By Stephen D. Bowling

We continue an extended look at the games and events of the seasons of Breathitt Football. This week, we explore 1990.

---

The BHS football, coaches, and the community were happy with the success of the 1989 season. The returning members hoped to continue that success but realized that plan would take lots of effort and sweat. Sixteen seniors graduated from the program and left open spots to be filled and questions to be answered for the 1990 team.

Weight Lifting Begins

Boosters Plan Their Work

Football Boosters Need Your Help, support

Dear Parents and Friends,

Breathitt County High School has an outstanding football program.  Players and coaches can make a program, but it takes extra help to make an outstanding football program.  The extra help comes mainly from its booster organization with morale and financial support.  I am sure that you want the best for your child.  We need your help to provide the best. 

We are having an organizational meeting for new members at the football stadium on Monday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m.  Come and find out what we have done, what we are now doing, and what you can do to help with present and future projects.  We are not asking for money, but we are asking for just a little of your time.

We also have lots of fun working for our children.  Come join us.

Very truly yours, David Hubbard, President

The Jackson Times, February 1, 1990, page 6

Wrestling match set to benefit Boosters

Championship wrestling will be coming to Jackson on March 30.

Breathitt Football Boosters will be bringing such well-known stars as The Fabulous Fargo, Handsome Jimmy, Ricky Valient, and others.

All the action will take place at the Breathitt Coliseum beginning at 8:00 p.m., and it promises to be a knock-down and drag-out session.  There’ll be plenty of thrilling action.  Fans are guaranteed to get their money’s worth.

The evening will be complete with local and professional wrestlers.  From the local scene, there’ll be female and male action.  Letch Sandlin and Chris Back will take on each other in the opening round, followed by senior ladies Stacey Stacy and Freda Napier.

Booster president David Hubbard said the club was happy to provide this evening of entertainment, and he hopes the public will be supportive by attending.

He pointed out that all the profit goes directly into the football program.  He said good attendance at the wrestling would help the football boosters considerably in their fund-raising efforts.

Advanced ringside seats are $6.00.  Ringside at the door is $7.00.  Advanced general admission is $5.00, and general admission at the door is $6.00.  Tickets can be bought at the high school or from any football booster member.

Hubbard said he and the football boosters would really appreciate local wrestling fans reserving March 30 to support the club’s fund-raising efforts.  He pointed out that the evening promises to be great fun!  The boosters tried to get wrestlers that will be fun and entertaining to watch.

Of course, the local wrestling will be an added attraction.

“It’s an evening not to be missed,” Hubbard stressed.  “The Coliseum will be THE PLACE to be March 30,” he concluded.

The Jackson Times, March 15, 1990, page 6

Wrestling – football boosters fundraiser

By Carter Combs

Probably the most important sports around town this week are the efforts of the Breathitt Football Boosters, who have arranged a wrestling show on Friday night, March 30, at the new gym at Breathitt High.  As I understand, it will be a full-size event.  You can expect to see almost anything in the big square ring that night.  Maybe some of the biggest football players will match wrestling holds with some of the fairest young ladies in the world of wrestling.  It has been scheduled as a fun night.  You can really expect most anything, that it will all be good clean fun, except, of course, there might be a mud wrestling event just to show you what good clean fun is all about in the world of wrestling.

The biggest reason for this family fun show is to replace some of the football equipment and clothing that was punished by the rainy, muddy weather that was overabundant during the grueling 1989 season.

Some people thought the name Bobcats should be changed to “Mud Cats” for that was their foe almost every weekend.  If it did not rain game night, it was still wet from rain earlier in the week.

The District Championship of the season brought many honors and pure delight to the Bobcat fans.  Unlike most uniforms used in high school sports, the use of safe, well-built clothing and battle gear is on the high side, and of course, with over forty young men involved in the sport at Breathitt High compared to basketball, baseball, and track sports during a school year.  Washing machines also saw a lot of service at the homes of the players.

Under ordinary circumstances, the boosters perform all of the improvements possible by the sweat of their own brow, and with the help of others, they somehow are able to give the

Bobcats have most of their needs, and parents normally help in their own way.  To meet the dire needs, the wrestling fundraiser was chosen, with tickets on sale at the grade schools who also benefited in this wrestling show.

The Cats lost some good ones due to graduating, but there is an outstanding group of returners and new additions.  They are working almost daily to improve their strength and be ready to start another good season.

All able-bodied football prospects for this fall are also preparing for the annual “Lift A Thon” later this spring.

