By Stephen D. Bowling

We continue an extended look at the games and events of the seasons of Breathitt Football. This week, we explore 1981.

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Dudley Hilton told The Jackson Times that he was ready to win in 1981 if his players were willing to work hard enough. The team took him at his word. Riding high on a nine-game winning stretch to close the 80 season, Breathitt hit the gym four days after the Caywood game.

The community’s spirits were running high too. The Boosters Club rolled on with their fundraising. President Al Collins oversaw the program in the late Fall of 1981 and the Boosters borrowed money to speed the construction work on the stadium addition started in 1981. The school board funded several field improvements to help drainage and adjust some lighting issues. The Jackson Times announced that Breathitt Football was “really moving.”

Workers took advantage of the warm and dry days in January and February to make significant progress on the locker room addition. By the end of February, the Football Boosters and workers from Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP) were ready to show off their labor.

New football building almost ready

Right now, most people in Breathitt County are thinking basketball.  And baseball, of course, is just around the corner.

But football is uppermost in some peoples’ minds.  Slowly but surely, the new football facility is approaching completion.  “It should be ready for use in about a week,” said Al Collins, Boosters Club President.

The building is the result of a lot of money and cooperative effort.  It is expected that the materials alone will cost about $15,000.00.  Much of the work has been donated.  No little portion of which came from the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP).

Men in this program moved in and set the trestles, put on the metal roof, and are presently installing the ceiling.  They have also done some other work, like building shelves in part of the building.

Under the instructorship of Clark Congleton, the trainees have saved the Boosters Club thousands of dollars in donated labor.

More free help has come from the Vocational School.  Boys in Fred Deaton’s electric class have wired the building, including lights, heat, electric outlets- the whole works.

Completion of the multi-purpose locker-weight room building has been a dream of the Boosters Club for many months.

Members have already been busy with projects to raise money for the materials, and others are planned.

Saturday night, for example, there will be a family-style square dance complete with cake walks, jogging, etc., at Natural Bridge.  Reportedly, some of the world’s greatest cloggers, as well as our own J-Town cloggers (who everybody knows are among the greatest), will be there.

Then, on March 1, there will be a shooting match at 9:30 on the Jerry Howell property, which is near but across the road from the former Alpine Restaurant.  Word is there will be hams, turkeys, watches, etc. to shoot off.  All profits will go toward the new building.

On March 28, there’s going to be a dance at the Armory, according to President Collins. 

Of course, the annual horse show is coming up May 2.  That’s one of the big fundraisers for the Club and one of the exciting annual activities in Breathitt Co.  The show has the reputation of being one of the best around, and it is expected to be bigger and better than ever this year.

The Boosters Club makes no secret of the fact that they need money and new members.  In an effort to help educate the public on what the Club is all about, the local radio station (WEKG and WJSN) will host a show on March 11 at 9:30, at which time the Club will be discussed and call-in questions answered.

The Club recently sponsored a can-collection drive among the county 4-H clubs.  Since the winner was the La 4-H Club, all members will soon be treated to a winners’ party, courtesy of the Boosters Club.

Collins said his Club welcomes membership from anybody (especially football parents) who is interested in helping support the local football program in or out of season.

The Jackson Times, February 26, 1981, page 8

BHS announces plan for use of football field

Crowded conditions and the persistent demand for use of the Breathitt High Baseball Field and Football Stadium have prompted the decision by B.H.S. to require any persons, league, and organizations that wish to use these facilities to make a request through the Athletic Department and Athletic Director Ted Edmonds.

Breathitt High School’s outdoor athletic facilities are used extensively, and it is the desire of school officials that it continues to be used by all groups concerned.

Mild conflicts have arisen in recent years over who has permission to use these facilities, and it is the intention of the school to relieve this yearly tension by having all groups to make requests for using the complex through the athletic department.

It is felt that any group wishing to use the facility be required to pay fees, depending upon what that particular group wishes to use the field for.

Each year, with all the various activities that are held at the facility, damages do occur, and products such as sand and grass seed need to be purchased to keep the complex in first-class condition. 

Therefore, starting as of March 1, 1981, any group wishing to use B.H.S. football and baseball facilities for games, leagues, and other events should contact Ted Edmonds, Athletic Director of B.H.S. He can quote the fees for field use.

It is not the intention of this plan to prohibit anyone from using these facilities. Practice sessions are not restricted, and it can only be advised that any teams or personnel that practice do so whenever the field is not obligated to a particular function.

The Jackson Times, March 5, 1981, page 8

The Moon Offer

It had long been expected, but it was an extreme shock to the system when it came. After several years of interest from numerous school systems, a formal offer was presented to Dudley Hilton to lure him away from the Bobcats. In May, perennial Breathitt rival Hazard High School made an official offer that one Breathitt County school official described as “the moon.”

“As I remember, they offered him the moon and a few of the stars,””one former player from 1981 said. “They never said exactly an amount or anything, but we were always told they pretty much gave him an open checkbook to build a dynasty at Hazard. We could see the hard process of deciding he was going through. It was hard for him to look at us for a few days, and he kind of walked around with his head down.”

While the exact details were never published, the offer was enough to get the attention of the community and the Breathitt County School Board. Since the program started, the primary duties for the football program were handled by Coach Gray and Coach Hilton. There had been some assistants, including Johnny Gabbard, Jack Stanford, and James Talbert Turner. They were capable assistants, and the system of using baseball and basketball coaches to support the team worked well for many years. Hilton believed he needed assistants “who were more familiar with football to take the team to the next level of play.”

In 1979, Hilton asked the Board to hire two football assistants. They took no action, citing a lack of funds. A stalemate developed between Hilton and the Board, which refused to consider the additional coaches. When the offer from Hazard came along near the close of the 1980 school year, this deadlock caused Hilton to take a serious look at the proposal, which included several football coaches’ positions at Hazard.

The community reacted quickly. Phone calls from football supporters flooded the Board Office demanding action by the Board to meet Hilton’s request for more help, which became the central focus of the “moon offer.” A former Board employee noted that the “Hazard situation” was the only time they “saw Mr. Sebastion lay his phone off the hook no matter what was happening.”

A meeting of Boosters and football supporters brought about 75 people to the BHS Stadium on the afternoon of May 17. The group gathered to discuss what they could do to keep Coach Hilton in Bretahitt County. They determined that a concerted effort at the Board of Education meeting on Monday should have specific requests to help fend off the Hazard offer.

A meeting of Boosters and football supporters brought about 75 people to the BHS Stadium on the afternoon of May 17. The group gathered to discuss what they could do to keep Coach Hilton in Bretahitt County. They determined that a concerted effort at the Board of Education meeting on Monday should have specific requests to help fend off the Hazard offer.

Approximately 60 Hilton supporters filled the BHS Cafeteria the following day to help keep their coach. With the pressure from the community and the Boosters’ efforts, the Board agreed to hire some assistant coaches for Hilton.

Parents, friends field compliments for popular football mentor

School board persuades Hilton to stay at Breathitt

By Delores Chandler

If Dudley Hilton, Breathitt High School football coach, were the average man, he would not be working at BHS next season.  Why?  Two reasons.  Firstly, after hearing at least 100 different compliments about himself from about 100 different people, his head would be too swollen to fit through the school doors, and secondly, he would have taken the coaching position offered to him by Hazard High School which included “the moon,” according to a member of the Breathitt County Board of Education at its monthly meeting Monday. May 18.

However, Dudley Hilton is not the average man.  This fact was made evident by the approximate 50-75 students, parents and interested citizens who showed up Sunday afternoon at the football stadium to persuade Hilton to stay at Breathitt and by the approximate 50-60 people who attended Monday’s board meeting for the same purpose.

Further backing the evidence that Hilton is “special” is the fact that he WILL remain at BHS next year in spite of a “tremendous deal” offered him elsewhere. “I’ve enjoyed my years at Breathitt and I want to stay here,” he stated.  Hilton, who has been the only person experienced in football to coach approximately 75 Breathitt players, added that his only problem here is that “I’m spreading myself too thin… All I’m asking for is experienced help,” he stated.

After hearing countless raving remarks about the personable coach, the board voted unanimously to hire a ‘‘full-time Physical Education person to be under the direct supervision of Hilton to help him in the football program and other sports activities at the high school.”

Superintendent Eugene Sebastian added that he would take Hilton’s request for help “one step further by recommending that when the board hires a new Industrial Arts teacher, he will also be hired to devote part of his time to helping Mr. Hilton.” To these announcements, the group, who came to the meeting hoping for this result applauded happily and board member Jerry Little jovially told Hilton to “tell Hazard bye.”

The decision to get experienced help for Coach Hilton came after many, many glowing comments concerning the man were voiced in the board room. “Hilton builds character in his players as well as leach them the fundamentals of football I ask the board to please do anything within your power to keep this man at Breathitt,” stated Owen Collins.

Bill Burke, father of senior BHS football player Baker Burke, addressed the board, stating that he gives much of the credit for his son’s success to Hilton. “Dudley is a Christian man and a fine leader,” he stated. Mr. Burke added that Baker had stayed at home. “If Coach Hilton goes to Hazard, they’ll womp us every game.”

“Hilton is a positive influence. Sometimes we don’t realize the value of people like him and his wife, Jan, until we’re about to lose them,” stated Rev. Bill Hancock.

