By Stephen D. Bowling

We continue an extended look at the games and events of the seasons of Breathitt Football. This week, we explore 1986.

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Lift-A-Thon

Boosters plan lift-a-thon

The football boosters are planning a different approach to fundraising this year.  They will be sponsoring a Lift-A-Thon on May 10, an event they hope will be fun to watch and one through which they can raise some money.

The football boys will be looking for sponsors who will contribute a designed amount for each pound a player can lift.

Coach Holcomb stressed that any person who would like to contribute to the football program may do so by sponsoring one of their favorite players.

The Bobcats will be doing the bench press, squat, and incline.

The Lift-A-Thon will run from 1:00-5:00, and the public is cordially invited to all or any part of it.  All action will take place in the Bobcats workout room.

In addition to the Lift-A-Thon, other activities will be going on.  There will, for example, be a basketball toss for the public.  Prizes will be awarded.

Watch The Times for additional information about this new approach to fundraising.

The Jackson Times, April 10, 1986, page 10

Lift-A-Thon dates selected

Everything is falling in place for the Bobcats’ lift-a-thon scheduled for May 10 at the Bobcat Den.  The Bobcats are busy lifting and preparing themselves for the event that will be their main fundraiser this year.

“Our lift-a-thon is going to be an exciting time for us.” said coach Holcomb earlier this week as he was talking about it.  “We’re going to make it a fun day for everybody,” he stressed.

“We’ll have something that nearly everybody can participate in.  If nothing else, people can buy something from our concession stand and help us.” As in the past, there will be the punt, pass, and kick activities.

One category will be for ages nine and under.  Other divisions will be for ten and 11-year-olds, 12 and 13, and 14 and up.  Trophies for 1st and 2nd place winners will be awarded.  There is no entry fee for participation.  Neither is advanced registration necessary.  However, young people can sign up in their schools if they desire.  If that’s not possible, just be present on May 10 and say I want to participate in the punt, pass, and kick events.

Another fun event will be the basketball toss, which is open to anybody.  For one dollar, a person can shoot a basketball five times.  A person builds up points by making baskets.  At the end of the day, the person with the most points will be recognized as the winner.

Throughout the day, football boys will be lifting.  People are encouraged to drop into the den and watch them.  Anyone who would like to contribute to the football fund may do so by sponsoring a Bobcat so much for each pound he lifts.  This is a good opportunity for the public to get behind their favorite player and contribute through him.

The Jackson Times, April 24, 1986, page 17

STANDING in front of their weight-lift charts are Football Bobcats, Jason Hubbard and Porter Henson. They’ll be participating in the lift-a-thon scheduled for May 10 at the Bobcat Den beginning at 1:00 that afternoon. The lift-a-thon is going to be the Bobcats main fund raiser this year. The football players are now- soliciting supporters to pledge so much per pound that the Bobcats lift. Football fans are encouraged to support their favorite player or players.

It a supporter has not yet been contacted, he may call the football office at 666-5322 or contact a football player. In addition to the lift-a-thon there will be, among other activities, the punt, pass, and kick competition for elementary students.

Trophies will be awarded to the 9-year-old and under category, 10-11, 12-13, and 14 and up age division.  Registration can be completed in the various grade schools m the county or at the Bobcat Den May 10.

The Jackson Times, May 1, 1986, page B10

Breathitt Football Bobcats Lift-a-thon

The lift-a-thon at Breathitt High on May 10 was a fine success. That was the evaluation of all involved with it. It was a good money raiser as well as a fun event to attend.

The football boys were all there straining and lifting to see how much they could bench, squat, and incline. Of course, the more they totaled, the more money they made for the football program.

It was the second annual football lift-a-thon at Breathitt High.  Financially, it was more successful than last year.  “We are very pleased with the results,” stated coach Mike Holcomb. He said every football player had at least one sponsor. Therefore, all contributed to the football program.

Sponsored by the Football Boosters Club, the lift-a-thon was more than just lifting weights. There was a punt, pass, and kick category for the younger kids.  Too, there was a concession stand with a variety of tempting foods.

Sue Bailey, president of the boosters, said the club appreciated all the support generated for the football program. She said the club was very grateful for all who sponsored a player (s) and for those who attended the event Saturday afternoon.

In the punt, pass, and kick category, there were 30 participants. The winners were as follows: nine and under division (1st place) John Montgomery with a total of 171.7 points.  Terri Miller was second with 115.5 points. (Points consist of total yards on punt, pass, and kick.)

Ten and eleven division: (1st place) Harrison Francis with 191.7 points. (2nd place) Eddie Little. 144.6 points.  Twelve and thirteen division: (1st place) Judd Hubbard. 312.0 points, (2nd place)

Harrison White, 294.5 points.  Fourteen and up: (1st place) James Parks. 295.5 points. (2nd place) Nick Adams, 271.4 points.

The lift-a-thon participants were divided into weight divisions. Winners were selected on the basis of the sum total of their three lifts- bench press, squat lift, and incline bench.  The winners were as follows:

Although every football player participated in and supported the lift-a-thon, Porter Henson had the most sponsors.

The most money, though, was made by Kevin Calhoun and Jason Hubbard.

Coach Holcomb said he was very appreciative of all the county support given to the football program. He said he also appreciated all the work the booster club members did to make the event the successful one it was.

Though people generally aren’t thinking about football much this time of year, the football players and coaches are.  The players work out daily in the weightlifting room in preparation for next fall’s schedule.

That schedule, by the way, is presented below for all fans who would like to know when the Cats will be playing what team.

The Jackson Times, May 22, 1986, page 26

Conditioning

Football warm-up time again

Camps, conditioning, workouts, physicals, and varsity practice are all parts of the total football picture at Breathitt High this summer.

Just because the sport has not been in the limelight recently does not mean there has been no activity.

The Bobcats have been very involved and are in no way letting the ’86 season slip up on them. At least 15 of them have been in various football camps this summer. In addition to camp attendance, most players have maintained a regular workout schedule this summer.

Bobcats have been well-represented in at least three college football camps.

Attending U.K. football camp were Rich McCune, Dennis Cornett, John Scott Fugate, Jeff Johnson, and Judd Hubbard.

In attendance at Eastern’s camp were Dennis Cornett, Mike Bailey, Chuck Price, and Kevin Calhoun. Also attending Eastern’s Kicking Camp was Brendon Miller.

Buddy Baker, Joe Henson, Roger Montgomery, Chuck Allen, Mike Miller, and Jimmy Dalton all attended football camp at Georgetown.

It was the consensus among the young men that the camps were valuable. They all felt that they developed skills that will enable them to be better players this upcoming season.

The next few weeks are going to be busy ones for the Cats. Starting Monday (July 6), all the varsity players are required to report for conditioning workouts.

Physicals are scheduled for July 16 at 12:30 at the Stadium. Coach Holcomb stressed that freshmen are welcome (urged, in fact) to get physicals at this time.

Regular varsity practice will begin July 28 at 6:00 p.m.

Coach Holcomb stated that he was pleased that several of his players had been able to attend various camps this summer and that they and others have maintained a workout schedule. He added that he was excited about getting things in gear for the fast-approaching ’86 season.

At this point, things are looking good-looking, as if football fans can expect to enjoy another good season of B.H.S. football.

The Jackson Times, July 3, 1986, page 28

Practice

Bobcats open football drills

The Bobcats are down to serious business now.  Despite the high temperatures and oppressive humidity, they have begun regular football practice.

It all started officially Monday night.  “It’s time to get down to serious business,” stated Coach Holcomb earlier this week when he was talking about his beginning practice sessions.

