Does this assume that the talent in those schools was spread throughout Louisville or that those players simply didn't exist for this hypothetical?

How many kids were going to school at Holy Cross this particular year? That almost certainly has to have been the best team in school history to have gotten to the state semifinals in 4A.

 

I'm guessing there was more than now, but probably not too many more. This was a time when all schools in Jefferson County (except Kentucky Country Day) played AAAA football. Holy Cross fielded many good teams in the late-80s despite being at a huge enrollment disadvantage.

I'm guessing there was more than now, but probably not too many more. This was a time when all schools in Jefferson County (except Kentucky Country Day) played AAAA football. Holy Cross fielded many good teams in the late-80s despite being at a huge enrollment disadvantage.

 

If I recall correctly it was Holy Cross that ended Trinity's mammoth 50 game winning streak.

1986 - St. Xavier 27 Boone County 14

1987 - Shelby County 17 Boone County 14

1992 - St. Xavier 3 Boone County 0

1994 - Trinity 21 Boone County 7

2006 - Trinity 41 Ryle 7

2008 - Trinity 48 Simon Kenton 0

2014 - Trinity 47 Dixie Heights 14

 

Here's what I'm asking. Looks like the Boone teams of early on definitely had a chance to win a couple.

 

But the others were blown out. Just because they finished second, doesn't mean they would have won the state had one of those 3 not been there. What you'd have to do is figure out who would have come out of that other side had those 3 not been in the tournament. Then decide is the runner up would have beaten them. We have all seen (especially recently) that one side of the bracket is loaded and the other has been a cakewalk.

Here's what I'm asking. Looks like the Boone teams of early on definitely had a chance to win a couple.

 

But the others were blown out. Just because they finished second, doesn't mean they would have won the state had one of those 3 not been there. What you'd have to do is figure out who would have come out of that other side had those 3 not been in the tournament. Then decide is the runner up would have beaten them. We have all seen (especially recently) that one side of the bracket is loaded and the other has been a cakewalk.

 

Absolutely. That's why my original post said I'm just looking at championship games. Obviously there are other years where better teams were eliminated early. However, besides the Boone teams in the 80s/90s, there hasn't really been a northern Kentucky team capable of winning a big-school championship.

Well back then Boone didnt lose kids to ryle and now assuming they lose some to Cooper as well. Boone County High schools district is a 3rd of the size it was back then. SO i think its safe to assume this is why they were competitive back in the 80s and early 90s.

 

IMO just because Ryle, SK and Dixie didnt compete in the games against trinity doesnt mean they wouldnt of been competitive against other teams in the state finals IF trinity wasnt there. Louisville teams are typically men amongst boys when it comes to Northern Kentucky teams for one reason or another! just my opinion so....... Dont mean much lol

Absolutely. That's why my original post said I'm just looking at championship games. Obviously there are other years where better teams were eliminated early. However, besides the Boone teams in the 80s/90s, there hasn't really been a northern Kentucky team capable of winning a big-school championship.

 

Yes, I agree with you. I just copied your post because it had the data in it! My question is more generic for the entire audience.

Well back then Boone didnt lose kids to ryle and now assuming they lose some to Cooper as well. Boone County High schools district is a 3rd of the size it was back then. SO i think its safe to assume this is why they were competitive back in the 80s and early 90s.

 

IMO just because Ryle, SK and Dixie didnt compete in the games against trinity doesnt mean they wouldnt of been competitive against other teams in the state finals IF trinity wasnt there. Louisville teams are typically men amongst boys when it comes to Northern Kentucky teams for one reason or another! just my opinion so....... Dont mean much lol

 

I'm not saying they wouldn't have been competitive. I'm saying that just because they made it to the finals doesn't mean they would have won state. We'd have to do a little more research to determine that is all I'm saying.

 

And I don't think Boone Co is a third the size it was back then. Remember, where Ryle and Cooper were built...back then was farm land. Now it's residential for as far are you can see. So they may lose some kids to Ryle and Cooper now, but the majority of the kids that go to Ryle and Cooper now were non-existent back then. So I'm not sure the enrollment has dropped by 2/3's. They are still as 6A school. It's just that area has grown up faster than anywhere in the state in the last 20 years.

And I don't think Boone Co is a third the size it was back then. Remember, where Ryle and Cooper were built...back then was farm land. Now it's residential for as far are you can see. So they may lose some kids to Ryle and Cooper now, but the majority of the kids that go to Ryle and Cooper now were non-existent back then. So I'm not sure the enrollment has dropped by 2/3's. They are still as 6A school. It's just that area has grown up faster than anywhere in the state in the last 20 years.

 

KHSAA website data goes back to the 2002-03 school year.

 

In 2002-03, school sizes were:

Boone County - 691 boys

Ryle - 686 boys

Conner - 685 boys

 

in 2015-16, school sizes were:

Ryle - 949 boys

Conner - 728 boys

Boone County - 723 boys

Cooper - 686 boys

 

I'll try to find data from earlier.

I definitely think Ryle had a legitimate shot at winning state in 2010. They beat a good Highlands team that year and advanced to Thanksgiving weekend losing at home to Trinity 28-9. Game was 7-3 Trinity at half. Trinity went on to beat Male 38-0 in the final. Male played Scott Co. in the other semifinal who lost to Boone Co. in the regular season. Ryle beat Boone by 3 TD's that year. Take Trinity and Male out of the equation that would have left a Scott Co vs. Ryle final and i would have liked Ryle's chances in that one. The Raiders finished 12-2 with only loss in regular season at Highlands. (played them twice home and away)

Edited October 20, 20169 yr by changeup

At first thought I came up with something similar to what you've posted. I'm thinking Ryle, SK and Dixie all fall under the 1-2 trophy area within the past 20 years.

 

Obviously Ryle is too young a school beyond that. SK was a door mat prior to the turn of the century. Dixie may have had some solid teams prior to 2000 but I'm too young to know about them.

 

Ryle and Dixie were 3A at least into the early 2000s.

Ryle and Dixie were 3A at least into the early 2000s.

 

I could be wrong but I think Boone Co (maybe Campbell Co) was the only 4A team in NKY before the 2000's

1986 St. X beat Trinity in the semis 23-10. St. X beat Fairdale in the quarters 21-12

1994 Trinity beat North Hardin in the semis 24-11

2006 Trinity beat Henry Clay 56-35 in the semis

2008 Trinity beat St. X 28-21. Trinity beat Eastern 63-15 and St. X beat Manual 53-0 in the quarters

2014 Trinity beat Meade Co. 48-0 in the semis

 

I couldn't find anything for the 92 season playoffs and the 87 playoffs Boone lost to Shelby Co. so there is no argument for a potential NKY state championship there.

In the late 80's, Campbell, Boone, Holmes and Dixie were all 4A. I'm thinking Conner was also but not 100% on that.

What's amazing is in the 87 regular season, Boone beat Shelby soundly. I think the score was around 28 - 7.

 

Here is the 1987 4A playoff bracket.

 

 

 

1987 Kentucky 4A Bracket

 

Shelby won four games by a total of nine points. 13.75 points per game, I assume they must have had a stout defense and a grind it out offense.