"Bluegrasspreps.com Game of the Week" Lawrence County 36 Breathitt County 28 (1997)

[Ram]

Teams and Score: Lawrence County 36 Breathitt County 28

Year: 1997

RS or PO: Class 2A Regional Championship

Location: Luke Varney Jr Memorial Stadium, Louisa, KY

Details why this game should be the "Game of the Week":

The Jason Micheals led Lawrence County Bulldogs snap Breathitt County's 42 game winning steak at home in terrible field conditoins. The Bulldogs were led by All-State players Jason Micheals @ QB(led WKU to National Championship in 2002, and now coaching the TE's at the University of Tennessee), Gerad Parker @ WR (Went on to play at the University of Kentucky, and now coaching the RB's at the University of Tennessee at Martin), Nick Meadows @ RB, and a very strong offensive line. The Bulldogs were coached by Chuke Williams. Defensive Coordinator was Phillip Ratliff, now coaching the TE's at Marshall university. There was a very high attendece at the game and the Lawrence County faithful even tore down one of the goal posts after the game. Great night that will always be remembered in Louisa, even as the football program has dropped off somewhat as of late.

[Ram]

What made this game great? Who were some of the players that made a difference? What were the big plays of the game? Please be specific.

[Ram]

If you have a nomination for the "Bluegrasspreps.com Game of the Week", please visit this link. You can nominate more then one game. Your nomination does not have to be a playoff or Championship game, just a great game that exemplifies Kentucky High School Football.

[stick1]

I was an assistant under Chuke at the time. He had the kids beleiving in themselves that night and honestly the stars were aligned. Breathitt had an amazing offesnse that was somewhat grounded by the terrible weather that night. The field was covered in mud around the 50. As you mentioned Lawrence was led by Jason Michael who was one of the best leaders to ever play the game in KY. He was gritty, physical and could beat you running+throwing. Even more important was his decision making in the option game. LC had a great line led by guys like Brandon Coldiron. Nick Meadows had a GREAT game from the tailback position and I think he had a couple of 60 or so yard TD's. One of them was one of the better runs I've seen in high school as he broke some ridiculous (I want to say 10) tackles on one TD run. His low center of gravity and break away speed ultimatly won the game for LC. Gerad Parker who was a top 5 WR in state history was a major problem too as there were times he would draw triple teams.

If not the top win it was definatly in the top 3 (I would probably say 1) for LC. Yeh they actually broke the goal posts down:) LC turned around and lost to the biggest cinderella in the state that next week (Dudley Hilton and Bourbon Co who went on and won the state). GREAT group of talent at LC at that time. Multiple Divsion 1 players and a lot of kids that went on to play college ball. LC has never had that much talent on one team since. They had a great duo in West/Wright and a solid group in the Barnette, Short + younger Parker group but the team that beat Breathitt was loaded.

[Ram]

Thanks for the information Stick. Do you have any stats for Micheal and Meadows? And how many of the players from that game are now coaches, be it high school or college?

[stick1]

Stats I don't have.. coaches involved:

I've been at North Oldham, Lexington Catholic (won a state championship there) and Lawrence Co now.

Phill Ratcliff as you mentioned won a National Championship playing at Marshall (2 time All American) won a National Championship coaching at James Madison and is now coaching at Marshall.

Chuke Williams won over 200 games in High School I think.

Brian Brown assistant at West Carter

Players from that team that have coached:

Jason Michael went to Army then transferred to Western where he QBed the Hilltoppers to a National Championship. Grad Assistant at UTenn. Left there and was quality control for the Oakland Raiders. Took a job doing the same thing with the NY Jets then got the TE's job there. Coached last year as the TE's coach at the University of Tenn. Not sure what he's doing next year yet but he is big time!

Gerad Parker played at UK. GA at UK. Coached a year at Raceland and is now the RB's coach at Tenn Martin. He will be big time too before it is over with.

Spencer Harris either played that year or the year before but he started shortstop 4 years and was captain at Virginia Tech. He is going to be a Doctor in 2 more years.

John Caudill played TE and coached at Lawrence Co.

Alan Short played at Cumberland and is the offensive coordinator I think at Adair Co.