Slayden Douthitt had even prepared a comparative record on schools in Kentucky of a size similar to Breathitt. He reported that Johnson Central has a four-man football coaching staff. Pikeville has five, Fleming County has four, and the list went on and on. “Breathitt’s football program has the respect of Eastern Kentucky. Other schools simply can’t believe we have the kind of football department we have here with only one experienced coach,” he added. The BHS win-loss records for the past three years are 11-0, 7-4, and 10-2. respectively.

Mr. Sebastian stated that he was “impressed by Hilton in two ways.  One-He is a fine influence for young people; and two–he doesn’t want more money (even though another school had offered him a higher salary); he just wants help.”

“He’s not worried about punching a time clock; he goes the extra mile for nothing in return,” commented Don Ison.

Nearly everyone had something good to say about Coach Hilton. He was given so many compliments, in fact, that space does not permit printing even half of them.

Also receiving applause from the congregation was the announcement made by the Superintendent that BHS would initiate cross country and girls’ track programs.

The Jackson Times, May 21, 1981, page 9

Summer Camp and Practice

Football camps prepare Bobcats for fall

These high summer temperatures may not be typical of football weather, but several Breathitt Bobcats are busy as bees getting in shape and developing skills for the upcoming season.

Five Bobcats are in football camp this week at Eastern Ky. University, acquiring inspiration and techniques to enable them to function better on the field this fall.

In attendance are David Niece, David Warren, Tim Caines, Drake Back, and Everett Jett.

Earlier this month, nine Bobcats attended football camp at U.K. They were Jeff Gabbard, Derek McKnight, Kevin Collins, Tim Noble, Gary Thompson, Glen Griffith, Steve Roblin, Darrell Back, and Ricky Brewer.

To talk with coach Hilton is to know he’s high on football camps. The camps give the boys an opportunity to see what other young men are doing to develop their potential, he said. He thinks the camps also provide an opportunity for the boys to examine priorities and set high goals.

He said that often a local athlete would meet someone whom he could look up to and say, “I can be like him if I do this or that.”

Hilton said he thought that what the boys acquired in attitude was as important as what they gained in football skills. “They come back with a positive approach,” he explained. “They come back being up on themselves, not down.”

Preparation for the upcoming football season is in no way limited to football camp. “Our program is year-round,” said Hilton. The boys started building for the 81-82 season as soon as last season was over. He said his Bobcats are lifting more eights this summer than they ever have.

The Jackson Times, June 25, 1981, page 6

New Coaches

Holcomb, Peterson join BHS staff

If Breathitt football fans are expecting the new coaches to be super brawny and egotistical, they’ll be disappointed.

But if the fans are looking for two highly personable young men who love football and enjoy sharing that interest with young people, then they’ll be pleased with the two men selected to assist Coach Dudley Hilton in the BHS football program.

Meet your new coaches, Mike Holcomb and Gene Peterson.

They are from Nelson and Marion Counties, respectively- next door to Washington.  Coach Hilton’s “stomping grounds.”

Holcomb and Peterson both said they had known Hilton for a long time and had followed his playing and coaching career.  “He was a kind of model I always respected,” said Peterson.

Their respect for Hilton as a person and as a coach appears to have been a factor influencing their decision to join the BHS coaching staff.

Each has a strong background in sports- football, basketball, baseball, the whole works.  They are bringing to Breathitt years of football experience as players and coaches.

Coach Holcomb quarterbacked his Nelson County High football team all of his senior high years.  While a student at Eastern, he assisted coach Ed Miracle at Madison Central.  Miracle is expected to have one of the strongest teams in the state this year, according to Coach Hilton.

“In fact,” added Hilton.  “Miracle told me if he could have at all, he would have worked Mike into his staff at Madison Central.”

Coaching comes second nature to Holcomb.  His dad is a coach, and as he discussed that, he added, “I’ve been around coaching all my life.  I guess it is just a part of me.”

He’ll have basically line responsibility for the Breathitt team.  He’ll be coaching both offensive and defensive lines.

When he isn’t involved with the football team, he’ll be assisting with the P.E. program.

A spring graduate of Eastern, Coach Holcomb is beginning his first full-time coaching responsibilities with Breathitt.  “I really like what I’ve seen so far,” he said this week as he relaxed in the football office to talk about his new responsibilities.  “We’ve got a fine bunch of young men to work with.  They have good attitudes, and they seem interested in football.”

Then, nodding his head with a kind of sly grin, he added.  “Just looking forward and am anxious to get the season started.”

Coach Gene Peterson also quarterbacked his high school football team.  That was Marion County High School.  He has had volunteer coach experience in minor league baseball, junior high basketball, and senior high football.

Coach Peterson is a Morehead graduate, though he did most of his college work at Eastern.  His college studies were interrupted by a four-year span in the Navy.

Married and the father of a nine-year-old son.  Peterson said he had kept up with Breathitt’s football team “ever since Dudley started coaching here.  I knew about his 11-0 record and his other good seasons also.”

In addition to coaching, Peterson will be teaching industrial arts.  When asked if it was hard to find a school system that needed both an industrial arts teacher and a football coach, he said certainly not.  He rattled off several school systems that wanted him, one of which was Hazard, but he selected Breathitt over all the others.

What are his reactions to his decision so far?  “We have a great bunch of hard-working kids,” he said.  “I’ve never seen kids work harder.  They just want to play football.  They are dedicated, and it’s fun to work with these young men.”

During his spare time (which coaches don’t seem to have a lot of), he and his wife enjoy refinishing antique furniture.  But his interest in furniture isn’t limited to antiques.  He enjoys making furniture, and he has several pieces that he made “from scratch.”

Both Holcomb and Peterson refer to themselves as “country boys.”  They both grew up doing a lot of farm work.  When asked how he liked farm life.  Holcomb laughed and said, “I especially like the money.”

Peterson said he had done farm work all his life.  “I’ve done a little bit of almost everything that’s done on a farm,” he concluded.

To talk with the two new coaches is to know that each has a deep interest in sports.  It is also to realize that they have a real concern for the young men and respond positively to it.  This writer overheard some of the young players talking several weeks ago when one said, “He already knows me by name.”

“Yes,” agreed the others.  “He knows me, too.”

“We have two hard-working young men,” said Coach Hilton as he talked about the addition to his staff this week.  “They are energetic- waiting to get at it.”

He said both men were highly recruited, and he felt Breathitt was indeed fortunate to have two top-quality people selecting our school system in which to carry on their coaching careers.

The Jackson Times, July 23, 1981, page 11

Football team training for season opener

August 21 may be slipping up on some people, but not on the football team.  That’s the date for the first Breathitt High football game in the ’81 season.

The team has been hard at work for over two weeks now.  Come low or high temperatures, although they have all been high so far, the guys are right out there from 6 to 9:00 every evening getting in shape.

The first game will be at home when the Bobcats face Johnson Central, one of the powerhouses in eastern Kentucky.

“We practice about 50 every night,” said Coach Hilton.  Thirty-five are upper-classmen, sophomores, and up, while about 15 are considered underclassmen.

With only six seniors on the squad, it is made up mostly of sophomores and juniors.

“If the weather continues to cooperate, we should be in good shape by the 21st,” observed Hilton.  Though it has been hot the last two weeks, it has not been as bad as it was last year, he said.

Next week, the team will be in football camp, where concentrated efforts will be made to further get the team in condition for the upcoming season.

Beginning his seventh year as head football coach at Breathitt, Hilton is optimistic about his team and the approaching season.

The Jackson Times, July 30, 1981, page 11

Football Camp

Football camp helps develop team spirit

One might think the BHS football team would like to have the final week of their summer vacation in which to relax and do whatever they wanted to.

Not so, though.  The team is in camp this week for some last minute “touching up” before their opening game.

Going to summer camp as a team has seemingly become a tradition now.  Coach Hilton views it as a valuable part of the football program.

“Being in camp makes your team more like a family,” he said.  “If you can learn to eat and sleep together, you can learn to play together.”

The coaches have 39 of their players with them at the J.M. Feltner 4-H Camp at London.  “The 39 that we are taking will be the 39 we’ll put on the football field,” explained Hilton.  The coaches have with them three freshmen and all the sophomores, juniors, and seniors on the team.

Hilton said they would be trying to get their players in a little better condition and would be working on, things that needed attention.

As the boys assembled at Breathitt High in preparation for leaving Sunday afternoon, excitement for the camp and the up-coming season was high.

Senior David Watkins said this camp would make his third, and he felt that the camps “helps get the players close together.”

Experiencing his third year at camp, Gary Thompson said, “The camps let us get to know each other better. They help develop a good team spirit.”

Jeff Gabbard must be one of the veteran campers.  This makes his 4th year.  Camps are good, he said, “because we can work hard on fundamentals. We have more time to work on offensive and defensive plays.”

The team started action Sunday soon after arriving at camp. They have been having three or four practice sessions daily, plus starting the day with a mile and half run. The team plans to return to Jackson Thursday afternoon following a morning practice session.

Everett Jett, who is going for his first time, said he was expecting to learn a lot of football techniques.

Quarterback Mike Watts feels his team should come home stronger than when it left. He also has a “feeling” that this year’s team is just as strong as last year’s.  In fact,” he said, “I’m looking forward to a good season.”

Steve Thomas also has a good feeling about the upcoming season.  A two-year camper, Steve feels the skill practices at camp are helpful to him.

The opening game will be with Johnson Central. The fans are encouraged to mark that date on their calendar and make attendance at the game a must.  The first game is on August 21.

