It’s going to be a special night at Luke Varney Jr. Memorial stadium tonight as the 1997 Lawrence Co. football team will be recognized at 7:10 about 20 minutes before kickoff so be in your seats early.
The 1997 Dawgs pulled off one of the greatest wins in Kentucky high school football history when they snapped the 42 game winning streak of Breathitt Co. 36-28 and tore down the goal posts and carried them through the streets of Louisa, before losing in the semifinals the next Friday night 14-0 at Bourbon Co. in the state semifinals.
The ’97 team is the only team in the 41 year proud Bulldog history to win 13 games in a year. Also only the second team to reach the semifinals (1991).
The starting QB on that team was former Western Kentucky National Champion and Tennessee Titans QB Coach Jason Micheal, Kentucky graduate and Duke assistant coach Gerad Parker was on that team as well. Nick Meadows former middle school assistant was a starting running back, all three made all–state that season. The late Phillip Ratliff was the defensive coordinator on the 1997 team.
Louisa Middle school football Head Coach Blake Preece was a part of both teams, 1991 he was a defensive back and 1997 he was a coach.
Here is Preece’s account of the ’91 and ’97 teams
What was it like coaching the 97 team and playing on the 91 team (arguably the 2 best teams in school history)?
“…It was like living out a magical movie script much like the movie Hoosiers,” preece said. “There were so many similarities between the two teams. I think it started with the Head Coaches (Coach Goldsmith and Chuke Williams ) They were both great at building relationships with their players.”
“They both were hysterical away from the game. Once they built that rapport they coached hard! Really hard! They were extremely intense instilling toughness both physically and mentally,” Preece said. “The guys all played out of love for the guy next to them. It was personal on Friday nights. There was a chip on both teams shoulders that people looked down on us being country kids from a small EKY town.”
“We blocked out all distractions. We knew between our four walls we were taking the fight to whoever we played and we never hoped to win…we expected to win!” Preece explained. “Both had mega underdog signature wins. ’91 was 40 point underdogs in the playoffs at Russell without our starting QB+FS. ’97 vs Breathitt who had won 42 straight, neither team cared about the odds. Both had a “find a way” mentality! Both pulled off the upsets.”
“On the field everything started with the offensive lines (91 Stu Cook, Chris Hamilton, James Moore, Shawn Hill +Donnie Bishop )(97 Brandon Coldiorn, Ryan Sammons, Mike Cantrell , Ryan Burchett ).. They were huge and they were nasty! The punished opposing defenses most of the time until they broke their will!”
“The teams had 2 quarterbacks (Jason Michael and Travis Phelps) that exuded confidence. We knew when they were under center we were playing to win! They were both extremely intelligent straight A guys. Travis threw it better and Jason would run through you.”
” Skill wise the ’91 team went through Eric Cantrell at tailback. He and Smoke Storts are still the best ‘I’ backs I’ve seen here. Eric was 4yds and a cloud of dust. He was an extension of the offensive line. He ran over you and over you until he broke your will.”
“The ’97 team went through Nick Meadows. Nick and Mike West (who started a few years later) were a mirror of each other… They had great balance/low center of gravity. One guy was not going to bring them down. What made them really special was their home run speed! You knew every time they touched the ball there was a great shot they were taking it to pay dirt.”
On the outside for the two teams you had some of the greatest athletes to ever play in EKY arguably the whole state. Many still in the record books. Webb Roberts was so versatile. Homerun speed..shake you out of your shoes..low center gravity..incredible vision and benched over 300lbs in 1991 as a running back/receiver Webb, Lee Abshire+Gerad Parker had the best hands I’ve seen here. Abshire was so versatile! His hands were like they had fly tape on them. He’d move in as a running back and just run violent through people with home run speed. Our Sr yr our QB got hurt. Abshire stepped in and rushed for 330 vs Mason Co. He could do it all!”
” Gerad Parker and Spencer Harris were the most talented duo of wide receivers I’ve ever seen here. Neither grew up playing football but both were dominant. Spencer went on to start 4 yrs Shortstop at Virginia Tech where he was a captain. Gerad went on to play at UK and is having an incredible coaching career (presently at Duke). Gerad was such a presence on the field. Double coverage was the norm which helped the run game. There were times he would be triple covered and go up over everybody to score! He was a perfectionist. His Freshman year he took a slant 80 yds for a Touchdown in Putnam Stadium to help beat Ashland. He came back to the sideline (eyes as big as saucers). We were laughing/jumping/hugging and he said “did I do that right? Were my hands right? I said “dude you just scored the Touchdown in Putnam to beat Ashland! Be excited!” Gerad was serious about his craft which is why he is where he is.”