Mike Copley was there the year before and coached at Pikeville + now is the new head coach at Greenup Co.

Nick Meadow went to Georgetown but was cut short due to a car wreck I think.

I'm not sure if Dontae Wright and Mike West were freshmen then or not. Mike went to Marshall and Dontae QBed LC but started Outside LBer at Miami of Ohio. He just finished up being a Graduate Assistanat at UK. He is going to be big time too!

That is just off the top of my head. Everyone of those guys coaching are GREAT guys and all successful coaches. They are all just going to keep doing bigger things IMO. There is a strong bond between all the guys at LC from that group. We all still keep in touch pretty good!

[Ram]

Thanks Stick, I was tossing you soft balls to hit out of the park. I just want people to see how many coaches came from that group of Lawrence County players. Quite impressive to say the least. "The Cradle of Coaches of Eastern Kentucky".

[kydlineguy]

Where is Chuke Williams now? I have been meaning to ask that for a while now!

[oneijoe]

Where is Chuke Williams now? I have been meaning to ask that for a while now!

 

To my knowledge, he teaches at the Job Corps in Johnson Co.

[cat_fan]

A game that I will never forget sitting in the stands as a spectator; wish Lawrence County could remember what it felt like on that night. As a louisa native I wish I could step back in time and look at all the faces that made that night so magical. They are very important to what the program stood for and represented and wish that the people of Louisa would remember all the greatest that exsisted before. Today they have no memory or even references of what happen around that great field and school; not one name (except Ratliff), accomplishment, or trace of tradition is on the wall for the public to see. I still have the video of this game because it was one of the greatest of all time; will always have this great memory with me with so many more. Can't wait until the dogs restore their place in the mountains; Nick Meadows had one of the greatest runs all-time in Lawrence County football and was proud to be their to witness it. Gerad, Jason, Gordan Reeves, Charlie Vinson, Lee Ferguson, and the list goes on and on was all part of one of the greatest games in Kentucky history.

[5wide]

Stick is definitely correct...the stars were aligned. It just wasn't meant to be for Breathitt County.

 

They had 8 turnovers and still never trailed in that game until Lawrence County scored a TD and 2-pt conversion with about 5 minutes to play.

 

My memories from the game...

 

-Breathitt County lead 14-0 and 20-6 in that game.

 

-Breathitt County had Meadows wrapped up and stopped on one play and the Bobcats safety came up to deliver a big hit and instead of hitting Meadows, he hit his own teammate, and Meadows ended running about 50-60 yards before being tackled near the goal line (heck, he might have scored on that play, I can't remember for sure). Seems like he got tackled and they scored a play or two later.

 

-Parker really hurt us that night. I'm pretty sure he caught a TD pass (or set up a TD) with a big gain on a slant or in over the middle.

 

-LC perfectly executed a hook-and-ladder to score or set up another TD.

 

-Jason White (Bobcat FB) was ripping LC to shreds...gaining 10-15 yards on every touch it seemed, but for some reason didn't get the ball that much. In fact, the Bobcat ground game was consitently churning out yardage, but Chapman coughed it up two or three times. However, the most frustrating thing was Holcomb's stubborness with his passing attack. The conditions were a mess and he was bent on airing it out and that, more than anything killed Breathitt County. Our running game was strong, yet with a 1st and goal from the 9, Holcomb inexplicably called 4 straight passes from the shotgun formation...all incomplete.

 

I'd been scoreboard watching all season and I told a couple of my friends that Lawrence County was the only team that had a remote chance of beating Breathitt in 1997...so, if they lost that's who was gonna do it. LC was the only team that had the potential to score enough to beat Breathitt. That said, IMO, on a normal night, Breathitt County was 2-3 TD's better than any team in Class 2A. I'm not saying that in bitterness or to ruffle anyone's feathers...but, I'd seen Breathitt County win state titles in the previous years, against tougher competition, with lesser teams. That 1997 team was the best team in school history. Nobody will ever convince me otherwise.