The Jackson Times, August 6, 1981, page 8

The 1981 Season

Bobcats ready for opener with Johnson Central

By Jack Niece

“We’re ready.” That’s the word from the football team and coaches about the Friday night football game with Johnson County Central.

The Bobcats will be opening the season with one of Eastern Kentucky’s stronger teams.  “We have beaten them only once,” said coach Hilton.  “We beat them 15-12 on their field, but never on ours.”

One of Central’s strengths lies in its offense, thinks Hilton.  They have basically the same offensive team as last year.  All their running backs have returned.  They have a powerhouse in Hines Doderer, their big ball carrier of last season.

Expectedly, they’ll have two big senior ends.  “We expect them to throw the ball a lot since they have their big, tall ends,” said Hilton.

One is 6-6 Mark Wireman, and the other is 6-5, 220-pound senior Warren Howard.

Johnson Central lost only four men from its offensive show last year.

They’ll be strong on defense, also.  Leading that effort will be Tim Campoy, a 5-10 and 170-pound junior linebacker.

Overall, the guest team here Friday night will be a big one.  They’ll be using two big linemen, a definite plus for them.

By way of contrast, Breathitt may be a bit weak offensively.  “This is a rebuilding year for our offense,” explained Hilton.  Most of the graduating seniors, he said, were from that team.  This season opens with three seniors on offense.  “But we think the others will pick up the slack as the season progresses,” said the coach.

Jimmy Campbell is the only returning starter on the offensive line.  The other tackle will probably be David Warren, with back-up support from Ricky Brewer and Robert Swartzentruber.

Assisting that position when needed will be Randall Turner.  Scott McCoun, and Taulbert Turner.

The two starting guards will be Tim Noble and David Watkins.  Coach Hilton said he thinks Steve Roblin and Darrell Back will also see a lot of action at guard spots.

Other guards include Earl Napier, Greg Toler, Everett Jett, and John Adkins.

Senior Steve Collins will be giving leadership to the ends this season.  Who is going to help him, though, is up for grabs.  Hilton says he thinks the other end will be manned by Charlie Napier, Ray Collins, Dennis Stivers, or Ruben Turner.

The center position will be under the control of Darren McKnight.  Back-up support can be expected from Kevin Collins.  Others training for that position are David Niece and Craig Hamilton.

The backfield was hurt most by graduation, say the coaches.  There’s only one returning starter- Jeff Gabbard, playing in that position.  Two good potential players who can give him some assistance are Glenn Griffith and Steve Chapman.

Gary Thompson will hold down the other half-back position, with Wess Robinson and Roger Stamper backing him up.

In the tail-back position will be starter Derek McKnight.  Supporting him are Dallas Warren, Tim Caines, and Drake Back.

The quarterback position will be manned by Mike Watts, who started some as a sophomore and played quite a bit last season.

“He has enough experience and will show us a lot of speed at the quarterback position,” explained Hilton.

Continuing, he added, “I feel we have two good quality players to back him.  They’re Scott Frasure and Steve Thomas.”

Robert Swartzentruber will be doing the kicking again this year.  Last year, he did the P. A.T.s and field goals.  According to his coach, he’ll be doing the same thing again this year.

The coaches send a special invitation to all the fans to come out Friday night to cheer and support the Bobcats to victory in their season opener.

The Jackson Times, August 20, 1981, page 1 & 9

Johnson County Central – August 21, 1981 – Win 15 – 12

Last second field goal gives Cats 10-8 victory over J-Central

(The first part of the article is missing in the newspaper)… started when Breathitt took over on its 18-yard line.  From there, quarterback Mike Watt completed a 32-yard pass to receiver Steve Collins to the center of the field.

From the 50-yard line, there were three incomplete passes, leaving only 0:31 to play.  On the 4th down, Derek McKnight seized Watts’ successful pass and ran the ball 14 yards to Johnson Central’s 38.

Following a pass interference penalty on the guest team, the ball was put on their 28.  Then the team completed an 8-yard pass from Watts to Collins, moving the ball to Johnson Central’s 20.

“We told Derek to run the ball up the center of the field,” explained Hilton.

It was almost a once-in-a-lifetime kind of minute in high school football.  “It was a miracle,” said one Bobcat fan.  The reference being Breathitt’s 10-8 phenomenal come-from-behind season-opener victory Friday night.

The last minute and ten seconds of the home game were jam-packed with breath-taking action- the kind the players can remember to tell their grandchildren about.

Johnson Central had just scored and had taken the lead 8-7, leaving 1:10 in the game (Feeling there was no hope for the Bobcats, many fans left, missing a rare minute in football).  “He moved it 6 yards right in front of the field goal.”

Robert Swartzentruber booted a 24-yard field goal with just four seconds left on the clock after Breathitt had driven 68 yards in the final minute of action.  Robert’s kick went straight through the goal post to the great delight of fans and team members- to say nothing of the coaches.

The teams battled through a scoreless first half before Breathitt County finally got on the scoreboard in the third period when Steve Collins pulled in a 52-yard pass from Mike Watts, and Swartzentruber kicked the extra point to give the Bobcats a 7-0 advantage.

However, Johnson Central jumped in from 8-7 in the fourth quarter when Warren Howard pounced on a Breathitt fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.  Doug Robinson then tossed a pass to Mark Wireman for the two-point conversion that put Johnson Central in front.

That set the stage for Breathitt County’s dramatic finish.

“Our win was due to excellent teamwork,” said Hilton.  “Even the kids on the sideline helped by giving the players on the field moral support.”

“Nothing but teamwork could move the ball as far and as fast as we did,” he continued.  “Robert, with his 24-yard field goal, just put the icing on the cake.”

Breathitt basically had an inexperienced offensive team on the field.  Hilton pointed out that Steve Collins and Jimmy Campbell were the only two with any experience.  “We’ll just have to be patient on offense,” he added, “I think our boys will come along as they get experience.”

On the offensive team, Mike Watts completed 10 of 20 passes for 236 yards.  Steve Collins caught eight of those passes for 197 yards.  Glenn Griffith was one for 26 and Derek McKnight one for 13.

In rushing, McKnight carried 12 times for 65 yards.  Hilton said he felt Everett Jett did a good job.  He kicked three times for an average of 40 yards each.

The Bobcats had 12 first downs.

The team was led in defense by Tim Noble, who made ten tackles, one assist, and one fumble recovery.

Ricky Brewer and Wes Robinson had six tackles each.

Four each were made by Kevin Collins, Robert Swartzentruber, and Derek McKnight.

Steve Collins and Jimmy Campbell had one fumble recovery each.

Because of his fine playing, Swartzentruber was listed in the Herald-Leader’s Honor Roll Monday.

The Bobcats’ next home game will be September 4, the Honey Bowl, with Hazard.

The Jackson Times, August 27, 1981, page 18

Cats away to play Lafayette

Friday night for the first time, the Bobcats will play Lexington away.

A class AAAA team, Lafayette is one of the stronger in the state. They’ll dress around 90 players, and none goes both ways.

“This game will be a good opportunity for us to upgrade our program,” said Hilton.  It’s a big city school with a big football program,” he said.

They have a good running back, Vernard Johnson, who gained 232 yards on 34 carries to lead Lafayette to a 34-23 victory over Woodford County last weekend.

Another powerhouse on their team is wide receiver Keith Owens who is the younger brother of former Lafayette and U.K star, Dallas Owens.  In the Woodford County game, Owens caught two touchdown passes.

According to Hilton, it is the feeling of Lexington coaches that Lafayette has the best team of any Lexington school.

For fans planning to attend the Friday night game, the following directions may be helpful.  Go down Nicholasville to Southland Drive.  Turn on Southland and continue to end of street.  Cross the street at the end of Southland to Lafayette Drive and continue for approximately 1/2 mile.  The school is on the right.

The Jackson Times, August 27, 1981, page 18

Lexington Lafayette – August 28, 1981 – Loss 0 – 35

Lafayette ends Bobcats 10-game winning streak

The Bobcats lost their first road game in two years Friday night when they were overpowered by Lafayette 35-0.  That loss broke a record of 10 wins in a row.  “Another way of looking at our record is that before the last game we had won 16 of our 17 games,” explained Hilton.

Analyzing the game later, he said, “When you play a team as big as Lafayette, you cannot get down, but that’s what happened to us.  They got us down real quick.  Before we knew it, we were down 22-0.

“You might come back on a weak team and handle them in the end on a score like that, but not Lafayette.”

Though the Bobcats made several costly mistakes, Hilton said the films of the game revealed the boys played better ball than he originally thought.  “I don’t think we were outmanned all that much on the field,” he said.  “I think the eleven we put on the field were just as good as the eleven they put out there.  It’s just that they were quicker.  We were always a step behind, and we just didn’t do some things well.  Our passes, for instance, were usually open, and we made six turnovers.”

A study of the films revealed some positive features of the game.  For the most part, the boys were where they should have been and doing what they were told.  Tim Noble, Robert Swartzentruber, and Ricky Brewer received commendations from their coach for their defensive tackles.  I thought our linebackers Glenn Griffith and Kevin Collins did a good job, too,” he continued.

Even though Lafayette dressed ninety-plus players and had seniors weighing, for example, 245, 225, 220 pounds, and one junior 300.  Hilton said he felt Breathitt had seven or eight athletes just as good as any they put on the field.  Breathitt managed 140 yards on the ground and 70 through the air against Lafayette’s stingy defense.

