It's a little slow on the forums, so I thought I would start just a fun thread. I have many great memories from HS football, so I'lll share a few and hope you all join in. I played on a freshman team that had only 12 players and our local newspaper nicknamed us the Dirty Dozen. We went 5-0 undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. We went to an away game and my cousin was one of the captians, and we kept telling everyone to check their equipment bags to make sure they had everthing. My cousin was especially vocal about this, so when we get there and dress out he had forgotten his helmet. When we subbed with our one player we would take off our helmet and give to whoever was going in the game.

We had a bench clearing brawl with Henry Clay in a jv game my sophomore year and my same cousin chased one of their players around our parking lot.

My saddest memory we lost the state championship to Paris 15-14 in the third game of the season. We went 9-1 and they went undeafeted to the state champion:ohbrother:ship.

Coaching best: Winning state, breaking Breathitt's win streak at 42 straight and shutting Highlands out at Highlands. Most of all the great relationships you build.

Coaching worst: Building the foundation at two schools + the tough times before the tide finally turns. Tough to see kids go through what it takes to build a solid program that aren't there when you start reeping the benefits.

Playing best: Undefeated Soph year, beating Russell in double OT in the playoffs after thy had beaten us by 40, Stopping Mason Co on the 3 yd line to win Region, sweeping the District Sr year, 4 pts from playing on the carpet which was unheard of where I'm from. Woke up around Christmas and found out I made the Courier Journal All State Honorable Mention team along with a couple of friends (didn't happen much then where I'm from). Most of all relationships with teammates and coaches and getting prepared for life. The years I played it really brought our communitty together. We had people lined up on both sides of the road escorting us out of town, rival schools coming down carrying our flag around the track etc. It was an awesome time!

Playing worst: Loss to Pburg in Regional Championship, loss to Mayfield in the final 4, loss to a rival and our bus got a ticket on the way home....it was only about a 10 minute drive lol

For years, Raceland played Ashland in the first game of the year. Ashland always beat Raceland pretty severely, but the players and the coaches saw it as a hard test to prepare us for the playoffs. Besides, no one expected the little 1A school to ever beat the big 4A (at the time, in the 4 class system) school.

 

My senior year ('91), we were convinced that Raceland could play with Ashland, even though Ashland was coming off of a State Championship. Ashland returned their all time leading rusher, at the time.

 

Raceland won that game 14-13, and was the first Raceland team to ever beat Ashland. It may seem of little consequence, but Raceland now has 7 wins over Ashland since '91 (the series was suspended for a while during that period), and expects to play with and beat Ashland, a team that normally drummed them yearly. Raceland now has a three game winning streak against Ashland. It always stands out as a pivotal victory in Racland football history to me.

 

On a side note: years later, the local news paper was doing a story on Raceland's all time winning coach, Coach Bill Tom Ross, who was coaching Raceland in the '91 season. He was asked about the '91 win over Ashland. He said that he always looked at the Raceland/Ashland game a good preparation game for Raceland, but never expected to win the game.

 

I said, "What". I called Coach Ross and said "What do you mean you never expected to win? You told us we could win." I understood what he meant, and I was joking for the most part. We had a good coversation. I have never asked him, but I wonder how many other calls he got from players from the '91 team that asked him about that.

As a spectator, a good memory was last years Raceland victory over Russell, I think it will have some of the same effects as the '91 Ashland game. Most people never expected Raceland to beat Russell (I knew it would happen). The series was suspended for 35 years, so most fans had never seen the two teams play, even though they are 2 miles apart. Now, the series has some meat to it, and people won't be sure what to expect. This series has the making of a great rivalry, and should hold some great games over the years to come.

As a player:

Best: Playing Beechwood in the '95 regional final and how packed the field was.

Worst: Losing to Raceland at home in the '97 first round a year after we had beaten them by 41 in the first round.

 

As a spectator:

Best: Watching NewCath seal the deal in '05 against Mayfield. Actually that whole playoff run was about as dominant as anything I've seen.