 

But, you win some and lose some. The Bobcats played a handful of games the previous two years in the playoffs that could have easily ended in losses...we just happened to catch the breaks and make the plays. In Lawrence County, in 1997, they caught the breaks and made the plays. The certainly had a strong football team...and I can't believe they lost to Bourbon County the following week. (What was the score? 14-0)

 

Again, IMO, LC was at least a couple of TD's better than Bourbon County. I've always figured they put so much into that Breathitt game that they just couldn't get up and bring it for the next game. But, I don't know...that's just a guess.

[UKBLUE1964]

I dont remember a hook and lateral play in that game by LC, but I could be wrong.

 

I do remember LC had the ball inside their own 10 and Nick Meadows went right on a handoff and got hit several times but didnt fall down and then broke loose for a huge gain down inside Breathitt's 20.

 

LC recovered an onside kick in the second half that sent the Dawg Pound crazy.

 

I think those two plays helped LC win.

 

Also the interception in the 4th quarter helped too.

 

 

 

Stick1 mentioned Michael West and Dontae Wright, both were Freshman and I seem to remember Dontae playing some in the secondary. I do remember someone else playing several plays besides BJ Nelson who was a starter at LB all season.

 

That was one of the Largest crowds I had ever seen at LCHS and I remember seeing kids from local schools there. I remember seeing Paintsville, Johnson Central, Sheldon Clark, Raceland, Boyd Co., Ashland school jackets in the crowd and I am sure there was more.

 

IMO greatest game ever in Eastern Kentucky.

[jude]

I was at the game and I remember it being the largest crowd I've seen at a Lawrence County game. My memory is a little vague but I thought that the last touchdown was a hook and ladder to Parker? I may be getting that mixed up with another game though? I do clearly remember cheering so much and so loud that I couldn't talk for two days. It was by far the most exciting game I have EVER attended.

 

Also someone mentioned Chuke Williams. I was recently told that he lived in or near Paintsville and was having some health problems that prevented him from coaching. Can someone that has better information please provide some details on that?

 

I do have to say that in my very humble opinion the 99 team was our most talented group of starters although 97 is a VERY close second. It's hard to argue that a top 3 WR of all time in the state combined with a top 5 RB of all time in the state along with Dontae at QB is not one of the best trios ever in not just a LC backfield but any KY backfield.

[lchs46]

I played for Lc from 98 to 2002, Chuke has cancer, not sure what type of cancer but that is confirmed he does. My prayers are with him and his family, he was a great guy and a great coach. That hook and ladder play to win the game was agains Newports when Gerad caught the ball and pitched it to Meadows for the Td, and we won 34-32. That Breathitt County game was awesome though, tearing down the goal posts was cool also. I think for me it was that they were so good, and had a 38 game I think winning streak coming in and we gave it our best, and was able to beat them, that was the best day ever in Louisa. Anyone who was there would agree with me, thats what LC needs to get back to. Go dawgs!!!

[stick1]

The dramatic hook and latterall was against Flemming Co in the Regional Semis in 92-93 season. Flemming was up and just had to take a knee. Biggest rivalry LC had at the time where Flemming was lead by Jr Marshall (stud!). The best defense LC ever had in school history was about to be beaten by Flemming after LC thumped them earlier in the year. Instead of taking a knee they ran the ball and Lee Abshire (the most underrated Bulldog ever and one of the most underrated players in the state) was able to throw Jr out of bounds forcing Flemming to punt. LC rushed 11 and the punter kicked the ball into his upback. LC got the ball at midfield and with about 9 seconds left took a snap. Roger Lyons threw the hitch out to Jason Wells and Lee Abshire wheeled out of the backfield to take the pitch down the sideline to lead LC to the Reional Semis. I have seen A LOT of games around the state. I have never seen a game of that magnitude change that fast in the last 25 seconds or so of a game.

I've played and coached at LC for a whole lot of years. That is early 90's, late 90's and now. I would say the Regional Championship game against Mason Co was the biggest crowd in LC history. There were several schools there supporting LC from the area. The Mason Co crowd came and took the LC flag over to their side. Next thing we new Racelands team went and took it back and charged around in front of the LC student section leading the cheers. Great atmosphere. LC stopped Mason on the 3 yd line to win the Region in a GREAT game!