Leading the defensive effort was Kevin Collins with 8 tackles, 5 assists, and 1 fumble recovery, while linebacker Glenn Griffith had eight tackles and two assists, Noble, Swartzentruber, and Chapman had three tackles apiece.

Derek McKnight carried the ball 15 times for 59 yards, and Gary Thompson carried it 10 for 39 yards.

Mike Watts completed three of 18 passes for 28 yards.

Lafayette’s Vernard “Red” Johnson carried the ball 15 times for 146 yards, two touchdowns, and a conversion.

Ricky Barber also scored two touchdowns for Lafayette, and quarterback John Ivey completed six of 12 passes for 70 yards.

Tony Vinegar presented the staunchest case for the defense with eight tackles and 18 assists, while Al Huston had five tackles and 12 assists.  Steve Rogers had seven tackles, five assists, and an interception.

The Lafayette Generals are scheduled for a rematch next season at the Bobcats’ field.

The Jackson Times, September 3, 1981, page 20

Coach Roberts thinks Bulldogs- “underdogs” in Honey Bowl

By Carter F. Combs

In an interview yesterday with Coach Joey Roberts, Hazard’s first-year mentor, said the Bulldogs “definitely are the underdogs” in this, the 1981 edition of the Honey Bowl.   In the 8 p.m. kickoff Friday night, September 4, Coach Roberts does believe the Bulldogs can make a “highly respectable showing” provided the dogs execute their plays, control their offensive play, and make a good showing with the kicking game.

After Hazard’s one-sided 66 to 6 loss to the Corbin High Redhounds last week, Coach Roberts indicated his squad has come out of the fray having learned several valuable lessons that might be applied to the Breathitt County encounter.

The coach had heavy praise for his squad, not the least being their “pride and continued efforts in practice.” The squad members were diligent in their summer conditioning activities.  Summer camp, never a good time party, pointed up the quality of the squad and, hopefully, points to a brighter future for the Bulldogs.  Coach Roberts noted.  “The new dawning could come about any week now,” he added.

He had other comments about his players.

Greg Chapman, junior quarterback for the Bulldogs, displays improvement each game.  Phillip Campbell and Roscoe Bowling, senior members of the squad, are bright spots for the Bulldogs, and Benny Mobelini, junior halfback and punter, is carrying on the athletic talents in his family name.  Jim Farris, a six-foot, 198-pound tackle, continues improvement.

Coach Roberts is a graduate of Somerset High School and attended Morehead State University.  He toiled with a coaching group of former UK Coach Charlie Bradshaw.  Bradshaw, who enjoyed only limited success while at UK, always had his thin ranks honed to a sharp edge for battle with the Volunteers of Tennessee.  This appears to be a reflection of Coach Roberts for this Honey Bowl battle.  His statement that the natural rivalry building between the gridiron Bobcats and Bulldogs speaks well for both schools.  Coach Dudley Hilton of Breathitt County is helping to provide this rivalry, which is challenged in intensity only by the M.C. Napier Navajos.  Such a statement uttered by the Hazard coach reflected high praise for the boys now maturing in the gridiron sport under his leadership.

The Jackson Times, September 3, 1981, page 20

Hazard – September 4, 1981 – Win 34 – 6

Great team effort gives Breathitt victory over Hazard

Cats win Honey Bowl 34-6

There’s no doubt about it: the Bobcats wanted to win the Honey Bowl Friday night.  That desire was evident in both the offensive and defensive teams, and it was certainly obvious in the final score, 34-6, Bobcats over the Bulldogs.

In the opening play, Hazard kicked off, and Breathitt ran three plays but fumbled on the 4th, giving Hazard possession.  The Cats held them through three downs.  On their fourth, they dropped back to punt, only to have Tim Noble block it.  Gary Thompson picked up the ball and ran for a 60-yard touchdown, to the great delight of the fans.  “We tried to run a two-point conversion,” said Hilton, “but it failed.”  That left the score 6-0.

In the following series, Breathitt held their guests and even pushed them back some.  But Hazard got off a good kick, and after the ball stopped rolling, it had traveled a distance of 50 yards.

On the Bobcats’ second series, they put together a really good drive, “It was probably the best drive we’ve had all year,” said Hilton.  “That’s something we’ve been working on, and it seemed to pay off for us.”

After the Cats moved the ball to the 17-yard line, the Bulldogs pretty much held them. The team elected to kick a Field goal, but it failed, leaving the first-quarter score still at 6-0.

In the second quarter, the Breathitt squad held Hazard to almost no yardage, “I thought the team played excellent defense.” continued Hilton.  “I was well pleased with our defensive effort.  Just a fine team effort.”

On the ninth play in the third series, Mike Watts connected on a 26-yard touchdown pass to Steve Collins for a 12-0 score.  The PAT was unsuccessful. 

Action was far from over in the first half, though.  It took the Cats only one play to complete a 48-yard TD pass from Watts to Collins.

Swartzentruber’s kick was successful, making the half-time score 19-0.

Moving into the third quarter, the Cats wasted no time in putting together some fine plays and moved the ball steadily down the field.  “We had some good individual running and some fine blocking out of our linemen that enabled us to move the ball down to their 7-yard line,” added Hilton.

The Bulldogs held their host team there for a while until the decision was made for Robert Swartzentruber to try a 17-yard field goal.  He made good the effort, which brought the score to 22-0 as the game moved into the final round.

In that round, Roger Stamper added more icing to the cake when he took up the middle of the field for a 20-yard touchdown run.  The last touchdown was set up by Kevin Collins when he intercepted a Hazard pass.  On the second play, after the Cats got possession, Watts completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Kevin, which made the score 34-0.

“With that lead, we gave our young boys a chance to play,” said Hilton.  The young team fumbled, and Hazard’s big linebacker, Ace Chaney, picked up the ball and ran for a 70-yard touchdown, making the final score 34-6.

“We would like to have had a shutout,” said Hilton, “but we thought it was more important to give our younger players some experience.  We were well pleased with the way our boys played.  Our defense held Hazard to 0 right up to almost the end of the game.”

Kevin Collins led that defensive effort with five tackles and four assists.  Swartzentruber and Tim Noble had four apiece, and three each came from Ricky Brewer, Roger Stamper, and Darrell Back.

Due to hard-hitting, the Bobcats caused Hazard to have six turnovers.  Fumble recoveries were made by Glenn Griffith, Mike Watts, Kevin Collins, Gary Thompson, and Greg Toler.

On offense, the rushing leader was freshman Dallas Warren, who started his first game in his young career.  This young tailback carried the ball 17 times for 49 yards.  Gary Thompson carried 8 times for 40 yards; Jeff Gabbard 9 for 32; and Roger Stamper 4 for 30.

“We thought Mike Watts had one of his finest nights,” continued Hilton.  Mike completed six of eight passes for 124 yards.  Three of those passes were TD passes.

The leading receiver was Steve Collins, who caught two passes for 74 yards.  Kevin caught two for 21.

The Cats, of course, were awarded the Honey Bowl trophy- a nice big one.  It was their first time to win the Honey Bowl, which celebrated its third birthday this year.  “We were delighted with the team trophy,” said Hilton.  “It represented total team effort, which I thought was so important and obvious in the game.”

The following individual trophies were won: Gary Thompson, best offensive effort; Steve Collins, best offensive lineman; Tim Noble, best defensive lineman; Kevin Collins, best defensive back; and Mike Watts, MVP.

CATS AWAY FRIDAY

Friday night will be a big game for the Cats.  They’ll be taking on Knott Central away.  This will be a district game, the first one this year.  Central is expected to put a tough team on the field.  They beat Hazard earlier, 22-12.

The Jackson Times, September 10, 1981, page 6

Knott County Central – September 11, 1981 – Win 35 – 26

Thomas leads Bobcats to 35-26 District victory

Even though Knott County “played a near-perfect game,” according to coach Hilton, against the Bobcats Friday night, the Breathitt squad still overcame their host 35-26.

Steve Thomas started for the first time in his varsity career as a quarterback and “did an excellent job,” according to his coach.  He carried the ball 2 times for 50 yards and one touchdown, and he completed 6 of 7 passes.

Opening the game, Knott kicked off, and Breathitt got a good drive going, only to suffer three consecutive penalties, resulting in a loss of 35 yards.  Thomas completed two passes, which helped overcome the loss but were not enough for another 1st down.

Knott began their first series on their 37 with 6:17 remaining in the first quarter.  The Patriots gained only 10 yards before the Bobcats intercepted a pass and ran the ball back to the Patriots’ 40.  Glenn Griffith made a fine tackle and block during that short series that helped account for the short yardage gained by Knott Central.

Taking over on Knott’s 40-yard line, Breathitt’s offense quickly and determinedly moved the ball down the middle for its first TD with 1:30 left in the quarter.  Following two quick first downs, Mike Wans carried the ball across the finish line for a 6-0 score.

The Patriots took over on their 35 and, through three first downs, moved the ball to Breathitt’s 9-yard line.  It was their 4th down and four to go.  Breathitt’s defense came on strong, allowing the Patriots only two yards.

The Cats took possession but quickly fumbled, and the Patriots took over again- this time on Breathitt’s seven.  Two plays later, they scored, evening the score at 6-6.

It was a short-lived tie, though.  The Bobcats resumed action on their 40, and on the very first play, Steve Thomas completed a touchdown pass to Steve Collins, and Mike Watts ran the conversion, which gave the Cats a 14-6 lead.

