Awesome Hoptown teams of the past

[Oldercoach]

I'm remembering that Hoptown was awesome throughout the '60's. Can anyone share some details? Seems like their '65 team was not only undefeated, but had a dozen D1 signees.

[broadcaster240]

I don't have details on individuals, though I remember hearing stories about many of them.

The following are Fleming Thornton-coached teams (an excellent coach and a wonderful gentleman)

1962 10-1

1963 7-3

1964 9-2 lost playoff game to Owensboro

1965 14-0 playoffs beat Henderson City 39-6,

beat Harrison County 40-7,

beat Middlesboro 24-6 for STATE TITLE

1966 13-0 playoffs beat Henderson County 27-6

beat Lexington Henry Clay 35-0

beat Ft. Thomas Highlands 27-6 for STATE TITLE

1971 9-2-1 lost opening playoff game to Madisonville

1972 9-3 lost opening playoff game to Union County

 

Coach Thornton was 109-52-7 in 15 years at TigerTown (1962-1976.)

 

Craig Clayton had an awfully good 19-year run going 149-86...which included an "official" 0-15 (instead of 13-2) record in 1997 when Artose Pinner was a Senior. Pinner was found to be too old, and Hoptown had to forfeit those wins. They had gotten to the 3-A championship game before losing to Covington Catholic.

 

Hopkinsville was also runner-up in 1996...and made it to the semi-finals five of Clayton's last six years there: 1999-2004.

[Hatz]

I thought the times Boyle played them in 2001, 02, 04 they were very good and very talented

[broadcaster240]

Hopkinsville was rated the #1 team in the state...almost unanimously in 1965. Second only to AAA champion Louisville Manual in '66.

 

Courier-Journal all-staters in 1965 were

running back Pete Moore

center Kenny Lee

offensive end Tony Ricks

& Fleming Thornton was Coach of the Year.

 

C-J all-state in 1966

running back John Fuqua

center Lawrence Brame

offensive end Ricky Deason

[broadcaster240]

Coach, you may have remembered Herb Covington (Class of '63) and Pete Moore (Class of '64), incredible running backs who were all-staters their Senior year at Hopkinsville.

 

Been scratching my head since your post...trying to remember more individual names. Came up with those two, but that's about it. Had to check my files to find exactly what years they played.

Edited December 24, 2016 by broadcaster
adding info

[tcjkbt]

In college some of my Mayfield friends told me about Lawrence Brame (sp) and how dominant he was. (Petty sure he wennt to Hoptown.)

[Oldercoach]

Coach, you may have remembered Herb Covington (Class of '63) and Pete Moore (Class of '64), incredible running backs who were all-staters their Senior year at Hopkinsville.

 

Been scratching my head since your post...trying to remember more individual names. Came up with those two, but that's about it. Had to check my files to find exactly what years they played.

Seemed to me Pete Moore went bigtime Like Alabama or LSU, but for the life of me, I don't recall. Or, maybe this old memory is recalling he went to either Army or Air Force Academy. Just remember he was very special. Help!

[broadcaster240]

By Googling his name, Hopkinsville, and Alabama...found out he was a letterman in 1968 & 1969 for the Crimson Tide.

[Oldercoach]

By Googling his name, Hopkinsville, and Alabama...found out he was a letterman in 1968 & 1969 for the Crimson Tide.

 

Makes me feel good knowing there are still some brain cells partially in tact. Remember him as an absolute wrecking ball on offense, and blackhole on defense.

[the game guy]

Rick Deason was a U.K. signee from those teams and another ngoof one was Jesse Green

[Oldercoach]

Just remember hearing Coach Bill McKee on his Saturday morning radio show on WCYN after just losing to Hoptown 40-7 in the championship game (got that score from Broadcaster Post#2) talking about them being bigger and probably better than his Centre college team when he played.