He said he and his coaches are working on both the physical and mental aspects of the game.

At this point in the practice sessions, he’s concentrating on fundamentals and conditioning.  He said they were working on offensive and defensive aspects of the game as well as kicking.

Too, they are trying to get the Cats to develop a good team spirit and a positive attitude about their team, themselves as an individual, and their potential as a club.

So far, so good.  The Bobcats seem enthusiastic about getting the football show on the road.  They appear eager to get in condition and talk excitedly about their prospects for a good season.  If all goes well, the Cats will be a power to be reckoned with in Eastern Kentucky.

While most people are relaxing in the comfort of their air-conditioned living rooms these hot, muggy afternoons, the Cats are out running, stretching, straining, and sweating in an effort to bring their fans better football in the cool of a fall evening.

Coach Holcomb said one of his goals was to put a team on the field that Breathitt fans can be proud of.  “To make that happen is what we’re working on right now,” he stated.

He said practice was off to a good start.  If all continues as it has begun, the Cats will be ready for action when the season officially opens.

The Jackson Times, July 31, 1986, page B6

Football Camp

Bobcat football camp scene

THE BOBCATS’ football season is only three weeks away. The first official Honey Festival event will be the Cats game on August 29 with Morgan County. The Cats will be ready for that game, though. They’re in camp this week, working on drills, exercises, and game fundamentals. Their camp is a little different this year.

Instead of traveling to an overnight camp for a week, they’re staying home. On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, they worked out from 8:00 to 8:00 on their field. They’ll put in a full day next week also. The accompanying pictures show some of the action on their first full day of camp.

The Jackson Times, August 7, 1986, page 22

New Speakers

Since they were installed, the speakers at the Breathitt High School Football Stadium had been the source of a great many jokes. The speakers, attached to the four wooden telephone poles that held up the lights, were simply not powerful enough. Many likened the mumbles they heard with each announcement to the teacher’s voice in the popular Charlie Brown cartoons. The speakers grew even less effective when competing with crowd noise.

The Breathitt Board of Education announced in early August that it had done some painting at the Stadium and completed some work on the field. The most surprising announcement was that the Board had ordered a new sound system for the stadium. The new system had the “Power” that the old system lacked, and football fans gave a collective “it’s about time” to the Board’s announcement.

The equipment was delivered in mid-August. With one week left before the start of the season on August 29, the Board announced that the installation of the new system was complete and would be ready for use at the Honey Bowl.

The 1986 Season

Introducing: 1986 Bobcat Football

The Breathitt Bobcats open their 1986 football season Friday night when they host powerful Morgan County, a traditional rival.

According to coach Holcomb, Breathitt High is going to field a team that fans will be proud of.  The Cats have been working hard for several weeks now, and Holcomb thinks they are ready for the season opener.

He’ll open with ten seniors and 13 juniors.  The rest of the 33-member varsity club is made up of sophomores and freshmen.

A couple of sophomores will be quarterbacking the team.  Mike Miller is expected to give most of the leadership in that role, with back-up support coming from Jimmy Dalton.

Holcomb said he was excited about the Honey Bowl game Friday night because he’s anxious to see the strengths and weaknesses of his team against a comparable team in-game action.  “We’ll be studying the action closely,” he said earlier this week, “to see what adjustments we’ll need to make early in the season.”

During that same conversation, Coach Holcomb talked about his offensive and defensive teams and explained who will be playing in various positions Friday night.

On the offensive line, look for Dennis Cornett at the end.  At right tackle will be Dean Turner and Tim Craft.  Keith Swartzentruber will be at right guard, while Porter Henson will take care of the center position.  Darrell Parks and Jason Hubbard will be stationed at left guard, and Rich McCune will be at right tackle.  At the split end, watch for Chuck Allen and Bobby Busch.

With three years’ experience, Mike Bailey will be at fullback.  So will Roger Montgomery, who’s been showing signs of excelling in that position.

Halfbacks are Joe Henson and Buddy Baker.  Both have three years’ starting experience. “We feel they are two good running backs,” said Holcomb.  “They are both quick and strong.”

Also in the backfield will be Scott Haddix, who, according to his coach, has excellent speed.  Also, back there will be Todd Mitchell, James Baker, and Dennis Cornett.

Coach said he would be looking to Jeff Johnson, who is capable of filling in for any of the above players in any position in the line.

Others who might be seeing offensive line action are Albert Fugate, Jeff Howard, Mike Wolfe, Kyle McKnight, James Gabbard, John Scott Fugate, and James Banks.

Holcomb stated that he felt his line was doing a good job already.  However, he said he expects each player to improve weekly with practice and game experience.

In the backfield, look for quarterback Mike Miller, a sophomore.  “He’s learning each time out,” stated Holcomb.  “He’s playing like we thought he would.  He’s doing a good job, and we expect him to improve with each game.”

He’ll be backed up by Jimmy Dalton, also a sophomore.  Holcomb said he had confidence that Jimmy could come in any time and take over if needed.

Playing defensive end will be Roger Montgomery, Mike Wolfe, John Scott Fugate, and Jason Hubbard.  Holcomb said his team was lacking in experience in this position.  Only Jason has playing experience there.

On the defensive line, Dean Turner will be a three-year starter.  Rich McCune is starting his second year there.  Others to see defensive line action are Jeff Johnson, Tim Craft, Kyle McKnight, and Jeff Howard.

Starting his third year as a linebacker, Dennis Cornett is expected to make a good contribution there.  “He is an outstanding football player and an exceptional linebacker,” stated Holcomb.

Another good, strong linebacker will be Mike Bailey.  Too, Chuck Allen could help there, also.

In the secondary, watch for Todd Mitchell in roving positions.  “He’s a hard hitter and does a good job there,” observed Holcomb.

Also, there will be Joe Henson, Buddy Baker, and Bobby Busch.

Added help in the secondary will come from James Baker.  Jimmy Dalton.  Scott Haddix, Chuck Allen, and Gonnie Henson.

The kicking chores will be performed by Brendon Miller.  He’ll take care of the punting, extra points, field goals, and kickoffs.

Roughly seven of the offensive players will be playing with some game experience.  The offense needs some work, Holcomb added.  More specifically, he stressed that it needed “fine-tuning and consistency.”

Four or five of the defensive players have had playing experience.  Even so, Holcomb stressed that his team was strong defensively.  “We are hoping it will carry us early in the season until our offense gets more experience.”

Though the managers will not be involved in any games, Holcomb said he wanted to express appreciation for their contributions to the team.  “We could not have gotten by without them,” he said.

Larry Turner and Henry Turner received words of commendation for jobs well done.

This season, Coach Collins has been working with the secondary and offensive line.

Holcomb said progress had been noticed there.  “Coach Collins has worked hard getting us ready for our first game,” he said.

He stressed that Tim Noble has been a good addition to the coaching staff.  He works primarily with the offensive and defensive lines.  Said Holcomb, “He’s a plus for our football program.”

Johnny Gabbard has rejoined the football staff after a year’s absence.  His primary responsibility is with the freshmen team.

Looking to the game Friday night, coach Holcomb said he understood that Morgan County was a greatly improved team.  He emphasized that coach Herdman has done a good job getting his team ready for the Honey Bowl action.  “The games between Morgan and Breathitt have already been tough,” Holcomb observed.  “I expect the same thing Friday night.”

The action will start at 8:00 at Breathitt High Field.  The invitation from the coaches and players is to get involved in the football program early in the season.

“Come out Friday and support the Bobcats in their first game,” said Grace Warrix, Honey Festival chairman.  “After the game, come downtown for some fine open-air Honey Festival entertainment.”