The Bobcats worked hard and did an excellent job in winning their 11 regular season games last fall, the District Crown, and a playoff regional game before falling to a strong Belfry in their second battle of the year with the Bobcats.  That loss ended state championship hopes for the senior-dominated Bobcats.

They played hard for you, and you can now return some of that by helping make the wrestling fundraiser a successful time, and you get a first-hand taste of wrestling professionals.

Friday night, March 30, Breathitt Gym – A Family Fun Time.

The Jackson Times, March 15, 1990, page 5

Lift-A-Thon Plans

Wal-Mart to host Bobcat ‘Lift-A-Thon’

By Carter F. Combs

Head football coach Mike Holcomb announced this week that the Bobcat football team will conduct their annual Lift-A-Thon on the left front side of Wal-Mart in the Jackson Village Shopping Center.

The date for this annual Lift-A-Thon will be Saturday, May 5th.  The starting time has not been established but is expected to be near the noon hour.  The exact starting time will be announced when it is firmed up, according to Coach Holcomb and Terry Hall, Manager of Wal-Mart.

According to Elmer Bowling, President of the Football Boosters Club, and his group were discussing the idea of having a food and soft drink concession operating for the convenience of the visitors who will be stopping through the Lift-A-Thon hours who might like to have a hot dog and Pepsi while attending this annual event.

Parents and other family members will be able to enjoy watching these young men demonstrate their strength and abilities on the various weight room machines.

The many demonstrations of strength are always well attended to the point that the usual site in the Bobcat Den has just about surpassed the convenience of the early beginning of The Lift-A-‘Thon.

The fresh air location with parking and the many other assets of the Jackson Village site should be great for the event.

This event helps provide the necessary funds for many aspects of the sport of football.  The Bobcats’ success on the playing field and their outstanding record simply means that there must be room for growth and the many needs of a successful and rising spectator sport during the fall season.

Families, friends, and supporters of the Breathitt High football program should mark their calendars for this event in front of Wal-Mart at Jackson Village Shopping Center.

As details become available, we will provide you with the exact hours of the ‘Lift-A-Thon.’

Mr. Terry Hall, manager of the Wal-Mart store, and coach Holcomb took only a few minutes to make these arrangements, and both are aware of the fact that this type of arrangement will be most beneficial to the school and our business community.

The Jackson Times, April 5th, 1990, page 11

Lift-A-Thon Preview

It’s lift-o-thon time again

Yes, Breathitt High Football Bobcats will be exerting all their strength in their annual lift-o-thon scheduled for May 6.

Two features of the lift-o-thon will be different this year.  One is that it will be on Sunday (May 6), and the other is that it will be held at Wal-Mart.

As usual, the football boys will compete on the bench, squat, and incline bench.

This annual competition gives the Bobcats a chance to measure their strength in their weight division, lets the public get involved in the football program, and provides an interesting bit of entertainment.

The public can get involved by sponsoring one or more football players.  Usually, a person pledges so much per pound lifted.  All proceeds go to the football program.  Anyone who is interested in sponsoring a player or two can contact any football player or coach Holcomb at Breathitt High.

Coach Holcomb said the community has always been supportive of the lift-o-thon, and for that, he’s very grateful.  He added that he’s hopeful that having the event on Sunday will make it possible for more people to see and enjoy this muscle-straining competition.

Holcomb pointed out that the football program is expensive to maintain, and it does take total community involvement and support to have a first-class program.  “I don’t think anybody wants anything less than first class,” he stressed.  The lift-o-thon will be held outside at Wal-Mart.  It will be on the left as one goes inside.

The time will be 2:00 p.m. Remember it will be on Sunday (May 6).

The Jackson Times, April 26, 1990, page 12

Harvest time at Wal-Mart comes early for “Top Cats”

According to Mike Holcomb, coach of the Breathitt High football program, the Lift-A-Thon move outdoors at Wal-Mart proved highly successful after the first early returns were in on Monday of this week.

While many young men participated in the Lift-A-Thon, it was obvious that the crowd that gathered the entire three hours was able to see what these young men were doing to improve their physical well-being rose to the occasion.

In previous years, the fundraising event had been conducted in the only available space, in the weight room of the football stadium.  The seating there was almost nonexistent, and the crowds that gathered were unable to move about and enjoy the action on the various pieces of weight-room equipment.

In front of the Wal-Mart store, the fresh air seemed to add a different atmosphere, and the crowd was able to move about and watch these young men display their strength and ability.  It was not just a fundraising event but a chance to see them display the strength and ability to compete with their counterparts on the football field this fall and in the years to come in their school years.

