article Ten Best Programs to Never Win a State Title

A few years back I ran an article breaking down the top 50 programs in Kentucky football history. On that list were numerous state champions but also a handful of schools that have been right at the doorstep on multiple occasions but haven't been able to break through and win it all.

For years the title was held by Somerset but the Jumpers left for good with a last second Class 2A championship win over Mayfield. Now let's take a look at who is still on that list and when/if we expect them to leave any time soon.

10. Lafayette

Stats: 14 district championships, 23 playoff wins, 4 state championship losses

When: The Generals were the cream of the Lexington crop for a few years with Walker Wood and Landon Young, among others. But as quickly as they came, they went. And with 6A dominated by the big three in Louisville, a state championship seems like nothing more than a dream.

9. Warren Central

Stats: 12 district championships, 37 playoff wins, 2 state championship losses

When: Mired in an almost unfathomable 46 game losing streak, the Dragons - long a western Kentucky contender - seem forever away from competitiveness, much less championships. With the opening of South Warren, it seems the best hopes for the Dragons went south.

8. Raceland

Stats: 19 district championships, 31 playoff wins, 1 state championship loss

When: After years of almost, Raceland broke through to the finals in 2017 where they were summarily routed by Beechwood. It seems like the Rams are always a play or two short in the postseason, but the plus side is they are always in the hunt. Eastern Kentucky Class 1A football is always good, but so is Raceland. There's no reason to think the Rams won't win a title eventually.

7. Meade County

Stats: 16 district championships, 36 playoff wins, 2 state championship losses

When: Much like Lafayette, winning in 6A is just so difficult. Meade has proven time and again capable of making deep postseason runs and just missed coming off this list after a controversial loss to Scott County in 2013. The Green Wave can be good but will good ever be enough?

6. Prestonsburg

Stats: 18 district championships, 42 playoff wins, 2 state championship losses

When: Medium-sized independent school districts in eastern Kentucky have slowly faded away over the last quarter century and Prestonsburg seems to be bearing the brunt of that. Championship losses in 1993 and 2001 hurt, but this was long a consistent program, playing in seven regional finals from 2004-14. The wheels have come off of late and with talented players now finding their way to programs like Johnson Central, the Blackcats might have already reached their peak.

5. Henderson County

Stats: 23 district championships, 37 playoff wins, 1 state championship loss

When: Perhaps this is a technicality as Henderson County does have a Class 4A At-Large title from 1976, but the Colonels lost to Trinity the next week for the overall crown. Since then it has always been a what if program. Like Meade County, winning 6A as a county school is probably a pipe dream. Henderson County, with 934 boys the ninth largest school in the state, has struggled to move ahead of district mate McCracken County, much less the best Louisville has to offer.

4. Paintsville

Stats: 18 district championships, 41 playoff wins, 3 state championship losses

When: Probably sooner than later. Paintsville has rebounded beautifully under coach Joe Chirico from nearly shuttering the program to annually contending in Class 1A. This year's club made it all the way to the finals before running into a generationally talented Pikeville club. The margin should close next year and the Tigers could wear the crown.

3. Boone County

Stats: 20 district championships, 49 playoff wins, 4 state championship losses

When: As a child of the '80s and '90s, I struggle to comprehend the losses at Boone County. But the opening of Ryle and then Cooper diluted the talent pool and land area of Boone County High, making titles difficult. The plus side is a recent move down to Class 5A gets the Rebels out of the largest class and they now have a coach who's had a good deal of success at other places. However, it seems like the days of Shaun Alexander scoring five touchdowns every Friday might be long gone.

2. Owensboro Catholic

Stats: 22 district championships, 51 playoff wins, 4 state championship losses

When: For years it seemed more like when than if for Owensboro Catholic. The Aces annually ranked among the best in their class and lost three titles they absolutely could have won. Now in Class 2A, they are still a top ten program but the numbers game has hurt as enrollment dipped. Mayfield has been a 2A thorn in the flesh but if O-Cath could ever clear that hurdle they might just win it all.

1. Glasgow

Stats: 31 district championships, 50 playoff wins, 4 state championship losses

When: Far and away the leader in the Never Won It All clubhouse now that Somerset has a title, the Scotties always seem just on the edge of greatness. This year's club, moving to Class 3A, finished first in regular season district play and likely had the talent to make it to the finals, but they fell in an effort to beat Taylor County for a second time. The talent is seemingly always present and Class 3A is very good, but also very balanced. Maybe it will happen one day.