The Jackson Times, August 28, 1986, page B7

Morgan County – August 29, 1986 – Win 16 – 7

Bobcats 16, Cougars 7

How sweet it is!

So far, so good. The Breathitt Bobcats got their football season off to a winning start Friday night when they defeated Morgan County 16-7 in the Honey Bowl, “I thought we played a good ball game,” observed coach Mike Holcomb earlier this week as he reviewed the game.  “I thought the kids reacted well to adversity,” he continued.

He said he was pleased with the good leadership that was evident throughout the game.

After a swap-out first quarter, Morgan County got on the board first in the second round with a 7-0 advantage.

Sophomore quarterback Mike Miller then hit Dennis Cornett for a 42-yard touchdown pass. Brendon Miller got the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.

That seemed to pick up the Bobcats.  When they got the ball back, Buddy Baker got loose for a 20-yard gainer; Chuck Allen picked up 15 more that set the stage for an attempted 19-yard field goal by Brendon Miller.

He made good that attempt and put the Cats up by three at the end of the first half.  In the 3rd quarter, Joe Henson broke for two good runs to start the second half.  Then, quarterback Miller connected with Bobby Busch for the 28-yard touchdown pass that gave the Cats a 16-7 edge that ended the scoring.

Holcomb said he felt the leadership from some of the Bobcats and the Cats’ ability to react successfully to adversity were some strong pluses of the game. The offensive line he stressed did a good job of blocking.

To become more competitive in the future, he stressed that his team must cut down on turnovers.

On the plus side, again, he had words of praise for his young quarterback, Mike Miller, a sophomore who quarterbacked his first varsity game.

“Basically, I was well pleased with our performance,” he added.

Since the Friday night game was the Honey Bowl game, five players received special recognition for their performance. The Best Offensive Lineman Award went to Dean Turner, Best Offensive Back to Joe Henson; Rich McCune got the Best Defensive Lineman Award, and Todd Mitchell the Best Defensive Back.

Dennis Cornett was selected as the Most Valuable Player.

In the passing category, Miller completed five of nine attempts for 101 yards. On the receiving end, Dennis Cornett caught three for 52 yards, of which one was a touchdown. Chuck Allen hung onto one for 21 yards, and Bobby Busch received one for a 28-yard touchdown.

Rushing, Joe Henson carried the ball 12 times for 58 yards; Buddy Baker gained 87 yards on 13 carries, and Mike Bailey picked up nine on four carries.

Buddy Baker led in tackles with five solos and one assist; Jason Hubbard had three solos and two assists; Dennis Cornett had two tackles and three assists. Todd Mitchell had five assists.

One fumble recovery each was made by James Banks and Buddy Baker.

In reference to Baker, Holcomb stated that he felt Baker played a good all-around football game, both offensively and defensively.

He stressed that Jason Hubbard did a good job at the defensive end.

Friday night, the Cats will be playing Johnson Central away. Last week, Johnson Central beat Clay County 22-14.

“We have our work cut out for us Friday night,” Holcomb said. “Johnson County always has a tough ball club. Coach Wells does a good job with their defense.

Too, we can expect them to have a powerful offense.” he concluded.

The Jackson Times, September 4, 1986, page 7

Johnson Central – September 5, 1986 – Win 25 – 0

Bobcats pluck the Golden Eagles in their home nest 25 – Zip

The Bobcats struck for 7 points in the first quarter en route to a 25-0 victory over Johnson Central last Friday night.

The Cats dominated the game from start to finish and never appeared to be in serious trouble at any point.

Coach Holcomb said he felt the win could be attributed to the intensity with which the Bobcats played. ‘‘They really wanted the game,” he stated. He added that he felt the win was due to a total team effort.

That team effort paid off. After Mike Miller scored the first touchdown from 4 yards out, Buddy Baker scored a couple, and Joe Henson added one.

Holcomb said he was pleased with the contribution of the offensive linemen to the game. They did a good job opening up the line for our backs,” he added. On duty at the offensive line were Porter Henson, Dennis Cornett, Dean Turner, Keith Swartzentruber, Jason Hubbard, Rich McCune, Chuck Allen, Jeff Johnson, and Tim Craft.

Scoring a TD in each of the first two quarters, the Bobcats posted a 13-0 half-time advantage. They made it 19-0 with 4:24 remaining in the 3rd frame.

Johnson Central then took over on their own 10-yard line and failed to make a first down.

Following a poor kick, they gave Breathitt the ball on Central’s 43. Six plays later, the Cats took the ball across the goal line for their 4th time, scoring their total of 25 points.

Following that, the Eagles put together one of their best drives of the night and moved the ball to Breathitt’s 25, but they could get no closer.

Dennis Cornett led in tackles during the game. He had nine solos and three assists. Todd Mitchell was 4 and 3; Buddy Baker had 3 and 2; Rich McCune had 4 and 1; and Jason Hubbard made three solos.

Mike Bailey made one interception, which he returned for 25 yards.

The Cats picked up 227 yards rushing and 37 passing. On 11 carries, Roger Montgomery gained 70 yards; Buddy Baker, who scored two TDs, rushed for 80; Joe Henson, one TD, ran 12 times for 50 yards; scoring a touchdown, Mike Miller picked up 8 yards on three carries; Mike Bailey gained eight on 2, and Scott Haddix picked up 11 yards on four carries.

Miller completed 3 of 7 passes, with Dennis Cornett catching all three for 37 yards.

Holcomb said there was no doubt that the win was the result of good teamwork. However, he did have words of praise for two players especially. One was Roger Montgomery, whom his coach said played an excellent game.

He added that Scott Haddix did a good job kicking the ball.

Very happy that the Cats shut out the Eagles, Holcomb stressed that his team needs to keep on getting better. “We can’t be satisfied with our present accomplishments,” he added. “We must keep building on what we have.”

This week, the Cats are “building up” for Rowan County. It will be a home game. Rowan County will be coming over with a 2-0 record. Rowan County has a new coach, and Holcomb said he expects the team to play its traditional hard-nosed game. “Their defense will be especially tough,” he emphasized.

He expects the club to have a good quarterback in Shannon Day. Too, look for running back Mike Alderman to be a plus for their team.

The Jackson Times, September 11, 1986, page 5

Rowan County – September 12, 1986 – Win 15 – 8

Baker running – Miller kicking helps extend Bobcats’ winning ways

Coach Holcomb hardly had time to enjoy his team’s third straight victory this young football season before he started thinking about this week’s game.

“Friday night’s game with Leslie County will be our most important game so far this season,” he said. The factor that makes the game so important is that it will be a district game, the first of three.

Coach Hines has done a good job preparing for us,” stressed Holcomb. He stated that Leslie County is always up for Breathitt. Leslie reportedly is especially strong defensively this season.

Too, the club is expected to bring three strong running backs. Look for Hundley, Lewis, and Feltner to make contributions to the Eagles.

In Friday night’s action, the Bobcats did it again. They sent Rowan County home with their first defeat of the season, 15-8. 

The week before, Rowan downed Bath County 14-10.

The Bobcats came on strong and completely dominated the first half of action that ended 9-0. Cats’ add.  Additionally, the Vikings rushed for only 24 yards in the first two quarters, and had only one first down.

 Overall, the Bobcats rushed for 252 yards and picked up 59 yards in the air on four of 10 completed passes by quarterback Mike Miller. The Cats had 19 first downs compared to 7 by the Vikings.

The Vikings collected a total of 114 yards, of which 51 came in the air. The Cats won the game on three field goals of 20, 22, and 25 yards by Brendon Miller and a touchdown by Joe Henson.