It would be impossible to tell you how proud they performed, and the reception by those watching during the allotted three hours for this fundraiser was impressive.

As many organizations in our community are aware, Wal-Mart will make an additional donation to the cause of providing additional equipment basically of a safety equipment nature.  Without this event each year, this fund might not exist for these needs.

As the days of summer roll around, you may notice many young men wearing their Lift-A-Thon T-shirts with pride.  Please notice on their backs that First National Bank provided them with the badge of courage and honor.  These were awarded after each had turned in his donation sheets following the Sunday afternoon display.  I wish you could have seen them at school on Monday morning.  These are truly marks of a true champion, and they carry that onto the football field each weekend this fall starting in late August.

The football teammates were not the only ones on the scene at Wal-Mart; members of the Football Boosters Organization were also on hand with hotdogs and Pepsi Colas for those who had an appetite on this special spring day.  Most of these are not only football boosters but most likely parents of the various players.  They need all the help they can get.

According to Wal-Mart manager Terry Hall, he stated that he had never seen so many young people from ages 6 to 70 who showed up and applauded for the exploits of these young people.  Everyone seemed to be proud and happy with the event.  In talking with Terry on Tuesday of this week, he expressed how proud he and his employees were with the outstanding behavior and pride these young men of Breathitt displayed.  He said it was also reflected by the Wal-Mart employees on duty in the store.

He stated: Bring all your young people any time you wish!  But, of course, he was pleased with their customers, who indicated they were happy for this very special fundraising event.

The Jackson Times, May 10, 1990, page 14

Lift-A-Thon Results

Judd Hubbard tops 1,100

Bobcat Lift-A-Thon is smashing success

They grunted, groaned, and grimaced amidst cheers of, “You can do it.” “Come on.”  “Push!  Push!  Push!”  And push they did until their veins popped out, and their faces and necks glowed red.

It was the spirit of the occasion, the football lift-a-thon Sunday afternoon at Wal-Mart.

The Bobcats tested their strength against each other in their weight division to see who could accumulate the most points in the bench, squat, and incline.

The annual lift-a-thon has become one of the football highlights of the off-season activities.

It was an event the boys had been working toward for months, and the fans had been awaiting it with almost equal excitement.  No doubt the rain kept some away.  On the other hand, many braved the weather to root for their favorite Bobcats or generally watch the 52 participating football players strain every ounce of energy in them to lift one more pound.

Judd Hubbard was the overall winner.  He benched 340, squad 500, incline 280 for a total of 1,120.  The lift-a-thon was both a fun event and a fundraiser.  Each of the Bobcats had secured sponsors for so much per pound lifted.  Coach Holcomb said he was well pleased with the financial returns.

He stressed that he was very appreciative of the way the community got behind the lift-a-thon, which will give the football program a much-needed financial boost.

He added that he especially wanted to thank Wal-Mart for the use of their facility.  Appreciation was also expressed to the First National Bank for the tee shirts.  It takes considerable help to put on an event as big as the lift-a-thon.  Holcomb said he wanted all of those who helped in any way to realize that their services were much appreciated.

On behalf of all the football players, he expressed appreciation to the Breathitt Funeral Home for moving the bleachers, to the Booster Club members who worked really hard, to the scorekeepers, emcee, parents, and fans “who braved the weather to watch.”

Although the general public may not see much football action in the next few months, that does not mean there won’t be any football; football action never stops.

Until the public sees some of the Cats in action again, coach Holcomb said he wanted everyone to realize his program was thankful to the community for its support and that every effort would be made to put the money made to very good usages.

The Jackson Times, May 10, 1990, page A15

A Pre-Season Look at the Cats

Football Program at Breathitt High

By Carter K. Combs

With our BHS Bobcat baseball team a loser to Knott Central in Regional Tourney action and the

Basketball Day Camp, you could think this is a strange time to mention Breathitt High football.  While this may be what you think you should talk to head football Coach Mike Holcomb.

Following an impressive season last fall, Coach Holcomb is tickled pink with the situation of Breathitt football at this time of year.

Following the successful Lift-A-Thon and the Grand Finale at Wal-Mart on May 6th, the return of the equipment to the place of honor in the Bobcat Den has raised the issue that the Den is now too small.  It appears in addition to the Den will be the utmost importance to coach Holcomb his assistants and the Bobcats for 1990.

It has become necessary to put some of the required equipment back in the shipping containers due to the crowded situation.