“Defensively both teams were stout up front. The anchor of both defenses started in the middle with Morgan Cyrus and BJ Nelson. Both physical thumpers! I’ve seen Mo have to change helmets mid game because he bent his facemask hitting guys.
Both defenses had physical safeties and corners that came up with big plays at big times.”
“There is one man that doesn’t get the credit they deserve behind the scenes for not only these two teams but all of those 90’s teams. That’s former Superintendent Eddie Wayne Michael (QB Jason Michael’s Dad). If you ask anybody that was around those programs they’d tell you Coach Michael was like the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz. You didn’t always see everything he did but he was the man with the vision. He got the youth league going strong. Guys like he and Coach Pigmon at the Middle School helped instill toughness and work ethic. I know when we were in High School we knew he as our Superintendent had our back!”
“The ’91 and ’97 teams also had a common mentor in Phil Ratcliff. I grew up in middle school with Phil hanging around the house (he and my older sister Shana were great friends). Even though Phil felt larger than life he spent quality time shooting basketball with me, etc. As we made our run in the early 90’s TV Stations and newspapers that had never been to Louisa fell in love with our Cinderella story. Every week it was front page and multiple stations. About every week right there with Bulldog coverage was Phil Ratcliff/Marshall headlines as they would go on to win the National Championship. It was pretty amazing to get to Coach with Phil. Behind closed doors he was hysterical. On the football field he was like an intense grizzly bear! Our last time together was at a golf tournament Gerad Parker puts on for the late Hop Brown. Phil made me call my parents from the middle of a golf fairway so he could thank them for all they had done for him. It was “Mr Preece I just wanted to call and thank you…”. That night he picked me up off the ground and about squeezed the life out of my with that million dollar smile. It’s awesome to see the mutual respect Lawrence and Paintsville have for Phil and how they are both honoring him tonight (Paintsville w green coaches shirts dawning #56 as he and Coach Cherrico were Marshall teammates). Phil broke down the door for all of us dreaming of coaching one day..
“Congratulations to the 1997 team. The two things that stick out to me during that game was 1: the Nick Meadows Touchdown run. It’s hard to think of a better run ever at Luke Varney Stadium. We went back and watched film of it. I want to say 9 different Bobcats had their hands on Nick. Determined like the Dawgs were all night long, Nick was not going to be denied as he pin balled around then turned on the burners to score.
2: Jason Michael. If there’s been a mentally tougher Bulldog I haven’t met him. At one point Chuke was biting Jason’s facemask barking orders. Chuke knew JMike was like no other. There was a mutual understanding that they were the two most intense guys around on Friday.. Chuke could lace J and J would look him dead in the eyes barking then go lead the Dawgs to another score. The in game image that stands out is J taking the final snap in victory formation. He secured the football…took a knee then turned and ran into the biggest mud hole at the 50 yard line. Ball cradled he bicycle kicked like we’d just won the biggest game in school history!
The fans….simply passionate and in love with their Bulldogs! Still the only game I’ve ever seen the goal posts ripped down in a high school game!”
“I also want to say congrats to the 1997 team. It’s a well deserved honor.”
Now to the games on tap for tonight. Lawrence Co. and Tolsia are both coming off losses from last Friday night as the Dawgs lost 38-14 at Greenup Co. and the Rebels lost 28-7 at home to Westside.
This week both teams will play at home against teams from neighboring counties.
LCHS vs. Paintsville
Lawrence Co. ( 3-2 ) will host Paintsville (4-1) tonight. The Bulldogs lost 38-14 at Greenup Co. last week and the Tigers took care of Williamsburg 53-21. The Dawgs will look to get back on track after a tough outing last Friday and get the ground game going against a Paintsville team that is only giving up 10 points per game and keep the high powered Tiger offense off of the field. Lawrence Co. leads the all time series 7-5 with the last meeting coming in 2010 with a 67-13 Bulldog victory.
Tolsia vs. Tug Valley
Tolsia ( 1-3 ) will host bitter rival #11 Tug Valley ( 3-1 ) at Wilt Salmons field. The Rebels have won the last three meetings including beating the Panthers twice last season once at home and once on the road. Tolsia knocked Tug Valley out of the playoffs in the first round in 2016. Tug Valley is coming off of a good win over Phelps last Friday.