Holcomb said he was well pleased with his team’s offensive effort. “We feel lucky.” he said, “to have a kicker that kept us in the game with three field goals.   It was an important part of our game.”

Beginning the second half with a 9-0 lead, the Cats played confidently. On their first possession, they moved the ball 54 yards – within field goal range, but the effort failed.

On the Cats’ next possession, the Vikings intercepted a pass, which proved to be the first turning point in the game.  Taking over on Breathitt’s 24-yard line with 1:23 left in the 3rd quarter, the determined Vikings appeared unstoppable. Surely and steadily, they advanced toward the goal line. Some penalties against the Bobcats helped them along.

With 8:46 left in the game, they scored their one and only TD.  The pass being complete, the Vikings improved their score to 8.

Taking over on their 25, the Bobcats were likewise unstoppable.  A good 20-yard run by Miller and shorter ones by Henson and Baker soon had the ball on the Vikings 4. From there, Joe took it in for his team’s only TD and final score of 15-8.

However, that was not the only good play Joe was to make. Rowan had the ball on Breathitt’s 30, and it was 3rd down and 1 to go. That’s when he made a fantastic interception and returned the ball 32 yards. With less than a minute to go and with a 7-point lead, the Cats mostly just let the clock run out.

Bobby Busch made a key play during the Vikings’ last drive. The Vikings quarterback completed a long pass, and had it not been for Busch, who brought down the receiver, he most likely would have scored because he had clear sailing, except for Bobby.

Holcomb praised his defensive team, saying, “Everybody contributed.”

He stressed that he thought Mike Bailey played well as a linebacker.

“Our workhorses, Joe and Buddy,” he added, “got the job done for us again.” Joe picked up 59 yards on 16 carries.  Buddy collected 87 on 22. Roger Montgomery rushed nine times and got 57 yards. Mike Bailey had 17 yards on three carries.

Rich McCune was the leader in solo tackles with 5 and 2 assists; Dennis Cornett was 4 and 3; Mike Bailey was 4 and 2; Dean Turner was 3 and 2; Roger Montgomery was 4 and 1.

James Banks made an important fumble recovery.

Looking for Friday night, Holcomb said he was expecting a tough game. “We need all the fan support we can get.” He stressed. “We’re hoping our fans will come out and get behind the boys and help them win this important district game.”

It’s a home game. The action starts at 8:00.

The Jackson Times, September 18, 1986, page 11

Leslie County – September 19, 1986 – Loss 8 – 29

Leslie Eagles hand Bobcats first loss

The Bobcats suffered their first setback of the season Friday night when Leslie County dealt them a 29-8 loss.

The first quarter was scoreless. Early in the 2nd round, Leslie County scored a TD.  The conversion was good, but the Eagles were in control 7-0. That score stood for the rest of the first half, and it was not a discouraging factor for the Bobcats.

Coach Holcomb said his team came back from intermission feeling good about their prospects. “We were up for the 2^nd half; we felt we could play well enough to win the game,” he added.

What the team didn’t realize was that the turning point was about to take place.  A 95-yard kickoff return by Steve Hoskins to start the second half provided the impetus as Leslie County (3-1) chalked up a district victory.

“That kickoff return broke our back,” observed Coach Holcomb.

“It took our sails out,” he continued.  With 2:34 to go in the 3rd quarter, the Eagles scored again for a 22-0 advantage.

On their next possession, the Bobcats put together their best play of the game.  Henson received and returned the ball to Breathitt’s 35. On the team’s first down, quarterback Mike Miller connected with Chuck Allen for a 50-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was good, and the Bobcats reduced the difference to 22-8.

However, it was widened again to the final score, 29-8, with only 28 seconds left in the game. That’s when the Eagles made another interception and flew in for their final TD.

In reference to the Miller-Allen touchdown, Holcomb said he thought it was a beautiful pass and catch. “It was an example of what good teamwork can accomplish,” he stated.

Holcomb said he felt the major reason for the Eagles’ win was their big plays, such as the kickoff return, long completed passes, and interceptions.

Too, Leslie had a big team. The Eagles’ running backs were big and strong. “It’s hard to stop a 200-pound man with momentum,” stressed a Bobcat fan after the game.

Coach Hines had a few trick plays up his sleeve this year, and they worked well for him.

Holcomb stated that the loss was a very disappointing one for him and his boys.

“We have to bounce back now and play good football,” he admonished. “We can go on and have a good season because we don’t know what will happen in the district. If it does end in a tie, it will be important that we win as many games as possible. I feel like we have the type of team with the kind of character that will come back and play good football for the rest of the year,” he added.

Mike Bailey led the Cats in tackles with eight solos and five assists; Cornett was 7 and 5; Montgomery was 3 and 4; Dean Turner was 3 and 4; Henson was 4 and 1; McCune was 3 and 4; and Mitchell 3 and 3.

Bobby Busch made a key interception and returned the ball for 15 yards. He also made an important tackle midway through the 3rd quarter. The tackle probably prevented another touchdown.

Buddy Baker rushed the ball 15 times for 74 yards. Henson picked up 56 yards on nine carries, and Montgomery ran seven times for 16 yards.

Overall, the team rushed for 156 yards on 38 carries.

In the passing department, Miller completed 4 of 11 passes for 80 yards. With Chuck Allen on the receiving end, one was a 50-yard TD pass.

For the Leslie County Eagles, Keith Couch rushed nine times for 68 yards. Greg Hunley picked up 53 yards on 14 carries; Chris Lewis got 68 on 14; Greg Feltner ran two times for 7 yards. That’s a total of 1% yards rushing.

The Bobcats had three turnovers—all interceptions.

Leslie had one turnover-also an interception.

Each team was penalized twice for 20 yards each.

According to information supplied by Don Coleman, team averages through the first three games are as follows: Henson ran the ball 40 times for 167 yards. That’s 4.1 yards per carry.

Baker rushed 53 times for 254 yards, which averages 4.8 yards per carry. Bailey picked up 34 yards on nine carries for 3.8 yards per run.

Montgomery went 23 times and got 136 yards. That averages 5.9 yards per carry.

Offensively, Baker’s average is 84.6 yards per game; Henson’s is 55.6. Defensively, Cornett leads in tackles with an average of 6 solos and three assists per game.

Friday night, the Cats will take on the Hazard Bulldogs at Hazard at 8:00 p.m.  Last week, Hazard lost their bowl game to M.C. Napier 12-6. Coach Holcomb said he expects the Bulldogs, under the new leadership of coach Jones, to be up for Breathitt. Both teams will be trying to bounce back. Holcomb and the Bobcats urge all their fans to support them Friday night as they try to improve their record to 4-1.

The Jackson Times, September 25, 1986, page 6

Hazard – September 29, 1986 – Win 9 – 0

PURR-FECT! Dawgs howl as Cats prowl 9-0

Anxious for a comeback following their first loss of the season, the Bobcats drove hard against the Hazard Bulldogs Friday night en route to a 9-0 shutout.

The Cats’ desire for a win was evident from the first play of the game. Receiving the kickoff. Baker returned the ball to Breathitt’s 34-yard line. During the Cats’ next 13 consecutive plays, they moved the ball to Hazard’s 19, where they turned it over to Hazard when they failed to make the necessary four yards for another first down.

“We’re very happy to be back to the win column again,” stressed Coach Mike Holcomb following the game. “We’re especially happy,” he continued, “to be back playing the kind of ball we played early in the season.”

The Bobcats and Bulldogs both were anxious for a win following previous Friday night losses. However, the Cats seemed to want a win worse. They worked hard for it; they never gave up, even when their backs were against the wall.