The Bobcat den was full almost to overflowing last season, and with the loss of seniors to graduation, you could think that there should be enough room in the locker room – Den.  Even before the basketball season ended, recruits for next season have surprised and highly pleased Holcomb, for the losses in numbers have been recovered by underclassmen.  When the basketball and baseball season ended there were several athletes from those sports to increase those numbers.

Coach Holcomb is busy planning football activities, and the numbers are putting smiles on Holcomb’s face.  The sport’s growth at Breathitt is the most telling evidence that the program is highly successful.  All of this builds fan support, and the more players there are, the more proud parents and football boosters stand ready to do their part and continue the success that accrues here in the football program at Breathitt High.

For this to continue there must continue to be the type of fan support that has been displayed for the past few years.  This has not been a one-shot growth but steady and strong, the type that makes Coach Holcomb happy and planning ahead.

What he is trying to develop now is the proper and best way to start and operate a fundraising drive to enlarge the locker room.

While this may be early to start the discussion of enlarging the Bobcat Den, it was felt that this subject must be discussed.  We have come too far to pull back now.  It is a timely matter, and looking ahead is the only way to move ahead, and who wants to be left behind?

Looking at a matter that has been approached with foresight and fervor is in sight and now in the planning stage.  That matter is football camp, where plans are made, and young men step out to show their willingness to work hard and work together as a team early.  It was credited with much of the success so evident in the regular season and the playoffs.  I assume, and this is only an assumption, that the team will gather in the Laurel County area camp utilized by 4-H activities.  It is awfully nice to have such a facility for this purpose.  It is private and draws the group into the sense of being friends and teammates, which they are when the regular work starts here in the fall.

The Jackson Times, May 31, 1990, page 21

Breathitt Bobcats Football Notes

Head Football Coach Mike Holcomb of Breathitt High released his 1990 football schedule for his Bobcats.  Coming off a season that saw the Bobcats finish with an undefeated regular season and their first win ever in the regional before losing against the Belfry Pirates in the Regional finals 24-13 in a game played in intolerable weather.

While the calendar says late June and the heat rising higher every day, the 1990 players are visiting the weight room so they will be able to perform at a high pitch.

The annual physicals will be given on July 11 starting at 12:30 p.m. at the stadium.  As usual, Dr. Robert Cornett will provide these yearly exams.

All young men who wish to play football in this winning program of coach Holcomb should be present.  This also will be necessary for incoming freshmen.

Also, the annual Passing League is now in progress, where flags are used to end a play rather than a tackle.

The new schedule for the coming season shows the Bobcats to open with a tough Estill Co. Team at Estill County in the annual “Choo-Choo-Bowl” and they will host the annual Honey Bowl game against Pineville at Breathitt Stadium on August 31.

District games are scheduled for September 7 against Belfry in the friendly confines of Breathitt Stadium.  The fans will also be privileged to see the Cats and Clay County at Breathitt.

It is definitely time to start thinking about the Bobcats and their winning ways.

CROWD PLEASERS – They Are!

The jackson Times, June 28, 1990, page 24

Football Camp

Practice

When practice starts, can play be far away?

Starting Monday, July 16 the football team of coach Mike Holcomb will be completely involved in practice for the upcoming season.  That season action will start on August 17 when the Bobcats open against the Engineers of Estill County in their annual Choo-Choo Classic.  The game will also be the season opener of Estill County who were absent from the Bobcat schedule last season.

The mandated physical examinations for all of the players were completed yesterday at the Bobcat Stadium.  Given by Dr. Robert E. Cornell performed these examinations as he has for many years.

Jarrod Morgan, a sophomore player with the Bobcats, has made his entry into the sports writing realm with the Jackson Times.  His efforts should be interesting because he is looking at the game from the players’ side of the line.  Welcome him and encourage him for his viewpoint should be a refreshing change for the Breathitt horde of boosters and football fanatics.

Both freshmen and varsity teams will be involved in the practice schedule.  This practice and conditioning effort comes just two weeks before the group journeys to Laurel County for their football camp.

With all this rapidly approaching, is it any wonder that the Bobcat ‘Faithful’ hope to see the Bobcats continue their winning ways of last season when they completed an undefeated regular season and wins in the playoffs?  That extra season ended for the Bobcats when the Belfry Pirates defeated the Bobcats.  The Bobcats had defeated Belfry during the grueling regular season at Belfry.

The Bobcats open their home season on August 24 against an always-strong Madison Central squad.  That group has a way of trying to intimidate the home crowd wherever they play.

