If I remember correctly the numbers those two team put up on the defensive end that year were pretty impressive. It's not like stopping Brohm and Bush was simple because no one did it. Brohm put 44 on Elder who won the Ohio D1 title with a very stingy defense. It was simply two of the best players in the history of the state putting on a laser show in the 2nd half...

 

I can't think that a coach would go to a zone against Trinity's spread with Brohm at the helm. He would have picked that apart as well. Plus, Male runs man coverage- who is to say they even had a zone scheme in for that game beyond a prevent. I'm willing to bet that they didn't practice zone beyond prevent very often. I remember LexCath playing Male that year and saying "The only way to beat these guys is to out score them because no one will stop Bush". Brohm and company did that.

 

There was not a defense in the state that was going to slow down those teams on that day. St. X (16), Eastern (35) and Dixie Hights (31) were the only teams to hold Trinity under 40 all season in 15 games- including a demolishing of Cincinnati Colerain.

 

Male was held to 22 by St.X that year in their first meeting- then got 51 dropped on them in the playoffs. Lex Cath (35), Highlands (35) and Manual (27) did the deed and held Male under 40. Again, Male played 15 games.

 

My point is that the offenses on these two teams were stellar- even good teams like Highlands, St.X, Manual and Lex Cath couldn't slow them down. The offenses deserve major props and this is the greatest championship game in state history, IMO.

 

 

The team specific numbers I do not have however I do know that the combined defenses of both teams gave up 278 points and 1,337 yards of offense the whole year prior to that game.

 

Divide that out evenly you get 139 points and about 669 yards of offense TOTAL per team. If you want to break it down further it works out to about 9.9 points a game and about 47.8 yards a game for the season. Now this is straight up based on those numbers. I know both teams didn't have identical defensive stats and I think Trinity's game against Elder that year probably would skew it in Male's favor as far as per game was concerned.

 

Either way it's not like they were slouches defensively.

And both teams played pretty solid on the defensive end in the first half. The fireworks didn't really get going until the 3rd Q...

Brohm Vs. Bush was the best football game I've ever seen in KY. There's no defense for unstoppable offense. Granted I haven't lived that long compared to some on here, but I couldn't imagine many better games having been played in the Bluegrass.

And both teams played pretty solid on the defensive end in the first half. The fireworks didn't really get going until the 3rd Q...

 

 

And the entire hour that it lasted...

The team specific numbers I do not have however I do know that the combined defenses of both teams gave up 278 points and 1,337 yards of offense the whole year prior to that game.

 

Divide that out evenly you get 139 points and about 669 yards of offense TOTAL per team. If you want to break it down further it works out to about 9.9 points a game and about 47.8 yards a game for the season. Now this is straight up based on those numbers. I know both teams didn't have identical defensive stats and I think Trinity's game against Elder that year probably would skew it in Male's favor as far as per game was concerned.

 

Either way it's not like they were slouches defensively.

 

Here you go:

 

Going into the game Trinity gave up -

 

6.1 pts per contest

206 yds surrendered per game

 

Male was:

 

13.7 pts per game

329 yds per game was their defensive stat

 

http://khsaa.org/football/2002/

 

:thumb:

02 T vs Male is hands down the greatest HS game I have ever seen period. Including reg season and playoffs. My favorite title game was Mayfield's 4th Q comeback to upset heavily favored Prestonburg in 93. Pburg was vastly superior and pounded Mayfield all day long but Mayfield found some timely miracles late in the 4th to pull off the unlikely upset. It's my favorite for obviously biased reasons.

What? No love for Danville over Mayfield 24-23 in OT in the '87 AA game?

 

Great comeback by Mayfield from 10 points down in 4th quarter to tie it. Ads score first in OT and then block EP for the win.

 

(to be honest though it was turnover marred game and I think the Ads turned it over about 3 or 4 times.)

I didn't see that game, so don't feel qualified to rate it.

 

Obviously, the Danville people enjoyed it much more than the Mayfield people did, but who wins and loses doesn't really have an impact on my assessment of the game.

I remember there was an article that was in some major sports magazine (I forget which, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, I don't know) that deemed the Male Trinity game as the best high school football game ever. 2 Nationally ranked teams going head to head in a crazy game like that was amazing to watch. I remember Male's best defense was onside kicks because they couldn't stop Trinity. That was the best/most exciting game on any level that I have ever seen.

I remember there was an article that was in some major sports magazine (I forget which, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, I don't know) that deemed the Male Trinity game as the best high school football game ever. 2 Nationally ranked teams going head to head in a crazy game like that was amazing to watch. I remember Male's best defense was onside kicks because they couldn't stop Trinity. That was the best/most exciting game on any level that I have ever seen.

 

 

And Male recovered 2 onside kicks in that game.

1978 St. Xavier 42 Tates Creek 21. A personal favorite.

On the other side of the ball, a tremendous defensive championship game can be in the argument as well. 1997 St X-3, Trinity-0 was a thriller regarding the slim room for error to decide it all. One fumble and one field goal decided the game beteen the arch rivals. And it was the first time the two catholic powers ever faced off in the championship. I believe it was a record crowd (not sure if it remains, but it was at the time-I believe 22,000 attended. And it was 20 degrees at the start of the game! It should be in contention for the above reasons. Defensive fireworks? Haha

I'll bet Beechwood has had a few classics. I recall a controversial one in the 90's where the QB was supposed to run out the clock and take a safety...

Anyone know how to get a copy of the 2002 Male/Trinity Game?

2003 Etown/Belfry... OT game.. two opposite offenses... Belfry won in OT as David Jones scored on 4th down..

Anyone know how to get a copy of the 2002 Male/Trinity Game?

 

I had one. It is currently in TheDeuce's possession.