Knott was not to be subdued.  They fought right back, and through some excellent football, the team had another TD on the board eight plays later. 

There was more action to come in the second quarter.  Mike Watts had a 35-yard return on Knott’s kick, which put the ball on Breathitt’s 47 with 2:16 left in the first half.  

Through a combination of some good carries and a penalty of 25 yards against Knott, the ball was on the 11-yard line with 0:22 left.  The Cats pushed the ball to the three-yard line with four seconds remaining.  But that was enough for Steve to complete a pass to Mike.  Robert’s kick was good, giving the Breathitt guys a 20-12 half-time lead.

Midway through the third quarter Steve Thomas pulled a really sneaky play and ran for a 45-yard touchdown.  That prompted one of Knott’s fans to remark, “Our kids are no match for those guys.”

Another fan was overheard to say, “They caught us asleep on that play.”

That TD and Robert’s successful kick gave the Cats their largest lead of the game, 28-12.

Knott got good field position when Ricky Adams intercepted a Breathitt pass, letting the Patriots take over on Breathitt’s 30. Six plays later, Kendell Hall scored a touchdown pass, but his team’s conversion failed, leaving Breathitt with a 28-18 lead.

That lead was narrowed to a nervous two midway through the final round.  After that, the Cats coordinated a good drive and moved the ball up the field to Knott’s five-yard line, from which Thomas completed a TD pass to Watts.  The extra point was good for the final 35-26 win.

Tim Noble led the defensive effort with 11 tackles and two assists; Robert Swartzentruber had 10 and four.  “We thought the boys played a real good game for us,” said Hilton.  They are the only defensive linemen returning from last year.  They used their experience well,” added Hilton.  “In fact, they showed a lot of maturity.” Darrell Back and Glenn Griffith posted eight tackles apiece.  Sophomore and linebacker Steve Chapman had five.

Having carried the ball 21 times for 86 yards, Mike Watts was the offensive leader.  He had never played tailback before, but that was not evident judging from the way he executed plays.  He scored three TDs and 1 PAT.  Fullback Glenn Griffith covered 47 yards on seven carries, and Steve Collins caught two passes for 64 yards.

MORGAN NEXT FOE

Friday night, the Bobcats take on Morgan County here at home.  It will be the last home game for four weeks.  Morgan County has most of its key players back from last year.  Their quarterback, sophomore Bill Allen, is a fine athlete.  “He’s almost as good as Mike Whitaker,” thinks Hilton.  The team also has a good running back in Randy Cline.

Last week, Morgan beat M.C. Napier 27-6.

The Jackson Times, September 17, 19581, page 10

Morgan County – September 18, 1981 – Win 21 – 12

Excellent first half gives Cats victory over Morgan County

Even though the Breathitt Bobcats were the “underdog,” according to coach Hilton, in the Friday night game with Morgan County, the Cats surfaced with a 21-12 victory.

“We were mismatched in weight and experience,” he said, “but we played a good ball game anyway, especially the first half.”

Morgan had 13 seniors on its team and twelve players weighing over 200 lbs.  Now at 4-1, the Cats seem to be improving with every game.  “At least we hope we are,” added Hilton.  “We feel we are doing the right thing, and things are falling in place for us,” he continued.

Lots of things fell into place Friday night.  There was good passing, good blocking, good running- a good overall team effort. 

“I thought we played as good football the first half as we’ve ever played,” observed Hilton.

The 21-0 half-time score would bear out good offensive and defensive efforts.

In the second half, Breathitt received a number of penalties- a total of almost 100 yards.  Hilton said it was the most penalties his team had ever received in a single half.  Then, there were some turnovers that were costly, too.

Early in the second half, Morgan’s Mike Holbrook intercepted a pass for a 60-yard return touchdown.  The kick failed, leaving the score 21-6.

Following Morgan’s TD, Breathitt took over on its 38-yard line.  The determined Cougars held the Cats in place.  In fact, they lost yards through penalties and plays.

Breathitt got off a good kick, but Morgan returned the ball to the local team’s 25.  From there, the Cougars gradually worked their way toward the goal line, moving the ball to the 2-yard line.  For a while, it looked as if the stubborn Bobcats would hold their guests in place.  The visiting team moved the ball one yard, but on the following two plays, they could not make any headway.  Finally, on their 4th down, Randy Cline ran the ball for the 1-yard TD.  The effort to get the extra point failed, resulting in the final 21-12 score.

Breathitt had little trouble getting on the board toward the end of the 1st period.  In their second series of plays, the Cats took over on Morgan’s 32.  A completed pass to Kevin Collins moved them down to the 17.  Following a gain of four yards on a run, quarterback Steve Thomas completed a 13-yard TD pass to Steve Collins.   Swartzentruber’s kick was good, and Breathitt had its first 7 points.

Collins also scored Breathitt’s second touchdown following a pass interception and 50-yard return he made.  Morgan had moved the ball to near Breathitt’s 5-yard line when Collins intercepted it.  He ran it back to Morgan’s 45.

From there, the Cats met little resistance as they steadfastly moved the ball down the field.  After three first downs, Thompson made contact with Collins again for a 2l-yard TD pass.  Like earlier, Swartzentruber’s kick was successful again, and the local squad was in control 14-0.

On Breathitt’s very next possession, they did it again.  This time, they started from their own 18-yard line.  Steve came through for the team again.  At one point, he made an inconceivable kind of catch when he latched onto the ball after it bounced off the hands of another player.  Later, though, he experienced a bit of bad luck as he dropped the ball near the goal line after a long run.

Glen Griffith scored the team’s third touchdown and his first ever.  Robert’s third kick was good, which gave the Cats their final 21 points in the game.

Looking at some of the strengths of the game, coach Hilton said he felt Steve was one of them.  His runs and catches were certainly some of the highlights of the evening.

Another highlight was the protection the front line gave the quarterback.  “They didn’t let anybody touch him,” noticed Hilton.  Giving him good coverage so he could have time to throw the ball were Tim Noble, David Warren, David Watkins, Darren McKnight, and Jimmy Campbell.

Hilton said he was well pleased with the defensive efforts of the team, which were led by Tim Noble and Steve Chapman with six tackles each.  Hilton said he thought Chapman, who started his first time as a linebacker, “did an excellent job.”

Robert Swartzentruber made live tackles, and three each were made by Steve Thomas, Derek McKnight, Darrell Back, and Gary Thompson.

In the offensive category, Mike Watts carried the ball 16 times for 44 yards, while Glenn Griffith carried it 10 times for 32.  Wess Robinson was three for 27.

Steve Thomas completed 8 of 13 passes.

Catching five passes for 111 yards was Steve Collins.

Another boy that was a definite plus for the team was Everett Jett.  He punted four times for 105 yards.  That’s almost 27 yards a kick, of course.  He had one short kick, which cut down on his average.  Friday night, the team begins a four-game road series, the toughest of which is expected to be with Leslie on the Eagles’ home field at Hyden.

The Jackson Times, September 24, 1981, page 12

Leslie Co. expected to field strong team

One of the really big football games this season is coming up on Friday night.  It’s time for Leslie County again.  Every member of the squad is well aware of that.  Their weight-lifting room is lined with clippings about Leslie County and about the Honey Bowl defeat of last year.

It’s a game many would probably just as soon forget.  But, the fact remains Leslie County enjoyed a come-from-behind 30 to 20 Honey Bowl victory in 1980.

The Leslie game is the one most players have been looking forward to for weeks now.  They’ve seen films, heard lectures, practiced plays, and generally psyched themselves up for the big contest.

Leslie’s Gary Maggard is their big-play man.  Wendell Maggard runs the precision routes, and Bobby Huff runs underneath them for the short pass.  There are three sure-handed receivers, but it all goes for naught without the triggerman, Senior quarterback Mike Whitaker.

“Mike’s one of those pure passers says coach Flovd Hines.  “He has a good release and can flat-out throw the ball.”

In three years, the 6-2, 195-pounder has thrown for 4,856 yards and 52 touchdowns.  He owns an impressive 56.1 percent completion rate.

“We have 10 throw the ball a great deal to be successful,” Hines says simply.

Senior Gary Maggard found enough gaps in the secondary to grab 25 passes for 551 yards, averaging 22 yards per catch.  Wendell Maggard caught 13 for 292 yards (22.5) with two IDs and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.  Huff totaled 16 receptions for 153 yards and two TDs.

“Mike likes to throw to the receivers from a semi-roll out of a moving pocket,” Hines said, “If he stays healthy, we’ll be okay.”

Whitaker is recognized as one of the outstanding high school football players in the state and is being recruited heavily by teams all the way from UCLA to UK.

According to Litkenhous Ratings, this week, Leslie is 9th in Class AAA.  That’s a drop from earlier ratings.  By way of contrast, Breathitt is 23.

This is a big district game, and the coaches and players would like to have a good show of support when they take on Leslie away Friday night.  Word is they would like for that support to be vocally loud.  Fan support can make a big difference in the way a team plays.

The Jackson Times, September 14, 1981, page 12

Leslie County – September 24, 1981 – Loss 14 – 20

Bobcats fall 20-14 in final seconds to Leslie Co. Eagles

The BHS football team and fans had the opportunity to experience the full impact of the football motto, “The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat,” last Friday night in Leslie County.  It was the latter half of the motto, unfortunately, that the local fans and team suffered in stunned disbelief the last few seconds of the game when it became sickeningly evident that Leslie had won 20-14.