Mr. O. V. Watts visited Coach Holcomb last week on behalf of the Jackson Kiwanis Club.  He was welcomed with open arms by coach Holcomb for the Kiwanians and made an annual financial contribution to the Breathitt High football program.  The club has followed this tradition for years and is always a shot in the arm for a growing and successful football program at Breathitt High.  With a week of camp facing the Bobcats, this extra expense has become a real and appreciated gift to the Bobcats and the other support personnel at Breathitt High School.

The Jackson Times, July 12, 1990, page A10

Bobcat Corner

By Jarrod Morgan

Starling this year out with a bang, the Breathitt County football Bobcats’ are working in a passing league and, thus far, have dominated the field.

In its third year, the Passing League is a great way to develop passing and defensive skills since full-body contact is not permitted, and flags are used.

Some of the teams participating in the league are Clay Co., Leslie Co., Hazard, and Morgan Co. Since no full contact is made, the action is more relaxing to the players.

Regular team practice starts July 16, at 6:00 p.m. Players need to be there about 10 or 15 minutes before practice.

Freshman practice will be separate from varsity practice. 

Physicals start Wednesday, July 11, and they will be practicing two weeks prior to football camp.

Look for more Bobcat action next week.

The jackson Times, July 12, 1990, page A10

Who says so?

Hot Weather makes better football teams

By Carter F. Combs

While you may not be ready for it, the sport of football has returned to the Bobcats Stadium here in Jackson.

Last Wednesday, the football prospects had their team physical exams at the hands of Dr. Robert Cornett, who pronounced that they were indeed fit for the game of football.

Many of these young men had spent time in the weight room in the Bobcat Den.  Many worked out via the track team activities before the school year ended.

Monday evening at 6:00 p.m., the football prospects opened the season in shorts and miscellaneous a Hire in the heat of mid-July.

Approximately 50 prospects were on hand to work, and work they did under the watchful eyes of coach Holcomb and his assistants.  These opening days are devoted to conditioning for the upcoming season that begins on Friday night, August 17, at the home of Estill County High School.  Between then and August 17 will be a difficult time for this year’s Bobcats, who want to make 1990 another successful season for the Cats.

With the loss of 16 valuable seniors, Coach Holcomb and his crew will have their hands full.  While many of the return players have tried to improve themselves in the weight room, conditioning will keep them busy for the present time.  Conditioning is tough, but then you have to be tough to just hold your own in this opening phase of the 1990 football season.

On the other end of the practice field, there were approximately 20 young men out for football for the first time.  Most of these broke into the sport by playing grade school football out in the grade schools.

This year has seen this group grow as the grade schools were able to start the sport in their section of the school system.  The fact that this is possible for the very first time is hailed as a major step toward to a better football program.

In talking with Coach Holcomb, you can realize his high hopes to repeat a season to match the 1989 team.  With sixteen of them missing via the graduation route, it is definitely a rebuilding season for these Bobcats.  Since this is normal, you just have to prepare every year, and this season is no exception.

Many of these young men kept at the weight room work during the winter months; some played basketball, baseball, and track, and some just worked along, awaiting this new year.

The season opens just under a month for the Cats, for on August 17, they will journey to Estill County to open the season in the Choo-Choo Bowl.  The following week, they will open at Breathitt High Stadium before a friendly hometown crowd.

The Bobcat Boosters Club has been busy helping to raise the money necessary to fund a successful football team and a growing program.  They work hard, and they enjoy their work, for, after all, it is their son and neighbors.

They all belong to us, and we all profit from their labors.  If you like warm nights, then don’t miss the early games.  If you like the nip of old frosty, you can have that, but they enjoy every minute of the sport, which can also show us that teamwork makes things better for all of us.

After some conditioning and weight room work, they will be going to Football Camp as a team.  If there is any activity that lakes people and blends them into a viable team, it is camp, and that is where the groundwork is laid by the coaches.

If they can live together, eat together, play together, and sleep together in a camp atmosphere, they can be formidable together.  Many believe that the team is made at camps such as this.  Go Big Blue, we are with you.

The Jackson Times, July 19, 1990, page B5

Grid-O-Rama

Breathitt Bobcats football Notes

The Quiet is deafening

By Carter F. Combs

Things are rather quiet around Breathitt High School this week.  The shrill of a coach’s whistle is gone for this week.  That, I would guarantee is not the situation over in Laurel Co., where the Breathitt Bobcat football team is holding practice sessions this week.