One such instance was early in the second half. Just as Breathitt made a good drive on their first possession in the first quarter, the Bulldogs did the same at the beginning of the third frame.

Taking over on their own 23, they maintained control of the ball for seven minutes plus and moved it all the way to Breathitt’s 4-yard line.

Thanks to the Cats’ strong and determined defense, the Dogs were never able to get across the goal line. In fact, on Hazard’s 4th down and 3 to go, the defense forced a fumble, which the Cats recovered on their own 23.

Praising his team’s effort, Holcomb said he felt their goal-line stance was a good boost for his team. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Hazard. After that, they never moved the ball inside Breathitt’s 46-yard line.

Offensively, Henson was the Cats’ workhorse.  He carried the ball 28 times for 145 yards. Baker ran 11 times for 56 yards; Montgomery picked up 32 on five carries, and Bailey rushed one time for seven years.

Miller completed two of 9 passes for 32 yards. On the receiving end both times, Cornett caught one for 8 yards and one for 24.

The total offense for Breathitt was 260 yards. For Hazard, it was 124. Brian Adams rushed 18 times and picked up 58 yards for the Dogs. Joe Caldwell went three times for 33, Jerry Combs 6 for 20, and Jerry Gilley was 2 for 19.

Quarterback Caldwell completed 3 of 7 passes for 32 yards.

In reference to Henson’s performance, Coach Holcomb said, “He ran like the old Joe. He ran hard all night. He played a good all-around game, and I was pleased with his performance.’*

He stressed that he also thought Mike Miller played a good game. Holcomb said he was working hard, and he was pleased with Mike’s good job Friday night.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Bobcats took over early in the 2nd period on their own 14. Playing with obvious spirit and determination, they started moving the ball down the field. Henson picked up five yards on his first run and 20 on his next effort, moving the ball to Breathitt’s 39.

Baker rushed the following play, gaining 17 yards for another first down, moving the ball to Hazard’s 44. Following a three-yard gainer by Henson, Miller completed a pass to Cornett for another first down. On the ensuing play, he connected with Cornett again for a 24-yard TD pass, and Breathitt was up 6-0 with 8:48 left in the first half. With 7:49 remaining in the game

Brendon Miller kicked a field goal, giving the Cats their final 3 points, to take the final score to 9-0.

Friday night, the Cats will be hosting Clay County, the defending district champions.

Clay County has developed into a major rival for the Bobcats. “It will be a very important game for us,” stated Holcomb. “In order for us to keep our hopes alive in the district contest, we need to play well.”

He stressed this week that his coaching staff will be back to basics and fundamentals as the team prepares for this important contest.

Some season Bobcat Stats for five previous games.

The following are in the order by name, total carries, total yards, average yards per carry, average yards per game:

NOTICE
The Breathitt High football game next week with powerful Paintsville, scheduled for Friday, October 10th, has been rescheduled and will be played on Thursday, October 9th.

The Jackson Times, October 2, 1986, page A16

Clay County – October 3, 1986 – Win 12 – 6

Cats Meow! Bobcats down Tigers 12-6 in a cat fight

Trailing 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, that was somewhat lackluster for the Bobcats; they got their act together beginning the 2nd period and handed visiting Clay County a stunning 12-6 defeat Friday night.

Improving their record to 5-1, the Cats sent Clay County home with a 4-3 overall record.

It was an especially sweet win for the Breathitt club, considering Clay County had chalked up wins the previous two times the teams had met.

It was sweet, too, because the win was a district victory, making the Cats 1 and 1 in their district. The Tigers are now also 1 and 1.

Looking at the game in review, coach Holcomb pointed out that his players showed ‘‘a lot of pride and determination by pulling the win out. It was a tension-filled game,” he added, “and a hard-fought one from beginning to end.”

Beaming with pride, Holcomb said he was proud of his boys for hanging in there and playing the way they did. Even though they were down by six at the end of the first quarter, they never gave up.

Continuing to play with a lot of heart, they came back and had the score tied up at 6-6 by halftime.

On their very first possession, the Tigers took over on their 43-yard line, and picked up five first downs as they moved the ball toward the goal line. From one yard out, Jones scored a TD, giving the Tigers their 6-0 add.

Clay had several big running backs that could move the ball. On their TD drive, they relied mostly on Paul Herd, Mark Roberts, and Louie Jones.

The Bobcats contributed 10 yards to the Tigers’ drive through offsides penalties.

The Cats put up a desperate effort to defend their territory within the 10-yard line, but by that time, the Tigers had such momentum there was no stopping them.

There was no stopping the Cats either early in the 2nd round when they began their touchdown drive. Sparked with a 27-yard run by Baker, who moved the ball into the Tigers’ territory, and a 15-yard penalty against Clay County for roughing the kicker that gave the Cats another first down, they were on their way to tying the score.

Buddy Baker gave his team a good boost when he picked up another first down as he popped up the middle on 3rd down and 9 to go. That put the ball on the 6-yard line, and from there, Joe Henson took it in to tie the game at 6-6. The kick failed, and the score remained tied.

Clay controlled the ball for the remaining 6 minutes in the half except for two plays by Breathitt. On their 2nd play, the Cats fumbled, and Clay recovered. During those 6 minutes, quarterback Marcum completed 3 of 8 passes in desperate efforts to score. Except for a tackle by Bobby Busch, receiver Paul Herd likely would have scored. But Busch was right there doing his thing as usual.

Marcum completed the last of his series of 8 passes, but by that time, the clock had run out, and the halftime score remained 6-6.

Although there was no scoring in the 3rd quarter, it was not without its exciting moments. For one thing, Baker made a thrilling interception; Busch made another solo tackle, forcing Clay to take over on their 35; the Cats sacked the quarterback twice for a total loss of 12 yards, and Miller completed what coach Holcomb called an “ad-lib” pass. “He did not mishandle the ball,” stated Holcomb. ‘‘He does some good things, and that was one of them.”

Early in the 4th round, the Cats initiated another TD drive.  It got started with a 28-yard run by Cornett when he successfully received Miller’s pass.  Then, a great 35-yard run by Baker put the ball on Gay’s 5-yard line. Later, Henson scored on a 2-yard run thanks to some excellent blocking by Dean Turner and Cornett, and the Cats posted their final 12-6 score with 8:30 left in the game.

That was plenty enough time for the Tigers to score, but they were unable to even though they had the ball on Breathitt’s 5-yard line. Breathitt’s defense held strong. ‘‘We got tough down there,” stressed Holcomb, “otherwise it could have been a different story. We just kept getting tighter and tighter on defense. Too, our secondary covered really well, and we made a stop right there.”

Even though Holcomb said the win was the result of a good team effort, he said some players played outstandingly. One, for example, was Dennis Cornett. “He played like the Dennis we know,” smiled Holcomb. He said Cornett came up with good plays; he blocked well and ran well.

He had a good all-around performance.  He added that Bobby Busch made a couple of saving tackles as he has done all year. “He has come through for us time after time all year,” said Holcomb.

The coach had words of praise for his offensive linemen, too. Included there were Porter Henson, Keith Swartzentruber, Dean Turner, Darrell Parks, Jason Hubbard, Rich McCune, Chuck Allen, and Dennis Cornett.

Filling in for James Parks, who is injured, were Jeff Johnson, Kyle McKnight, and Tim Craft. They all did a good job, according to their coach.

He was complimentary of Hubbard for some fine blocking and a good run by Mike Bailey, who picked up a first down in a critical situation.

Cornett was the team leader in tackle, with eight solos and eight assists. Hubbard was 5 and 6; Busch 5 and 3; Baker 5 and 3; Mitchell 5 and 2; Montgomery 3 and 4; Bailey 4 and 2; Turner 1 and 6; and Henson 2 and 2.