 

Worst: Watching the PAT go wide in the '01 final and seeing the look on my brother's face as he came out of the locker room after that game. Close second was last year's championship game, and watching Michael Vick Jr (in playing ability only, not personally) fly down the field for Ft. Campbell after the QB throwback.

Nothing worse than not winning your final game as a high school athlete. I don't care if it's the last game of the regular season because you didn't make the playoffs or if it's the state championship. There's a tremendous amount of pain in knowing you're never going to play organized high school football again.

 

Then you go to college and take up rugby, and it eases some of the pain.

Best as Player:

 

Torn between three: Beating Danville on the last play of the game in '79 (Junior Year), it would be the last Rebel win vs. Danville until '96 (?).

 

The two wins over Somerset in '79 and '80. In '79 Somerset was ranked #4 in AA and led 17-7 at the half and dominated that 1st half. In the 2nd half we scored 20 unanswered points and won 27-17.

 

In '80 we came back, this time down 24-13 with under 10 minutes to play and won 27-24.

 

Worst as Player:

 

Two. Both Russell County. '79 we finished 9-1 but a loss in the mud to the Lakers kept us out of the playoffs. We beat AA semi-finalist (Washington County), AAA playoff team (Lincoln) and good Harrodsburg & Somerset squads but stayed home. Kind of clouded our dramatic win over Danville.

 

'80 we lost at Russell Springs 13-12. Scored on a long pass with about :40 left. Went for two and the pass was knocked away at the last moment. As Forrest Gump said, "And that's all I've got to say about that."

 

 

Best as a Broadcaster:

 

Boyle: No doubt the '82 win over the best Somerset team I ever saw. Rebels stopped Neikerk (sp?) a yard short of the 2 point conversion with :23 left and won 28-27.

 

Danville: Best was the first state title in '84. Something special about that team and that first title. Beat Hopkinsville 24-6 (Hoptown scored late after an Admiral miscue or it would have been a shutout) and capped a 13-0 campaign.

 

For excitement, nothing beats the Ads win over Mayfield in '87. The Mayfield comeback to tie it and force OT seemed to ratchet up the intensity and the OT with the blocked EP by Walker was a thrilling way to win a State Title.

 

 

Worst as a Broadcaster

 

1986 provided both. Ed Rall's last good team lost to the Lakers, 14-12. Somehow I knew that was Ed's last chance at a playoff squad.

 

Later, the loss to Belfry in the AAA semi-finals for Danville. That '86 team was very talented with Morgan and Baughman and would win AA the next year without them. Long ride, great fan base for Belfry. Too many turnovers and the field conditions were some of the worst I've ever seen. Played on a different field I still believe that Ads would win AAA that year.

 

Spectator

 

I've witnessed two Boyle playoff games during the run. 2002, the state title game vs. Rockastle. Boring game but fun to drive in for the game, have a field pass, and then drive back to VA afterwards.

 

2003 I was invited by Bertram to do Color for the AAA semi-final game in Paducah. Great thrill to be behind a mic for the first time in 13 years and to watch a great "team" out execute a super talented Blue Tornado squad.

Being around Raceland football for 35+ years and still going I have many memories. I will start with the bad one.....the Raceland/Russell game of 73'. Raceland went into Rusell a huge underdog with Russell having one of their better teams in long time (at that time). Raceland under coach Larry Heck out hustled, out hit and out played Russell all night. The two had played to a 6-6 tie with time running out and Russell lined up for the last play.....a 47 yd. FG attempt. (Keep in mind this was a time when hardly anyone kicked any fg's arouinf our area). Everyone on Raceland's sidelines was sreaming - warning of the fake fg. Russell's Clyde Waggoner kicked a 47 yd fg that hit the crossbar and bonced over the bar instead of back or down. Russell won the game 9-6. Another more recent and very bad memory was the regional title loss to LCA last season, ending an undefeated season fo the #1 ranked Rams.

