end zone. The Tigers would go on to not be challenged the remainder of the playoffs and continue their 1A dynasty in the 90's.

 

Many many many what ifs fall around that game in that small town... What if Skirvin got the ball? What if Cline would've tried to run it in? Fair or not, the general consensus is that if they could've just gotten by the Tigers the Greendevils would've claimed their first state championship in 30 years that year. I've talked to quite a few folks that were involved in that game from both sides that thought that while they weren't the better team that night, the Greendevils were probably the better team on the field that year...

Right game, but your memory deceives you on the ending. 1996 season. On the last play of the game, down 4, rather than give it to their All State back Skirvin, the Greendevils opted to play fake and Jerry Cline threw low to Neil Richardson in the back of the end zone. The Tigers would go on to not be challenged the remainder of the playoffs and continue their 1A dynasty in the 90's.

 

Many many many what ifs fall around that game in that small town... What if Skirvin got the ball? What if Cline would've tried to run it in? Fair or not, the general consensus is that if they could've just gotten by the Tigers the Greendevils would've claimed their first state championship in 30 years that year. I've talked to quite a few folks that were involved in that game from both sides that thought that while they weren't the better team that night, the Greendevils were probably the better team on the field that year...

 

You are correct. It was right in front of us. Thought the QB should have tucked it. Great game.

@ESPNdeux , @TAC , why rely on memory when you can go to the film

 

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@ESPNdeux , @TAC , why rely on memory when you can go to the film

 

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You da' man!

That's a really tough call. There have been a few. I'm tempted to say 2003 when St. X beat Warren Central 13-9 in the state semifinals at WKU. It was the best chance Central had of going to the state title game since their last appearance in 1990. Lonnell Dewalt was masterful at WR and almost singlehandedly kept WC in that game. Late in the 4th Quarter, Central had driven to the St. X 1 yard line, down 13-9. On third down, Brock Whitney tried a QB keeper. His hand got hit and he fumbled the ball in the cold. The Tigers recovered, and that was that. Brutal.

Honorable mentions:

 

11/10/2000 - Bowling Green 7 Warren Central 6 (3A Second Round) - Central had at that time still not beaten Bowling Green since 1993. They'd won the district despite a loss to the Purples, and had them on their homefield. Neither team could move the ball much of the night. Terkell Boards broke a 50 yard TD run in the third quarter to put the Dragons up, but a botched snap and a poor decision on the ensuing rollout prevented the Dragons from tacking on a PAT. The Purples moved straight down the field behind the veer attack, and grabbed their only score of the game, gaining a 7-6 win. It was the best chance the Dragons ever got of advancing past the second round in 3A after 1993 - they never got past the second round until 2003 when they moved up to 4A.

 

11/17/2006 - Henderson County 42 Warren Central 38 (4A Region Finals) - A back and forth game, the Dragons were seeking their third region title in four years, including back to back. It seemed whoever had the ball last would win. It was so much so, that when Central easily drove to the Henderson County 20 (or so) with around 3 minutes left, I remember worrying that they'd score too fast. No matter - they turned it over on downs after falling behind the chains in inexplicable fashion. This would be the first of what would turn out to be four straight losses in region finals for the Dragons, and they've yet to win a region title since 2005.

 

11/19/2010 - Christian County 27 Warren Central 26 (OT) (5A Region Finals) - We didn't know it at the time, but this was the last true shot for Central. The next two years were better teams, but Bowling Green had fully emerged by then. This was a game, on the Dragons' home turf, that they led by 7 with around 2 minutes left. The Colonels had to go 80 yards for the tie. Anthony Hickey went through them like paper. In overtime, the Dragons scored on fourth down and went for two and the win. It never had a chance. Central has never been within one score in a region title game since.

 

I was a Jr. on that X team. Very cold game, and we're still trying to cover Dewalt, Deeley had tough challenge that's for sure.

Personally, it's the '03 state championship game between X and T. Tied 14-14 at halftime, T makes a field goal early in the 3rd quarter to go up 17-14 and keeps the lead. We had a drive late in the game, but KJ Austin Bruce was stopped inches short of the 1st down on the 4th down power run play to the right side. Final score T 17 X 14.

 

Tough way to end the season, and I've only watched that the entire game once.

1976 4A State Championship Louisville Trinity 28 Henderson County 24

 

Henderson City and County high schools had merged that year producing the greatest team in Henderson County football history! Clear cold day with a good amount of snow and ice left on the bleachers( I think they cleaned off the Trinity side not the Henderson side), all scoring took place in the 1st half as the Colonels jumped out to a 24-14 lead. Trinity responded and lined up for a tying field goal with about :30 left until the half. Jim Campbell TE came onto the field and every Henderson County fan was screaming watch for the fake but Mojo Hollowell didn't defend it and the Shamrocks threw a TD and went up 28-24 at the half. The Colonels got close only once in the second half but fumbled the ball at the Shamrock 10 yard line. I think that was as close as any team got in the 2nd half. Colonels ended the season 14-1 and I think Trinity went undefeated at 15-0. I remember Trinity had given up only 29 points all year and Henderson scored 24 on them early. A great team that just came up short.

I can't believe there are no Highlands post on here so I will just get it out there in two words ...."Mud Bowl"

2013 loss in finals was most dramatic but mud bowl was most painful.

Edit - too painful to rehash.

The most painful loss is always your last loss. No chance to redeem yourself the following week.

2006 Class A State Finals. Ads lost to Newport Central Catholic 37-34 after leading by double digits with less than eight minutes to go. Another state title was in hand, but a series of defensive miscues and turnovers gave the game away. The Ads haven't made it back to the state finals since and Coach Sam Harp only made it back to the semi-finals once in the rest of his tenure at Danville.