Meanwhile, on the home front, there are others who are busy on the home front.  Principal Paul Robin Herald is doing his homework in the office, and out of the office.  Recently, it was noted that he was carrying a weed sprayer and dousing the weeds around the stadium grounds.  He simply noted that what needed to be done was part of his work as principal.

Everyone is busy, but the needs are being met, and the football team will be just one part of the full scene.  The opening of school date is not available as this is being prepared.

The week of football camp is probably necessary for a top-flight football program.  It would be nice to listen to some of the conversations during this week.  It has been noted that these young people seem to meld into a unit that could not be done if they had remained in their own homes.  They play together, and you can believe they work together when the season opens at Estill County on Friday, August 17th, on unfriendly turf.  To win them all you must win them away from home as well as become a friendly home crowd.  Just think that it will be exactly 15 days as we check our calendar.

The team had their official team picture and individual pictures, but they are not ready just yet.

Go ahead.  Get excited, but for us, the glow from last season still burns brightly.  Joining the Football Boosters Club at a recent meeting, in the Bobcat Den found them getting themselves ready for an exciting season.

Season tickets are available from any of that group of parents and football fans of all ages and sizes. 

While the football team was practicing, the new group of varsity cheerleaders were working just as hard with their sponsor, Karen Griffith.

Our future football players are on the sidelines handling the towels and water buckets.  Last year, there were some young ladies who handled part of that chore, maybe they will appear when school gets underway.

Things that need sprucing up have been spruced or scheduled to be done.  The campus looks great.  The grass is green, and all seems right with our world as it revolves around our part of Mother Earth.

The Jackson Times, August 2, 1990, page 12

Almost Ready

Choo-Choo Classic Kickoff

Bobcat football team almost ready

It is not supposed to happen this way but the Bobcats now will open their football season before school starts.

The Breathitt County School Board announced last Tuesday that school will open in the county on September 4.

The Bobcat football team, under the direction of Head Coach Mike Holcomb, will open their season at Estill County on August 17 in their “Choo-Choo Classic.”

Following the opener for the season, the Bobcats will return to the Bobcat Lair, where they will host three strong foes.  They hope the early home games will help them polish their act before going on the road.  They open at home on August 24 against a strong group from Madison Central.

Following that home opener, the Cats will tackle Pincville in the annual’ Honey Bowl’ battle to kick off the Honey Festival activities. 

On September 7, the Bobcats will open their District action against Belfry on the Breathiu field.  That should be a grudge game for Holcomb, and his menagerie of cats hope to throttle the Pirates of Belfry.  This game will have the Pirates on their home turf, where they lost a regional playoff game last season against the Pirates of Belfry.  The Cats won their regular season game against the Pirates at Belfry by a score of 13-6.  The Pirates turned the table in the regional playoff game by a score of 24 -13.  Holcomb hopes his cats remember that game and make amends for that loss here at home in the Regional finals.

Five of the first seven games are at home.  The Cats play the two district favorites, Belfry and Clay County, and both must beat the Bobcats here on their home field.  Two of the four District games are County both away games.  They are always tough when they play at home.

October 5 is an open date for the Bobcats, and it should be a deserved rest that should give them some time to regain their strength.

Having lost sixteen outstanding seniors, the Cats will be in a rebuilding time.

The thin thirties of Breathitt will have to get their act together early this year.  The varsity group will be aided by a good group of about 20 freshmen.  This group of freshmen is the first good group from the grade schools.

The team leadership role could well be a talented senior who has paid his dues the hard way.  Craig Taulbee, No. 5 on the squad, will be playing a wide receiver on offense, and on defense, he will be in the defensive back position.  Coach Holcomb has hopes that some of the other seniors will join Craig in this their senior campaign Senior leadership is the desired ingredient.

Outside of the season activity this weekend, there will be a Grid-O Rama at Hazard.  The first matchup will be at 5:30 PM between M.C. Napier and Estill County.  At 7:00, the action will pit Knot Co. against Leslie Co., and the finals will see the Breathitt Bobcats against the host Hazard Bulldogs.

Early ‘Pride’ will be at stake in these three scrimmages.

If you should be interested in knowing what these area teams will show during the season, this would be an opportune time for you to have an early insight into our area.

Get your season ticket early from your team favorite.  The Football Boosters Club is selling season tickets for their home games.  The price is $15.00 for the six games.

The Jackson Times, August 9, 1990, page A14

The Bobcats – Coaches viewpoint

It’s that time of year, folks.  The football season is here.  The Bobcats take to the gridiron Friday night in their season opener against Estill County.