Of the better memories, I would say that one very good one would be in 75'.....the first year that Raceland played Paris and were in their district. Paris was at that time considered state power in Class A. Raceland won the game 13-10 (I believe was the final) in a 2ot game at Raceland. That was the year of the 1st district championship/playoff appearance for Raceland and imo was a huge step in Raceland's long and storied football history and tradition of district champions. Again....that team was coached by Larry Heck.

 

More recently, wins over state power an district rivals LCA in the last couple of years were sweet along with last seasons win over Russell at Russell on their senior night. (mostly all of the older alums know and remember how intense the Racelabd/Russell rivalry was through the years). Being a Raceland alum and fan for all of the years any and every win over arch rival Fairview were all sweet (I believe Raceland at one time held a 16 yr. (not sure) win streak in that series). Also, all of the losses to Fairview really hurt.

 

This is a good thread..... am ready for some football!! :ylsuper:

Best Memory as a player.

I couldn't choose just one...

1. Montgomery County vs. Clark County, 2007 Rec Bowl. Clark County had 22 seniors and were preseason as high as #4 in the state. Montgomery County only had around 40 players. Montgomery got down as much as 14 i believe but after a touchdown then a kickoff fumbled by GRC Montgomery recovers and scores making the score 35-34 MC with only a couple minutes left. Clark got around their 25 yard line and lined up for around a 35-40 yard fieldgoal, not a gimme but makeable for their kicker. Jr. Ryan Hackworth came from the outside and blocked the kick with just 2 seconds. The fans rushed the field and the celebration began.

 

2. Montgomery County vs. Woodford Co. in the 2007 playoffs. Woodford was the #1 seed hosting the game, while Montgomery was the 4 seed, who hadn't won a playoff game in 10 years. Montgomery made 3 fieldgoals in the first half while Woodford County scored 1 touchdown with the extra point making the score 9-7. The 2nd half was back and forth, with Montgomery having the ball with about 2 minutes left on 3rd and 5 at the Woodford 30, Montgomery ran 5 QBTAG and Kaleb Curtis found a seem and outran the yellowjackets. On the kickoff, the squib bounced off someone on the front line of Woodford and Montgomery recovered, taking a knee to make a major upset and win the schools first playoff game in 10 years, 16-7. This was also one of my personal best game with 12 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tfls, and 2 blocked punts.

 

3. Montgomery County vs. Ashland at Putnam Stadium. 2007 Ashland Homecoming. This was a key district game and the first district game for the Indians of the seaon. Ashland's Matt Thomas(great football player) took the opening kickoff back to the MC 30 yard line. But the Tomcats went 3 and out with a 15 yard sack taking the out of fieldgoal range. I don't remember too much about the game, but Montgomery started to stall on offense in the 3rd quarter when they called in the "Big Joe package" handing the ball to 365lb. defensive tackle Big Joe Stanfield, he carried the ball 3 or 4 times including a 12 yard run he later scored a touchdown i believe. Ashland tied the game up and Montgomery had the ball on their own 40 with 2 minutes left. They drove down the field to the 3 yard line,with only a second left they called out their fieldgoal team, everyone lines up ref blows the whistle indians go to snap the ball and the second runs off the clock. Talk about one of the worst feelings in the world! In OT the indians score and i believe go for 2 and convert on it. Ashland scored on 3rd or 4th and goal on a pass to the corner of the endzone to Matt Thomas. On the 2 point conversion, Ashland puts Thomas back at QB and Thomas goes back for a pass see nothing so he scrambles to the pylon where CB Ryan Hackworth comes up and completly sticks Thomas, putting him 1 inch short of scoring(believe he got a concussion on it, can't confirm it though). Game over Indians win in Putnam on Homecoming. This was also a personal best game with 12 tackles, 2 sacks(both in the first quarter), 3 tfls. One of the most back and forth games i have ever played in.

Best as Player:

 

Torn between three: Beating Danville on the last play of the game in '79 (Junior Year), it would be the last Rebel win vs. Danville until '96 (?).