The Bobcats gained 195 yards rushing on 36 carries. Broken down, that was 93 yards for Baker on ten carries; Henson ran 21 times for 82 yards. Miller went 2 for 8, Bailey 1 for 6, and Montgomery 2 for 6.

Miller completed 3 of 5 passes for 57 yards. Cornett was on the receiving end twice for 45 yards and Baker once for 12.

Clay’s quarterback completed 7 of 19 passes for 98 yards.

Today (Thursday), the Bobcats will be playing Paintsville in an away game. It’s the first time the teams have met for varsity action.

Holcomb said he was expecting an exciting game. Paintsville has lots of football traditions and an excellent football program, he thinks. Under the leadership of Walter Brugh, who has been coaching there for 35 years.

Paintsville has a 4-1 record.

Look for an all-state linebacker, Joey Couch, to be a plus for them.

Holcomb and the players invite all their fans to go support them tonight. “It’ll be a big challenge for us to play them,” said Holcomb, “and we need all the help we can get.’’

The Jackson Times, October 9, 1986, page B7

Paintsville – October 9, 1986 – Win 14 – 6

Bobcats continue Tiger hunt with 14-6 win

Adding another victory to their series of exciting wins this season, the Bobcats defeated Paintsville 14-6 last week and improved their record to 6-1.

Paintsville 4-2 was ranked 3rd in the state in Class A.

Though Tiger fans called the game “an upset,” coach Holcomb said he attributed the win to his Cats’ total team effort.

“Everybody played his role,” he stressed. He added that he felt the Bobcats played with enthusiasm, heart, and concentration, which they maintained throughout the game.

“1 attribute the win to our kids having themselves completely prepared mentally and being in good physical condition,” stated Holcomb.

The physical condition of the Bobcats seemingly surprised Paintsville radio announcers. Since Breathitt had players that went both ways, they expected them to give out the 2nd half. When that didn’t happen, they said the Tigers likely were looking ahead to their game with Pikeville the following week.

What a performance the Breathitt Club gave! That performance was evident from the onset of the game. On the opening kickoff, Henson had an excellent return. Surprising the Tigers, Miller threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Chuck Allen on the first play of the game.

Brendon Miller’s kick was good, and the Cats posted a 7-point lead before 30 seconds of the game had ticked off.

Going into the 3rd period, the Bobcats still maintained their 7-0 add. With 7:36 left in that frame, Paintsville’s only score came on a 15-yard run by Bill Allen. The attempted 2-point conversion failed, leaving Breathitt with a 7-6 advantage.

Taking over on their own 39, the Bobcats did not slow down until they had the ball on the Tigers’ six-yard line.

From there, Joe Henson took it in for a TD after Dean Turner and Keith Swartzentruber did a super job opening up a hole for him. Brendon made good his kick, giving his team its final 14 points.

Holcomb said he felt Henson’s good return and the big pass play in the first 30 seconds of action gave his team confidence. The intensity level, he said, remained high from beginning to end.

The defense came through with the big plays when it needed to. Holcomb said he was well pleased with the efforts of his defensive line and defensive ends.

‘‘They all played well,” he stressed.

“They shut down everything that was thrown at them.”

A case in point being toward the end of the first period. The Tigers returned the punt to their 36. Picking up three consecutive first downs on a strong drive they moved the ball to Breathitt’s 3-yard line only to fumble it in the end zone, where Jason Hubbard recovered it. Todd Mitchell made an interception that stopped Paintsville on Breathitt’s 20-yard line.

With less than two minutes left in the game, Bobby Busch and Joe Henson each picked off Tiger passes.

Holcomb said he was well pleased with the performance of Cornett and Bailey. “They played really well,” he stressed.

“So did Mitchell, Baker, Henson, and Busch,” he added.  In reference to Busch, he said, “He was always there again.”

Holcomb stated that his defensive ends, Hubbard and Montgomery, performed well.  Turner, McCune, and Johnson did a good job on the defensive line, he added.  Chuck Allen performed well, and so did Porter Henson.

Friday night, the Cats play M.C. Napier at home.

The Jackson Times, October 16, 1986, page 8

M. C. Napier – October 17, 1986 – Win 42 – 18

Bobcats pounce on and bounce Navajos

The Bobcats gave their school and their fans a top-notch homecoming on Friday night when they defeated M.C. Napier 42-18. Improving their record to 7-1, the Cats scored the most points they’ve scored in a game this season.

The game was more than a 24-point difference. It was an explosive offense, with long successful drives, strong defense, and excellent teamwork.

The game opened with the Navajos receiving the ball, but the Breathitt defense refused to give them a first down. 

Taking over on their 35, the Cats steadily moved the ball toward the goal line on runs by Baker and Henson. With 6:47 left in the first quarter, Baker scored on a 1-yard run. Brendon Miller’s kick was good, and the jubilant Cats were in control 7-0, a lead they never gave up.

However, on the next play, the Indians came within one point of tying the game. They began their drive from their own 20 and picked up 25 yards on their first play.  Along the way, quarterback Jeff Gillum completed passes to George Engle and Greg Cawood. With the aid of some penalties against Breathitt, the Navajos soon had the ball on Breathitt’s 6. A TD pass to Dixon reduced the difference to 7-6 with 3:07 left in the first round.

Probably the most beautiful play of the evening happened a few minutes later when Miller connected with Chuck Allen for a 27-yard TD pass. With Miller’s successful kick, the Cats were back up 14-6 early in the 2nd round.

The Navajos picked up a first down on their ensuing possession on a pass to Engle. However, the defense pressured them, so on their next four plays, they had 21 yards to go on their 4th down.

When the Bobcats took possession again, Joe rushed for 12 yards just before Montgomery completed a fantastic 36-yard drive that set the stage for Baker’s 1-yard touchdown drive with 4:21 left in the first half. Since the first-half scoring did not change again, the Cats took a 21-6 lead into intermission.

The Cats turned three of their four possessions in the first half, into touchdowns. During that first half, Henson rushed ten times for 61 yards; Baker went 13 times for 102 yards; Montgomery was 2 for 15, and Mike Miller 1 for 3. In the air, Miller was 1 for 1 for 27 yards.

Gillum completed 6 of 11 passes for 65 yards.

Starting the 2nd half, the inspired Bobcats came back on the field, started a drive from their 35, and didn’t stop until Joe scored at 5:45, giving his team a 27-6 margin.

There seemed to be no stopping the Bobcats. On their next possession, they took it all the way to Napier’s 1-yard line.  Joe took it on it, and Miller’s 2-point conversion gave the Breathitt Club a 35-6 lead.

Believe it or not, the Cats scored again on their next possession. The honor of taking it in was reserved for Dennis Cornett. Miller’s kick was good, and the Cats registered their final 42 points.  Just before that, the Indians completed a pass for 8 yards, and a brave picked up 50 yards on a long run. A TD soon followed.

The Breathitt boys scored on 6 of the first seven possessions during the night.  Baker was the leading rusher with 204 yards on 28 carries. Henson gained 107 on 17.

Montgomery went four times for 37 yards, and Cornett went 4 for 45. Bailey was 1 for 5.

The total offense for the Bobcats was 432 yards.

Napier quarterback Gillum picked up 175 yards on 15 of 23 passes.

Friday, the Bobcats will be playing Knott Central away in a district game.

Following the Homecoming game victory, Coach Mike Holcomb had the following comments: “I thought it was a good win for us. It was Homecoming, we had a big crowd, and after coming off the Paintsville win, I was concerned we would flat, but the boys were fired up, and they played really good as, again, it was a total team effort.  Bubby, Joe, and Roger ran the ball well behind the good blocking of the offensive line.