Never to be taken lightly, Estill County will be hosting Breathitt in the Engineers Choo-Choo Bowl this Friday night, August 17.

The Engineers will have their game plans drawn out in great detail since they are especially eager to put Friday night’s game in the “W” column.

Of course, Breathitt wants to put it there, too.  It’s going to be a good game, an important contest for each team.  Bobcat fans are needed to help get the team off to a good start. 

Coach Mike Holcomb, who’s beginning his eighth year as a Bobcat coach, says he’s excited about the team and the season.  In fact, he stated that he was as excited about this year’s team as any he’s ever coached.

Coach Hoover Darrel Niece has been working hard with his Engineers.  He’s as eager for a win as Coach Holcomb.

Niece was out of football for a season or two, but he’s back now.  And his team is showing the results of his influence.  They’ll be ready for Breathitt.  The Bobcats have long been one of their main rivals, so the Engineers will be rolling full steam toward the goalposts every chance they get.

But Breathitt will be there setting blocks and applying the brakes.  The defensive team is ready for action.  Coach Holcomb said last week that they are a force to be contended with and not to be taken lightly.

The offensive team is a powerhouse, too.

On the offensive line, look for Judd Hubbard.  He’s a big man; he’ll be easy to see.  Holcomb said Hubbard would “be outstanding on both offense and defense.”  Furthermore, he’s one of the better kickers in the state.  He’s scored many field goals and extra points for the Cats.

Bill Smith is another offensive player to keep an eye on.  Holcomb said he had worked hard and is playing well.

Having worked hard and built himself up in the workroom, senior Brian Prater will be an offensive guard.  The team will be looking to him for senior leadership, Holcomb explained, and he thinks Prater can deliver that leadership and an excellent playing performance on the field.

Chris Gillum is also a guard.  “He’s looking good now,” said the coach, “and down the road, he will be an excellent football player.”

The center’s position will be manned by William McIntosh.  He was out of football for a year due to health reasons, but he’s back strong now.  According to Holcomb, he’s looking good and is a fine guard.

At tight end, look for Whick Chapman, a sophomore.  Reportedly, he’s one of the best athletes in the sophomore class.  His coach said he was learning and improving every day.

“We expect big things from him,” Holcomb emphasized.

Also seeing action on the offensive line will be Mike Taulbee and John Franklin, both seniors.  Others include Todd Williams, John Wolfe, Chris Hays, Craig Edmonds, Cartis Parks, Chris Neace, Arthur Sizemore, Shawn Smith, and Ronnie Coomer.  According to Holcomb, Coomer has been looking good during pre-season practice.

“We’ll be looking to him for help,” Holcomb added.  The team will be quarterbacked by Brent Lovely, who’s expected to be a major factor in the team’s successes this season.  In fact, Holcomb said he thought Lovely did more for the team than any other quarterback he had ever been associated with.

“He has natural instinct and natural leadership ability,” stated Holcomb.  “I’ve not seen any in Eastern Kentucky that I would trade him for.  He’s as good as there is in our part of the state.”

He completed 19 touchdown passes last year, rushed for 485 yards, and scored five touchdowns. He averaged 34.6 yards per punt.

Lovely will be backed up by sophomore Willie Griffith, for whom his coach had words of praise for his ability.

Mike Bowling, Morgan Hooker, Jason Carpenter, and Greg Barnett will be the fullbacks.  Their coach has plenty of confidence that they can handle the position well.  Barnett didn’t get to play much last season because of an injury.  He’s improving every day, though, and Holcomb said he had high expectations of him.

Lat Harmon will be a tailback.  He’s a sophomore, and Holcomb said he will be fun to watch.  He’s an exciting runner, a slashing type of runner.  He knows how to run and make cuts.  He also knows how valuable his offensive line is, stated his coach.  Continuing, Holcomb added, “The public will enjoy watching him.”

Shannon White and Ricky Ritchie will be backing him up. 

The receivers will be Craig Taulbee and Greg Brown.  Commenting on the two boys, Holcomb pointed out that both were doing a good job, both catching well.  They are also working hard and improving daily.  They should be able to make some big catches throughout the season.

Supporting them will be Tracy Noble, Aaron McIntosh, Steve Spencer, Jarrod Morgan, and Tim Taulbee.

One of the defensive ends will be Billy Neace, a junior.  Neace is strong and a hard hitter.  “He does a lot of things well,” Holcomb observed, “and we’re expecting big things from him.”