“In my seven years here, it (the loss) was the hardest one I’ve ever had to accept,” said Coach Hilton.

Jimmy Campbell philosophized, “I guess God just didn’t intend for us to win.”

For that reason or for others, the defeat was a hard pill to swallow.  The fans and players alike left the field in subdued silence.

Everybody seemed to be up for the game.  “I thought we were well prepared for it,” said Hilton.  “We really wanted to win.  We worked hard as a team, and we took our loss hard as a team.  It was no one person’s fault that we lost.  We did it as a team.”

One thing that made defeat so hard to accept was the fact that Breathitt led up to the last 33 seconds of the game when Leslie scored a safety and tied the score at 14-14.

That sent the game into an overtime.  Breathitt got a good break on Leslie’s second play when the Eagles were penalized 15 yards, which moved the ball back to Breathitt’s 23-yard line.  The host team gained two yards on its second down, making it third and 21 to go.  Whitaker’s pass was incomplete on the third down, but on their fourth, he connected with Huff for a 12-yard TD pass, which gave the Eagles their first lead of the night, 20-14.

It was one of two “hope passes” that Hilton said Leslie threw.  The Eagles put the ball in the air, hoping someone would catch it, and they did.

When the Bobcats began their drive, their first pass was incomplete; their second was intercepted, and the game was over.

Hilton said that, on the whole, he was well pleased that his team played as well as it did. “We played hard and went at it as a team,” he added.  Continuing, he explained, “We couldn’t get our offense going in the second half.  If we could have, I think it would have been an entirely different game.”

The defense, though, came through well.  “It was the best I’ve ever seen since I’ve been here,” said the coach.

Breathitt wasted no time in getting points on the board early in the game.  Leslie kicked off to the Cats, and they maintained possession until they scored just 3:19 in the game.  The first TD was on a nine-yard pass from Mike Watts to Steve Collins.  Swartzentruber’s kick was good, giving the Breathitt squad a 7-0 lead.

Leslie’s Whitaker scored a 2-yard TD run in the second quarter, but their kick failed, leaving the Cats with a 1-point advantage.

One of the truly exciting plays came near the end of the third period when Steve Thomas intercepted a pass and ran for a 95-yard touchdown.  The Eagles started their drive on their 30, and through five first downs, moved the ball to Breathitt’s 15.  With the momentum the Eagles had going, it appeared just to be a matter of time until they would score.  Whitaker sent one of

his long passes toward the end zone when Steve rushed forward, seized the ball on the 5-yard line, and out-ran and out-dodged his pursuers to the standing ovation of the Breathitt fans.  As Steve neared the goal line, Whitaker made a desperate lunge for him, but all in a fruitless effort.

Steve made another interception in the last quarter on Breathitt’s 20 after the Eagles had moved the ball from their own 37.

Some of the Breathitt boys played under handicaps of pain and injuries.  One was Derek McKnight, who played a real fine game, said Coach Hilton.  “Overall, he played a tremendous football game,” he added.  “He did everything we told him to do…We certainly appreciate his efforts and those of others who were also playing in pain.”

In fact, with 12 tackles, Derek led the defensive effort of the team.  Tim Noble had nine tackles, Kevin Collins 7, Steve Chapman 6, and Robert Swartzentruber 5.

In addition to the two interceptions by Thomas, Glenn Griffith also made one.

On the offensive team, Jeff Allen carried the ball eight times for 45 yards, and Billy Herald was 10 for 26.

Hilton said Herald and Allen stepped in Friday night’s game and did well under the circumstances.  “But they have a long way to go,” he explained.

Everett Jett punted six times for an average of 37 yards a punt.

In reference to his backfield, Hilton said they started the season with a really strong one, but Jeff Gabbard, Gary Thompson, and Derek McKnight have all suffered injuries or illness during the year.  “And that has hurt us,” he added.

Looking at the game in retrospect, Hilton said if he had it to do over, he would have slowed down the pace in overtime.  “If doing it again, I would call lime out and try to settle our boys down,” he concluded.

The Jackson Times, October 1, 1981, page 14

Clay County – October 2, 1981 – Win 42 – 0

Bobcats shutout Clay Co. 42-0

By Jack Neace

The Bobcats got their act together Friday night in super fashion and shut out Gay County on their own turf 42-0.

Hilton said he thought the offensive team came through really well, and he was well pleased with its efforts.

In the first quarter alone, the Bobcats put 28 of their points on the board.  Mike Watts started putting the points up on the 7th play of the game when he scored on a 13-yard run.

On the second series, the Cats covered 80 yards in five plays before Steve Collins scored the second TD on a pass from Steve Thomas.

The offense was too much for the Clay County Tigers.  They fumbled on their possession, and Ruben Turner recovered it.  Again, in five plays, the Breathitt squad had the ball in the end zone for a touchdown on Gary Thompson’s 3-yard run.

There was more action to come in the first period.  On the Bobcats’ fourth series, Mike Watts ran 19 yards on the 2nd play of that series for the 4th TD.  Robert Swartzentruber kicked the extra point following each TD, making the first quarter score 28-0.

With a good lead coach, Hilton put in some younger players in the 2nd period.  They ran 12 plays that quarter but were unable to score.  It was a period pretty much dominated by Clay County.” They probably controlled the ball three-fourths of that quarter,” estimated Hilton.

In the second half, the team picked up another TD in the 3rd quarter on a 27-yard run by Jeff Allen.

In the last stanza, Steve Thomas ran a bootleg play around the left end for a 20-yard TD run.

Following Robert’s successful kick, the final score was 42-0.  He was 100 percent successful on his extra-point kicks.  He was six for six.

This was the team’s first shutout of the season, and for that, Hilton had nothing but praise.  “I thought our defense just did a really fine job,” he said as he talked jubilantly about the team’s successful efforts.

Tim Noble led the defensive effort with nine tackles and five assists.  Kevin Collins had six, and Robert Swartzentruber, Tim Caines, and Ruben Turner had four each.  Ruben also had a couple of fumble recoveries.  Steve Chapman had an interception on defense.

A look at the offensive stats reveals that Mike Watts carried the ball 11 times for 104 yards, and Jeff Allen ran 83 yards on 15 carries.  Fullback David Warren rushed for 26 yards on 6 carries.

Steve Thomas completed 3 of 5 passes for 79 yards.

Altogether, the Cats moved the ball a total of 350 yards, passing and running, in the game.

The younger boys had a chance to play some in the last quarter.  Concerning their performance, Hilton said he thought they did a fair job.

The Cats have two more road games left before coming back home to wind up the season with Estill County (Homecoming) on October 23 and Cawood on the 30th.

The Jackson Times, October 8, 1981, page 9

Bobcats face Whitesburg Friday

At 7:30 Friday night, the Bobcats tangle with the Whitesburg Yellow Jackets in an away game.  “It’s going to be a tough one,” said coach Hilton.  “We have our work cut out for us.”

The Cats have beaten the Yellow Jackets for the last three years.  However, this season, they are fielding one of the strongest teams they have had in several years.

With 12 seniors on their squad, they are ranked 11^th this week in Class AA in Litkenhous Ratings.

Coach James Gose said he would have 3 seniors on his starting offensive team Friday night.  There will be one sophomore and the rest juniors.

Look for five seniors on his starting defensive squad.

Throughout the season, the quarterback position has been shared with Ben Bradshaw, senior, and Mon Powell, junior.  Gose said he expects that will also hold true Friday night.

On the receiving end, look for Randy Frazier, Greg Boggs, or Steven Burke.

“I suspect we have as good a passing team as can be found in Eastern Kentucky,” Gose said.

He added that his team has been rushing for an average of about 250 yards per game this season.

Presently, the Yellow Jackets have a 5-2 record.

The Jackson Times, October 8, 1981, page 9

Whitesburg – October 9, 1981 – Loss 38 – 6

Bobcats fall to Whitesburg

The Bobcats got the full impact of the Yellow Jackets’ sting Friday night as they laid it onto the Cats 38-6.

In the previous four Yellow Jacket games, the Breathitt Club had out played Whitesburg and was expecting to do so again.  “We had them scouted real good,” said coach Hilton, “and we thought we knew what they were going to do.  They came out, though, in a different formation and got us confused, and before we knew it, they had scored a touchdown.”

Whitesburg completely dominated the game.  They so completely overwhelmed the Bobcats that they hardly played like the same club Breathitt fans have grown accustomed to watching.

Hilton said he thought Whitesburg really wanted the game.  There’s no denying that they played as if they did.  On the 7th play of the game 155-pound senior quarterback Bert Bradshaw completed a pass to receiver Randy Frazier at the 1-yard line.  That was the third pass the duet had completed in the short series.  With 8:54 left in the opening period David Holbrook ran the TD from one yard out.  The kick failed leaving the score 6-0.

Following a short kick by Whitesburg, Breathitt’s first possession was on its own 43.   Watt’s first pass was incomplete and the second was intercepted.  Two hundred pounder Tony Sergent received the ball and returned it to Breathitt’s 37.

Hilton thinks that these early developments set the momentum of the game.  “We just got off on the wrong foot,” he said in his office this week as he talked about the game, “and we did not have the leadership on the Field that we needed.’

Hilton contends that his opponent was not that much better than his team.  It’s just that they wanted the game worse,” he explained.

Whitesburg coach James Gose said his team played one of the best games he had all season. 

Only a minute and a half into the 2nd quarter, the host learn completed us second TD on a run by Morgan Blair for 12-0 total.