Our defense played well as a team. Jason Hubbard, Roger Montgomery, Dean, Rich, and Johnson applied good pressure on the QB as Todd, Bobby, Joe, and Buddy defended the pass in the secondary. Bailey and Cornett kept things together from their LB’s positions.

The big key to our success has been the boy’s overall “state of mind,” they have been mentally sharp and worked extremely well together, and that’s been the key. We want to keep it that way.

This week, Knott Co. Central is a district game. Coach Ronnie Holcomb does a good job up there getting them ready for BHS. We will have to play very well to defeat them as it is a rivalry. We would like to invite everyone to follow us and help pull us through. Game time is at 8:00.

The Jackson Times, October 23, 1986, page 18

Knott County – October 24, 1986 – Win 42 – 8

Bobcats have learned, winning is never easy, and:

It’s lots of fun when you’re 8 – 1

Coach Holcomb said he felt his Bobcats came out ready to play Friday night. And play they did. They buried Knott Central 42-8 in a district game on the Patriots field and improved their record to 8-1.

The Cats’ explosive offense has scored 42 points in each of these last two games.  Stressing that the win was a total team effort, Holcomb said he was pleased with the effort his Cats gave. “For one thing, we were mentally prepared and up for the game,” he stressed.

Since the Cats jumped out to an early comfortable lead, Holcomb put many of his second team members in toward the end of the game, giving them some valuable experience.

Picking up 101 yards on 17 carries, Baker was the leading rusher. On 15 carries Henson got 75 yards. Montgomery rushed for 43 yards on eight runs. He also scored three touchdowns.

Other TDs were scored by Buddy Baker, Mike Miller, and Mike Bailey. Mike Miller picked up two points on a conversion. Brendon Miller added three points kicking.  Freshman Brian Baker kicked his first extra points this season.

Dennis Cornett was the leading tackler, with 9 to his credit. Six were solos and three assists. Mitchell was 4 and 2, plus one interception. Bailey, 2 and 1; Allen, 2 and 2 plus 2 interceptions.

Holcomb said he thought Jeff Johnson played a good game at nose guard and that Roger Montgomery had a super performance on offense and defense. “Too,” he continued, “Chuck Allen looked good on defense.”

The Bobcats will be winding up their regular season Friday night when they take on Estill County in an away game.

At this point, the district outcome is indefinite. Friday night, Clay County and Leslie County play each other at Manchester. If Leslie wins, the district will be finalized.  However, if Clay wins, the district is open again. According to Coach Holcomb, if Clay wins, it is not exactly clear at this time how a district winner would be declared.

Coach Holcomb and the players invite all football fans to their final game on Friday night when they take on the Engineers of Estill County.  Expressing appreciation for fan support through the season, Holcomb said he and the players were hoping for a big turnout for their last regular season game.

The Jackson Times, October 20, 1986, page 26

Estill County – October 31, 1986 – Win 35 – 12

‘Cats end 9-1 season with big win at Estill

Friday night, the Bobcats wound up their ‘86 season with a 35-12 win over Estill County Engineers. And a good win it was. It clinched a 9-1 record for the Cats.

The 35 points scored represented the second-highest scored by the Breathitt Club this season. (In their previous two games, they scored 42 points each time.) The only sad note is that the game was that it ended the high-school career of 10 fine seniors on the team.

Expressing his regrets over losing them, coach Holcomb said their ability and super leadership would be missed next season. “They are good kids and good athletes,” he stressed. “We appreciate what they’ve done for us, and we miss them the best.

Holcomb added that he was well pleased with the good season of the Bobcats. “In fact,” he stressed, “I’m tickled to death with it. We’ve had an excellent season.”

The 9-1 season was the best ever for coach Holcomb during the past four years he’s been head coach. It was also one of the best seasons ever in the history of B.H.S. football. Fans will remember that in ’78, the Bobcats had an 11-0 record. In 1980, the record was 10-1; in ’82 and ’86, it was 9-1.

The Cats lost only to Leslie County, their 4th game of the season. Beating Clay County Friday night, Leslie became the district champs.

Friday night, the Bobcats outraced the Engineers 7-0 in the first quarter. Going full steam, they added two more touchdowns in the first four minutes of the 2nd frame for a 21-0 advantage, leaving 9:13 in the first half.

What could have been a setback turned out not to be so.  On their first drive, the Cats moved the ball 44 yards, taking it all the way to Estill’s 18, where Estill recovered a fumble.

The undaunted Breathitt boys started their second drive from their 27 and didn’t stop until they had it in the end zone. The TD by Baker and successful kick by Brendon Miller put the Cats up by 7.

On their ensuing possession, the Engineers were moving the ball along when Bobby Busch intercepted a pass and started the Cats toward their 2nd TD, which was scored by Dennis Cornett on a pass from quarterback Mike Miller. The kick was good, and the margin widened to 14-0.

About 30 seconds later, it was 21-0. That happened after Cornett recovered a fumble and scored again.

On their ensuing possession, the Engineers missed a good chance to score.

On a first down from Breathitt’s 12, they picked up five, but there the defense held them. The Cats’ defense refused to let them take it on it. It was 4th down and 3 to go, but they didn’t make it.  The defense didn’t budge.

Coming back in the 2nd half, Miller continued throwing some beautiful passes. He connected with Cornett for a first down, followed by a 29-yard pass to Chuck Allen just short of a touchdown.  Joe Henson ran it across two yards out.

Brendon Miller’s kick was good, and Breathitt was up 28-0.

The honor of making the final touchdown of the season was reserved for Bobby Busch when he scored on a 25-yard pass from Miller. Brian Baker kicked the extra point, and their team’s scoring for the ’86 season was over.

After Busch’s TD, Holcomb put in several younger players. In fact, before the game was over, every player present saw some playing time.

During the final quarter, Jeff Cole, a fine 6’3”, 200 lb. running back, scored two TDs for the Engineers. Both attempts at extra points failed.

The Cats- picked up 320 yards total offense. Miller completed 5 of 8 passes for 114 of those yards.

Baker was the leading rusher. On ten carries, he grabbed 79 yards. Henson dashed for 60 on ten rushes. Montgomery picked up 57 on 4.

Todd Mitchell had six solo tackles, and so did Cornett. Dean Turner made four, and Chuck Allen 6.

Holcomb stated again that it had been a good season for his team. He said he was well pleased with the 9-1 record. He further stated that he appreciated the efforts his players had put forth both on and off the field this season.

He also expressed appreciation to the fans for their support.

Holcomb said he was going to give the boys two or three weeks off. Then, it will be back to the workout room or the field in an effort to keep in shape and to continue developing for the ’87 football season.

The Jackson Times, November 6, 1986, page 24

Football Banquet

Banquet closes good football season

Football parents, fans, and friends, in general, turned out by the dozens for Breathitt High’s football banquet last week to tell the football players, cheerleaders, and coaches that they were appreciated.

An upbeat event from start to finish, the banquet was highlighted with words of praise, special awards, expressions of gratitude, good-humored jokes, and, of course, an abundance of good food prepared by Wilma Quicksell and her staff.

A firm believer that football is a team game, coach Holcomb does not give individual awards. However, the team selected recipients for three awards: (1) leadership, (2) 110 percent, (3) MVP.  Joe Henson received the first two awards, and Dennis Cornett was selected as the MVP.

All the players received individual trophies.

The coaches recognized Bill Toler.  BHS principal, for his “outstanding contribution” to the football program this year as well as in years past.