Best Closed Schools to Never Win it All

1. Harrodsburg

12 district championships, 28 playoff wins, 3 state championship losses

2. Cumberland

8 district championships, 21 playoff wins, 3 state championship losses

3. Madison

7 district championships, 7 playoff wins, 3 state championship losses

4. Lone Oak

5 district championships, 15 playoff wins, 2 state championship losses

Woooo hoooo!

:bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny::bunny:

We are off this stinking list!!!

That 87 Boone loss to Shelby County (a team they beat in the regular season) still stings.

Cool article, thanks!

It is still hard for me to think of Boone County and Warren Central and not think of classic KY football powers. Time, geography, new schools, etc., certainly can change a program's trajectory in a hurry. Also chuckled about the move to 5A being a positive...NKY is the one place, given a couple of teams that reside there, that make that move less than a good thing.

Long live Damon Hood and Shaun Alexander!!!

Also chuckled about the move to 5A being a positive...NKY is the one place, given a couple of teams that reside there, that make that move less than a good thing.

The logic there is that if you can beat your 5A district mates you’ll be a state title contender. You can be a district winner in 6A and not even be ranked in the top half of the class.

The logic there is that if you can beat your 5A district mates you’ll be a state title contender. You can be a district winner in 6A and not even be ranked in the top half of the class.

Oh I definitely understood your larger point, which is spot on, but getting out of 5A in NKY is a ruthian task.

In order of most likely to least likely to lift this yoke in 2020:

Real Legit Chance

1. Paintsville

2. Glasgow

Puncher's Chance or Better

3. Raceland

Very doubtful unless chaos occurs

4. Owensboro Catholic

Snowball's Chance, but at least they will be solid teams.

5. Henderson County

6. Meade County

Not happenin' chief.

Boone County

Prestonsburg

Warren Central

Lafayette

Unless Prestonsburg can keep their players it's going to be awhile before they get back to being able to contend. A lot of Prestonsburg kids played in the state titles, they just played for Paintsville, Pikeville, and Johnson.

Unless Prestonsburg can keep their players it's going to be awhile before they get back to being able to contend. A lot of Prestonsburg kids played in the state titles, they just played for Paintsville, Pikeville, and Johnson.

Yep... Prestonsburg had a cataclysm of issues that lined up against them.

First, they had a lull in talent after a high point in the early 2000's that coincided with Derossett being kind of in the twilight of his career.

Then Johnson Central got good around them when Matney came from Sheldon Clark.

Then the coal economy tanked.

Then MacNamee got his program fired up at Pikeville and Johnson Central only got better.

Then Chirico showed up at Paintsville and got that program turned around.

Then they chose the worst possible time to lose to Betsy Layne as a new consolidated school was built at Floyd Central.

Prestonsburg went from one of the top 10 programs in Eastern Kentucky to possibly one of the bottom 15 programs.

Yep... Prestonsburg had a cataclysm of issues that lined up against them.

 

First, they had a lull in talent after a high point in the early 2000's that coincided with Derossett being kind of in the twilight of his career.

 

Then Johnson Central got good around them when Matney came from Sheldon Clark.

 

Then the coal economy tanked.

 

Then MacNamee got his program fired up at Pikeville and Johnson Central only got better.

 

Then Chirico showed up at Paintsville and got that program turned around.

 

Then they chose the worst possible time to lose to Betsy Layne as a new consolidated school was built at Floyd Central.

 

Prestonsburg went from one of the top 10 programs in Eastern Kentucky to possibly one of the bottom 15 programs.

Like the saying goes.. life comes at you fast! Hope they can eventually right the ship.

I agree with Glasgow being number one on that list our home paper said when the program won their 600th game that they were only one of 74 programs in the nation to do it and not only do they have 4 championship game losses I know of at least 6 or 8 other times they lost close games to the eventual state champions I keep hoping every year it will be the year they had a ton of great sophomores on this years team so they are going to be really good the next few years will that lead to a championship who knows but I keep watching and hoping.

Who did Paintsville play after Ashland in '96?

When did Harrodsburg close? And what school took it’s place?

When did Harrodsburg close? And what school took it’s place?

2006 they merged with Mercer County.

2006 they merged with Mercer County.

Why’d they close?