They began their next series on Breathitt s 40.  Following a 15-yard penalty on the Bobcats and a completed pass to Frazier again, the ball was on the 1-yard line.  It was almost a replay of an earlier situation as David Holbrook scored the 3rd TD leaving 6:24 in the first half and 18-0 on the big board.

There was plenty enough time for more of the same action, and that’s what followed.  The BHS defense appeared completely powerless to check us opponent ‘s offense.  On the 7th play after starting on their 42, Whitesburg’s Morgan Blair rushed up the middle to score his team’s 4th TD.  The kick by David Gibson was good leaving the half-time score 25-0.

The Cats seemed to pick up some steam in the opening plays of the 2nd half.  Jeff Allen returned Whitesburg’s kick to the 20-yard line.  On the 3rd play of the series, Gary Thompson carried the ball for Breathitt’s first 1st down in the game.  Later, Mike Watts got a 2nd first down when he carried the ball three yards to Breathitt 43.

From there Gary Thompson got five yards on a carry and Steve Thomas ran 12 after he was unable to spot a pass receiver.  It was the 4th down and 9 to go when the quarterback was sacked.

The Yellow Jackets appeared anxious and capable of inserting more stings.  And that’s what they did. Before the 3rd period was over, they had pushed the score to 32-0.

That was to change shortly, though, because the Cats put together a good drive from their own 27 with passing and running to score their one and only TD with 10:44 left in the game.  That series of plays included complete passes to Steve Collins, Derek McKnight, and Glen Griffith.  Collins caught the TD pass, but the kick was incomplete.

Hilton said he felt the learn did not play well.  “In fact,” he added, “no phase of our game was played well.  Our kicking was bad.  So was our running, defense, and passing.”

With eight tackles and one assist, Tim Noble was the team’s leading defensive player Steve Chapman completed six tackles, and four each were made by Steve Collins and Mike Watts.  Derek McKnight had one interception.

Offensively, Mike Watts completed seven of 14 passes.  Steve Thomas was one for six Steve Collins caught four passes for 45 yards, and Derek McKnight hung unto two for 29.

In rushing Jeff Allen carried five times for 21 yards.  There was a total of 33 carries for 48 yards.

Ninety-five yards were gained in passing out of 20 attempts.  All together, there was a total of 143 offensive yards.

The Yellow Jackets gained 140 yards rushing.  Morgan Blair got 55 of those on eight carries and Randy Frazier accumulated 35 on eight.

The team had 162 yards passing.  Frazier was on the receiving end five times- one of which was a 56-yard TD.  Quarterback Bert Bradshaw completed seven of his eleven passes.

Sophomore Tim Smith did some fine kicking for his team, minus his first effort that was an 18 yarder.  All others were 59, 58, 50, 53, and 54 yards.

Coach Gose said his boys reported that they were hit the hardest in the Breathitt game of any game they had played this season.

The Jackson Times, October 15, 1981, page 18

Washing and Dancing

The Breathitt County Football Boosters continued their work throughout 1981.

Breathitt Booster Club fundraising events

The Breathitt Boosters Club recently held its fall planning meeting and outlined several money-raising projects to help retire its indebtedness on the football weight-lifting room.

Their first activity is going to be a car wash on October 10 at Druther’s Restaurant.  According to President Al Collins, the club will give your car a tip-top wash job that day for only $3.00.

Tickets are available from Booster Club members and football players.  If  one is not able to get a ticket in advance, Al says, “Come on anyway.” You can pay on the spot, and we’ll do just as good a job as if you had bought a ticket in advance.”

On November 9, the club will be holding its annual pig roast dinner and dance at the Armory.  This will be the third year for this event that has proven to be a popular activity with local residents.  The fee for the dinner and dance will be $30.00 a couple.  Dinner is scheduled to start at 7:00.

The person anxious to win a turkey for Thanksgiving should take special note of the club’s shooting match scheduled for November 22 on top of Alpine Hill.

“That is going to be a big event for us,” said Collins.  “We think holding it just before Thanksgiving will be a popular date with all the people who love to enter shooting contests.”

The Jackson Times, October 22, 1981, page 17

M. C. Napier – October 16, 1981 – Win 16 – 8

Bobcats register another victory over M. C. Napier

The Bobcats were favored to win the M.C. Napier-Breathitt contest last Friday night, and they did.  The final score was 16-8.

One important feature of the game, according to Coach Hilton, was that the Navajos did not give up this time.  “In the last two years, they quit on us,” he said, “but this year they played to the end.  They were fired up…They really wanted a win.”

Breathitt had little trouble getting its first eight points.  They were registered during the Cats’ second series in the first round.  That piece of action started after Wess Robinson returned the ball to Breathitt’s 37-yard line.  A big help in moving the ball from there was Gary Thompson’s 21-yard run, a 15-yard penalty on Napier, and 23 yards in four runs by Jeff Allen.

That set the stage for a one-yard run by junior Jeff Allen for the first TD.  The conversion was good, and Breathitt had an eight-point lead.  The conversion won a pass from Swartzentruber to Steve Collins.

Breathitt had six turnovers in the game.  A very costly one came early in the second quarter.  On the Cats’ first possession that round, they took over on their 28, and on the 4th play, they fumbled, and Napier recovered on Breathitt’s 11-yard line.

Three plays later, the Navajos had a touchdown on Maurice Dixon’s 9-yard run.  The conversion was good by Spurlock, and the score was tied at 8-8.  It remained the same until early in the 4th period when the Breathitt Club scored its second and last TD.  The action really started in the 3rd round when Wess Robinson intercepted a pass and ran the ball, this time back to Breathitt’s 35.  After four 1st downs and 11 plays, a 12-yard TD was scored by Mike Watts.  The two-point conversion pass was completed to Allen, and the 16-8 final score was registered on the board.  During those eleven plays, the ball was moved on carries by Allen and McKnight and on completed passes to McKnight, Kevin Collins, and Steve Collins.

Hilton said he was well pleased with the defensive effort of the team.  And for good reason.  Take, for example, some plays at the end of the first half.  Napier had earned a first down, and the team got five yards on the play.  Kevin Collins’ tackle limited Spurlock to only three yards on the second down.  On the third, Tim Noble didn’t permit any, and Steve Collins’ successful effort prevented any gain on the 4th down.

On at least four other occasions, the defense held the line securely.  “I was well pleased with their effort,” observed Hilton.

The defensive effort was led by Kevin Collins, who made eight tackles and had nine assists.  For Tim Noble, it was seven and two: Robert Swartzentruber, Wess Robinson, and Ricky Brewer had five each; Dennis Stivers, Derek McKnight, and Glenn Griffith made four tackles each.

Offensively, Mike Watts completed 8 of 10 passes for 60 yards.  The main target on the end was Steve Collins, who caught five for 38 yards.

Having carried the ball 18 times for 66 yards, Jeff Allen was the leading carrier.  Gary Thompson covered 28 yards on four carries.

The team moved the ball a total of 126 yards on the ground.

A credit to Napier’s offensive team were some strong running backs whom Hilton said were as good as any the Bobcats have met all season.  Travis Spurlock was Navajos’ major ball carrier.  Other running backs who see almost an equal amount of playing time, according to coach Dixon, are sophomores Bobby Causy, James Hudson, Kevin Duff, and senior Garland Sizemore.

The Jackson Times, October 22, 1981, page 17

Estill County in town for Homecoming

The homecoming game on Friday night will witness Breathitt matched against Estill County. From all indications, it should be a fine game. Both teams will be taking the field with the same record- six and three.

Both teams beat Johnson Central by two points.  Each team also defeated Morgan County Breathitt did it by nine points and Estill by four.

For the last five years, the Bobcats have been able to overcome Estill in every game they’ve played them. Naturally, Estill is going to be all out for revenge this weekend, says coach Hilton. He thinks it will be one of the hardest-hitting teams the Bobcats have played all season. They’ll be a good passing team,” he added. “We just hope we can save ourselves.”

Estill County quarterback Chris Winkler went over the 1,000-yard mark in passing this season by completing 9 of 18 for 195 yards in a 22-20 victory over Johnson Central last week.

Winkler, a 6-foot-1 junior, did not throw an interception as Estill County improved its record to 6-3.

Mike Jones caught six of Winkler’s passes for 127 yards, giving him 45 receptions for the season. Kevin Williams scored on a 40-yard run and gained 140 yards on 17 carries in their last week’s game with Johnson Central.

The Jackson Times, October 22, 1981, page 17

Estill County – October 23, 1981 – Loss 6- 14

Estill Engineers outride Breathitt Co. 14-6

If the Estill County Engineers played as if they had blood in their eyes  Friday night, it is probably because they did.  They were victory-hungry.  It had been six years since they defeated the Bobcats.  That happened in the two teams’ first game; The Engineers lost the next six and won the 8th contest Friday night, 14-6.

Derek McKnight scored Breathitt’s only touchdown on a one-yard run in the 4th quarter.

Breathitt’s first two possessions were turning points in the game, it seems.  The Cats fumbled on their very first possession.  The Engineers recovered it on Breathitt’s 8-yard line.  Giving them an excellent held position, the visiting team was on the board 6-0 after Alan Cheaney caught Chris Winkler’s 14-yard pass.

On the first play of the Cats’ second series, Watts’ pass was intercepted.  That added steam to the Estill squad, but seemed to deflate the local team.