 

The two wins over Somerset in '79 and '80. In '79 Somerset was ranked #4 in AA and led 17-7 at the half and dominated that 1st half. In the 2nd half we scored 20 unanswered points and won 27-17.

 

In '80 we came back, this time down 24-13 with under 10 minutes to play and won 27-24.

 

Worst as Player:

 

Two. Both Russell County. '79 we finished 9-1 but a loss in the mud to the Lakers kept us out of the playoffs. We beat AA semi-finalist (Washington County), AAA playoff team (Lincoln) and good Harrodsburg & Somerset squads but stayed home. Kind of clouded our dramatic win over Danville.

 

'80 we lost at Russell Springs 13-12. Scored on a long pass with about :40 left. Went for two and the pass was knocked away at the last moment. As Forrest Gump said, "And that's all I've got to say about that."

 

 

Hatz I agree pretty much with what you said. The only thing I want to add was The last second win over Danville, also having a bad taste in my mouth. I can remember the bus ride back to the school after a BIG Danville win and undressing in the locker room and Coach Rall writing on the chalkboard the final score of the Russell over Somerset Game. Which in turned ended our season at that point. Talking about going from a high to low, that was it.

Hatz I agree pretty much with what you said. The only thing I want to add was The last second win over Danville, also having a bad taste in my mouth. I can remember the bus ride back to the school after a BIG Danville win and undressing in the locker room and Coach Rall writing on the chalkboard the final score of the Russell over Somerset Game. Which in turned ended our season at that point. Talking about going from a high to low, that was it.

 

 

Thanks Rebel for bringing up that explicit memory. :cry:

 

Now I have to go back into therapy all over again.

 

 

Since our careers were intertwined, I think you could add another disappointment from your Senior Year. You guys outplayed Somerset all night and then lost in OT. That was the same Somerset team that made it to the State Finals.

 

Naturally my worst was that Russell County game my Senior year (your Junior). I still believe that if Tim Ludlam and Mike DeWolfe aren't hurt all year and Todd Noe was healthy that night we would have won that game.

 

Great, now I have to take another Zanac. :madman: :lol:

Best as a player: Starting linebacker as a true freshman my first year of varsity. And the season of 2002. Winning the district championship followed up with a playoff win. And going from the worst record in the schools history in 2000(1-9), to what at the time was tied with the best record in school history of 11-2. Also bieng on the field and blocking for Aaron Pettrey's state record breaking 57 yard field goal against Berea my senior year.

 

Worst as a player: The infamous season in 2000 bieng part of a team who only won one

game the whole season. And every game I ever lost to Fairview!

 

Best a spectator: Last years season as a whole! Also in 1999 when Raceland beat Ashland.

 

Worst as a spectator: Last years playoff loss against LCA in a heartbreaker.

Worst.

 

Losing to Dixie with .09 left on the clock. A storm delay lasted 1 1/2 and took all the steam out of SK that night. 05 season

 

Best.

 

Beating Boone on their Homecoming in the 05 season.

My best memory doesn't have anything to do with personal glory or the like, it was during a scrimmage when I was a sophomore against Ashland. We were on defense, I was at inside linebacker and got crack-backed and was laying prone on the ground as the fullback from Ashland runs right by me. As I lay there Chuck Price (the Ashland fullback) who was 5'9" X 5'9" runs right up the gut untouched until our safety Chris Nelson comes over and literally jumps on Chuck's back. He looked like a backpack. Chuck carries him approximately 15 yards downfield until our genious safety decides to stick one of his legs in between Chucks to trip him. They both fall in a heap and not only did Chuck end up on top of our safety, we had to carry our safety off the field because he thought he broke his ankle. It was like watching a video game. One of the funniest and most vivid memories that I wouldn't trade for the world.:thumb:

Spectator: Sitting in the snow with dad watching Brohm vs Bush (Trinity/Male) state championship battle! Amazing!