Earnie Turner received a plaque for his faithfulness in filming the football games.

Too, Sue Bailey, was presented with a framed Bobcat print in appreciation of her serving as president of the boosters club for three years.

Master of ceremonies Sam Sanders was in his usual good form as he directed the events of the evening with fabricated stories and interesting football memorabilia.

He surely expressed the sentiments of those present when he stated. “Your 9-1 record is something we’re all proud of.”

That 9-1 record is one of the best in the history of football at Breathitt High and the very best for Holcomb since he’s been head coach.

According to Supt. Alex Browning, lead-off speaker at the banquet, football, as an extra-curricular activity, football is important in helping determine the discipline and morale of a student body.

In his opening remarks, he said in reference to the football team, “We’re not only proud of you. We are grateful to you.”

The team’s outstanding record, he stressed, had contributed positively to the student body’s morale at Breathitt High.

Browning said he was proud of the extracurricular activities available to the students at the high school. In fact, he stated that Breathitt County students have more opportunities for extracurricular activities than any other school in the 14th region.

He expressed appreciation to all the people who had worked so hard on behalf of the football program this year. He said he was especially grateful for the help of the Boosters Club and the 100 Club.

Football games would not be complete without the cheerleaders. They and their parents were an important part of the evening’s festivities. Cheerleading sponsor Karen Griffith complemented the girls for their hard work, dedication, and long hours. “It was a good bunch of kids to travel with,” said Griffith.

Though they were good cheerleaders, Griffith said that was not their whole life. Several of them, she said, were honor students, and almost all of them were involved in other activities. The football cheerleading squad consisted of Rhonda Thompson. Heather Noble, Melanie Pope, Missy Turner, Lisa Rose, Scarlet Litteral, Missy Ison, Sandy Burnett, Leslie Chapman, Stephanie Rose, and Anji Rader.

Terri Anderson is also a cheerleading sponsor.

Recognizing the freshmen football players, coach Gabbard pointed out that he had 21 boys on that team. “By the time they get to be juniors and seniors, you’re going to recognize a lot of these names,” he stated. “There are a lot of good athletes in this class.”

Four of the freshmen dressed varsity each game. They were Brian Baker, Brian Turner, Miles White, and Harrison White.

The five sophomores on the team included Mike Miller, Jimmy Dalton, James Baker, Tim Craft, and Mike Wolfe. Holcomb had words of commendation for each of them.

He also singled out each of the juniors and identified their strengths and/or contributions to the team. Representing the junior class were Bobby Busch, Joe Henson, Buddy Baker, Chuck Allen,

Roger Montgomery, James Gabbard, John Scott Fugate, Rich McCune, Kyle McKnight, Jeff Howard, Jeff Johnson, Gonnie Henson, and Brendon Miller.

In reference to this capable bunch of juniors, Coach Holcomb said the best thing about them is that they’ll all be back next year.

Moving into the senior class, Holcomb praised the seniors for the leadership they have given the Bobcats this year and for the dedication they’ve had for the team. ‘‘If you don’t want to do it (play hard),’’ he said, “it is no better than the guy who can’t do.”

Continuing, he added, “One thing about these young men is that they wanted to do things right.” They kept in condition, he stressed and played with enthusiasm.  One of the seniors was Todd Mitchell.

Holcomb said he did an outstanding job this year. He stressed that Todd was a hard hitter and played well at defensive back.

Darrell Parks was a 4-year player, said his coach. As a senior starter at guard, he worked hard and did a good job.

James Banks was a two-year player who did a fine job. During his career, he was slowed down by injuries.

Porter Henson played center for two years. Holcomb said he was an outstanding blocker and did a good job snapping on punts.

Jason Hubbard started at defensive end. Holcomb added that he was a good blocker and a valuable asset to the team.

Mike Bailey started both ways. He was recognized as a good blocker and a good linebacker.

Keith Swartzentruber played for four years. He was a senior starter and described by Holcomb as an outstanding offensive guard.

Albert Fugate worked very hard, according to Holcomb. He stressed that he had pride and dedication and that he made a good contribution to the team.

Darrell Parks started at guard. Holcomb praised him for working hard and doing a good job.

Dean Turner was described as a 3-year starter who was an outstanding blocker and a defensive lineman.

Dennis Cornett played linebacker and tight end. He was a three-year starter that Holcomb described as a “complete football player. He could play any position we put him at,” Holcomb stated.

Holcomb said he had two super good managers, Larry and Henry Turner, to help him. He said they had always been there doing a good job. He emphasized that they had been hard workers who always did what they were supposed to do.

During his opening remarks, Holcomb stressed how much he appreciated the help from all the people in and out of school that make the football program go.  He emphasized that Breathitt’s program was a big one and that it took many people to put it all together. He identified some individuals, businesses, and clubs that had contributed in one way or another to the program. “For all of this, we’re grateful,” he said.

He added that he and other coaches were also grateful for any help from anyone that might have been inadvertently overlooked.

The Jackson Times, November 27, 1986, page A8

Post Season Honors

Honors to Bobcats in football

Five Breathitt Bobcats made All-state Honorable Mention in The Courier-Journal’s salute to Kentucky football players published in Sunday’s edition.  They were Dennis Cornett, Joe Henson, Buddy Baker, Dean Turner, and Rich McCune.

This is the third year that Cornett has been so honored.  Cornett was a kickoff man for the Bobcats.  A 3-year starter, he had 99 solos as a sophomore and 74 as a junior.  This past season, he made 64 solos, 46 assists, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries (1 for a TD), and five quarterback sacks.  He caught 15 passes for 267 yards, 3 TDs, and rushed for 1 TD.

Joe Henson played halfback, cornerback, and punt kickoff returner.  He has started for three seasons.  He received an all-state honorable mention last year.

This season, he rushed for 675 yards and scored 8 TDs. Coach Holcomb described him as an excellent blocker in the team’s wishbone and a good cornerback on defense.  Joe had two interceptions this season.

Buddy Baker played halfback and cornerback.  A three-year starter, he scored 8 TDs this season.  Baker rushed for 780 yards on 143 carries and made two interceptions.  His coach described him as an “excellent cornerback.”

Dean Turner, a senior, was a 245-pound tackle.  He has been a three-year starter.  Holcomb said he was an “excellent blocker.”

Continuing, he added, “When we needed yardage, we went behind Dean.” Rich McCune, a 245-pound tackle, stands at 6-3.  This is his second year to receive an all-state honorable mention.  Of Rich, Holcomb said, “He was an excellent blocker on offense and tough on defense.”

The Jackson Times, December 11, 1986, page 14

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Ten seniors played their last game as BHS Bobcat football players with a huge win over Estill County. They closed their 9-1 season with a great deal of excitement but much disappointment.

“We were so close,” a 1986 BHS junior said. “We were right there and had a lead against Leslie. Our whole season went away that night.” Despite a tremendous season, “it just did not feel right to celebrate,” a team member said. “The only time I ever felt like crying in football was when that season ended.”

One bad night in Leslie County changed the entire 1986 season for one of Breathitt High School’s most talented teams. One or two possessions or a few plays made all the difference in the fate of a team that ultimately won nine of its ten games, but expectations were at an all-time high for Breathitt’s program.

“We honestly believed that we could and should win every game we played because we were willing to work hard and never quit,” a player said in 2023. “We went back to work in the den and on the field to prove our point the next year, but we know we had a lot to replace.”

Despite most observers’ predictions, 1987 would prove to be a rebuilding year after so much talent graduated, but Coach Holcomb and his staff rose to the challenge of a new district and new district rivals.

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© 2023 Stephen D. Bowling