As the first quarter ended, though, the team was on the upswing again following Mike Watts’ interception of a pass from Estill’s quarterback.

As the game proceeded, other Bobcat turnovers took their toll on the team, and the Cats could not contain the inspired Engineers.

Defensively, the team was led in tackles by Tim Noble with nine.  Kevin Collins and Steve Collins each had six, and additionally Kevin had seven assists.

Robert Swartzentruber and Mike Watts made four tackles apiece, and Mike intercepted another pass. 

Offensively, Derek McKnight carried the ball 25 times for 77 yards.  Glen Griffith covered 41 yards on eight carries.  Wess Robinson was six for nineteen yards, and Steve Collins two for thirty-three.

Estill’s second TD was scored on a 65-yard run by Kevin  Williams.  The conversion was good on a pass from Winkler to Mike Jones.

The Jackson Times, August 27, 1981, page 18

Bobcats to host Cawood in season finale

Cawood is coming to town Friday night with a 9-0 record.  “I feel like it is going to be one of the highest-rated teams we’ve played since we’ve been in existence,” said Coach Hilton as he talked about the game earlier this week.

Writing about the Cawood team for The Lexington Herald,  John Harris quoted Cawood coach Jim Cullivan as saying,  “I tell the kids that they’re not as good as people say, but as good as they play.” Cullivan is in his second year at Cawood.

“They’re short, they’re small, and they’re tough,” said Cullivan.  “Our defensive line averages 5-foot-9 1/2, and no player on the team weighs over 200 pounds.

“They have to prove themselves every week.”

“Over the years, I’ve had teams talking about it (going undefeated) and then not playing well.  We have to take one game at a time and let the chips fall where they may.”

The chips Cullivan speaks of are blue, of course.

Tailback David Hensley, the bluest chipper of all, has rushed for 1,225 yards and 24 touchdowns running and one receiving.

Spins, cuts, leaps, and bounds–as the scouts say, he can do it all.  Hensley won’t floor anyone with his speed, but he doesn’t have to.  The junior runs and runs some more, and the opposition will tell you that it hurts, hurts, and hurts some more.

“David’s running style is hard to describe,” Cullivan said.  “He won’t beat you with his speed, and he’s not gonna run over anybody at 180 pounds.  I don’t know what you’d call it.”

How about determination?

“That’s the word,” Cullivan said.  “We give David the ball, and he goes in there hard and gets hit, and that’s when he goes to work.  He just continues his effort when somebody’s on him, and that’s when he makes some unbelievable plays.”

With Cawood scoring at will this season and Cullivan being the kind-hearted sort, Hensley usually is limited to three-quarters of action before the coach does what the opposition can’t-yank him off the field.

“If we didn’t, David would have over 2,000 yards rushing,” Cullivan said.  “He averages five minutes of playing time in the fourth quarter.  I just don’t believe in running up the score on anyone.  I’ve been there (on the losing side) before.

When Hensley leaves, Butch Turner, Lonnie Lee, or Greg Barnes enter.  Sharing the tailback spot, they have 788 yards rushing and four touchdowns between them.  Fullback Mark Taylor (138 yards on 29 carries) is a strong blocker.

Sophomore quarterback Doug Collins has been a surprise, completing 29 of 49 passes for 517 yards and six touchdowns.  He averages 17.5 yards a completion and had his biggest game in a 43-19 win against Leslie County and All-state quarterback Mike Whitaker.

The Jackson Times, October 29, 1981, page 21

Cawood – October 30, 1981 – Loss 14 – 15

Cats played well, but fell to Cawood in last minute 15 to 14

Playing like the old Bobcat team fans have grown accustomed to watching, the Breathitt squad almost pulled an upset Friday night against state-ranked and undefeated Cawood.

The Bobcats led up to 1:02 left to play then Cawood’s All-Stater David Hensley went to work and pulled them through 15-14.

“We played our hearts out and showed great courage,” said Hilton.  He had nothing but good comments concerning the way his team performed.

“Everybody played well,” he added.  That was the second game this season the Cats lost in the last minute of play.  The other being Leslie County. 

The Cats got on the board on the third play of the game.  Cawood’s Hensley was carrying the ball when Derek McKnight hit him with a thundering blow jarring loose the ball.  Kevin Collins caught it and scored the early TD.

Darren McKnight threw an extremely effective block clearing the field for Kevin’s run.

With 0:35 left in the first quarter Mike Watts broke loose for a 42-yard touchdown run putting the Bobcats in the lead 12-0. Derek McKnight ran the PAT for Breathitt’s final 14 points.

The Cats outsmarted their guests on that particular play. It was the 4th down and they lined up as it they were going to punt.  Instead, they handed off to Mike who zipped off for the TD before Cawood could reorient its thinking.

After the 2nd TD, Cawood took over on their 40 and through four 1st downs moved the ball to Breathitt’s five-yard line. The Cats determined defense held light and permitted Cawood only 7 yards on the last of their four 1st downs.

Cawood did not get on the board until the second half In fact only 2:43 remained in the 3rd quarter when Hensley scored their first TD followed by a successful kick putting the score at 14-7.

In the rushing category Derek McKnight carried the ball 23 times for 63 yards. Mike Watts ran seven times for 89 yards plus his 4″1 yard TD. Wes Robinson was 6 for 23. Watts completed 2 of 4 passes for 33 yards.

Tim Noble led the defense effort with 11 tackles and 7 assists. Next in accomplishments was Da\id Warren with 9 and 6 respectively. Kevin Collins was credited with 6 and 3 plus one big fumble recovery.

Robert Swartzentruber had 5 tackles and11 assists while Gary Thompson made 4.

The Cats carried the ball a total of 41 times for 195 yards on the ground and 33 in the air.

The Jackson Times, November 5, 1981, page 12

Post Season Awards

There were four boys on the B.H.S. Football Team to be named All-State Honorable Mentions.  The boys are as follows: Senior Mike Watts, quarterback; Senior Steve Collins, Split End; Junior Derek McKnight, Running Back; Junior Tim Noble, Defense Guard.

Congratulations boys!!!

The Jackson Times, December 17, 1981, page 18

Football Banquet

Athletes honored at Breathitt sports banquet

“It takes a lot of people to make the Breathitt High programs go,” said Principal Bill Toler at last week’s Breathitt High Athletic Banquet.  “Hardly a week goes by,” he continued, “that I don’t have to call on someone for help.”

Gratitude for assistance from the many people who have input into the athletic programs at Breathitt High was also stressed by each of the coaches and cheerleader sponsors.

The banquet was an occasion to pay special tribute to the football boys, players on the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams, cheerleaders, and baseball players.

FOOTBALL

The 1981-82 football record was 6-5.  The team had six seniors, 16 juniors, 15 sophomores and 21 freshmen. 

The football awards presented were as follows: Rushing Leader, Mike Watts; Best Offensive Lineman, Tim Noble; Best Offensive Back, Gary Thompson; Best Defensive Back, Steve Thomas; Best Defensive Lineman; Robert Swartzentruber; Most Tackles, Tim Noble; 110% Award,  Derek McKnight; Best Receiver, Steve Collins; Offensive Leadership, Darren McKnight; Defensive Leadership; Kevin Collins.  Most Improved, Glen Griffith.

Mike Watts received the M.V.P. award.

In making the awards, Coach Hilton sometimes made additional comments about his players.  Some of those comments are herein included. 

In reference to Gary Thompson, he said Gary was the only back that played all year in the backfield.  “He was a good blocker,” added Hilton.

One of Steve Thomas’ interceptions was a 95-yard touchdown, which set a school record for the longest T.D. interception.

Robert Swartzentruber started for three years.  He had 120 tackles and 83 assists during that time.  He was the 3rd leading tackler and 2nd in assists this year.  He is a two-time winner of the Best Defensive Lineman Award.

Derek McKnight played hurt most of the year but still showed enthusiasm.  Offensively, he got 281 yards on 85 carries and caught 7 passes for 82 years.

Tim Noble broke Danny Back’s record of 1977 for most tackles in one season with 87.  Tim was one of the very few players that went both ways.

Steve Collins set two game records and tied 1 more.  He tied most T.D.s caught in one game, which was two, and he did this twice.  He also tied the record for most passing touchdowns in one season, which was 9.

Even though Darren McKnight worked with different quarterbacks, there were never any turnovers between the center and the quarterbacks.

Four players received All-State honorable mention.  They were Derek McKnight, Mike Watts, Tim Noble, and Steve Collins.

The Jackson Times, April 15, 1982, Section 1, page 8

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The 1981 season ended officially with the sports banquet in April, but in the minds of many players that year, especially the Seniors, it never ended. “We keep replaying every snap in our minds and repeatedly thought of what we could have done better,” a team member said. “That season never stopped for most of us. I can still replay almost every down in my mind.”

“We kept him for that year (1981), but we knew it would not last forever,” a member of the BHS Football Boosters said in 2023. “We were very happy with our Coach and wanted to keep him. We dreaded the day the next offer would come, but everyone knew it was coming. The only real question we had was: When would we have to start over with a new coach?”

Breathitt graduated only six Seniors but lost many years of experience on the line and in the backfield. The 1982 season looked to be a rebuilding year, but few understood how much effort that would require. There would be many other challenges in the coming season. There were more offers for the Bobcat Head Coach at the end of the 1981 season and many more big decisions to make.

They did not have to wait long for the answer to the biggest of their questions.

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© 2023 Stephen D. Bowling