At the other end will be Craig Edmonds who has been applying himself well.  It paid off for him, explained Holcomb, because he said Edmonds had made himself into a good football player.  He adds enthusiasm to the team and the defense.

Other defensive linemen include Judd Hubbard, Bill Smith, and William McIntosh, all seniors.  According to their coach, they are all doing a good job, and they make a difference in the team’s defense.

Ronnie Coomer, Shawn Smith, and Cartis Parks will also play on the defensive line.

Linebackers will include Mike Bowling, Greg Barnett, Chris Gillum, and Brian Prater.  It was pointed out that Bowling has worked hard in his role.  Furthermore, he has experience there, making him an especially valuable linebacker.  The other three are also fine linebackers and will be seen frequently in that position.

In the secondary, Shannon White will be a rover.  He was described as a hard hitter and hard-nosed.  Holcomb said he did a good job in his position and that he was very knowledgeable of the team’s defensive action.

Greg Brown, Craig Taulbee, and Lat Harmon will be cornerbacks.  With two years of experience in that position, reportedly Brown is one of the hardest hitters on the team.  Holcomb said he was expecting Brown and Lovely to lead the secondary.

One of the sophomores on the injured list right now is George Chapman.  Holcomb said he was looking good before that happened, and he was pleased with his progress.  When he has recovered, he is expected to contribute as a defensive back.

According to Holcomb, the team and coaching staff are excited about the season opener Friday night.  He stressed that his assistants, coaches Noble, Sparkman, Back, and Thomas, are all doing a fine job and are eager to advance into the season’s schedule.

At this point, everything is upbeat all the way.  The team has worked hard in preparation for the season; everybody has a good attitude, and everyone is eager to get the show on the road.

The offense thinks it can get the points on the board Friday night, and the defense feels capable of handling its responsibilities.  The entire team and coaching staff express the need for fan support, though.  A large turnout of vocal supporters can help make the difference in the game.

The Jackson Times, August 16, 1990, page 23

The 1990 Season

Estill County – August 17, 1990 – Loss 24 – 26

Bobcats lose a heartbreaker 26-24

Although the Bobcats put forth a good effort Friday night in their season opener, they still lost to the Estill County Engineers 26-24.

Sure, the Cats would love to have won the game, but they have no reason to hang their heads, according to their coach.

Coach Mike Holcomb said he thought his club played with effort and added, “We played hard.  Offensively, we did a lot of things right, but we need to improve on our defense.”

Overall, Holcomb said the coaching staff was happy with the team’s first performance this season.  He said that it pointed out some areas that need work but also revealed some team strengths.

One such strength is quarterback Brent Lovely, a talented athlete who can both pass and run with the ball. 

Friday night, he was up against one of the state’s top quarterbacks, Jeremy Niece.  As a matter of fact, according to a consensus of high school football coaches from across the state.  Niece was voted the number one quarterback in the state. 

However, he did not overshadow Lovely, whose performance was equal to or superior to Niece’s.  Niece completed 52 percent of his passes, 11 of 21.  Lovely got 56 percent of his, 10 of 18.  Lovely threw for 169 yards, Niece 182.  Lovely completed four passes 20 yards or more, and Niece three.

Niece had some height advantage over Lovely, but he made up for it in quickness and moveability. 

Each quarterback threw for one touchdown pass.  Niece threw a nine-yarder, Lovely 28.

On the receiving end of Lovely’s passes were Greg Brown, Wick Chapman, and Craig Taulbee.  Chapman hung onto two for 26 yards, Taulbee three for 35 yards, and Brown totaled 108 yards on six catches.

In the rushing department, sophomore Lat Hannon picked up 110 yards on 23 carries, and Greg Barnett got 19 on five passes.  Lovely earned the ball nine limes for 51 yards.

Michael Bowling led the defensive effort with 11 tackles, nine of which were solos.  Lovely made nine, Ronnie Coomer eight, Greg Brown seven, Billy Neace six, and Bill Smith five.

Breathitt started their first touchdown drive on their own 49, but they had to back up five yards due to an illegal motion call.  A big 16-yard gain on a keeper by Lovely and then a 14-yard gain followed by a 14-yard pass to Chapman soon put the Cats within scoring range.

From one yard out, Lat Hannon scored his team’s first 1990 touchdown with 0:45 left in the first quarter.

The Engineers then put together a 61-yard drive and took the lead seven to six with 7:36 to go in the second period.

The Bobcats countered with a good drive of their own after Bowling returned the ball to his team’s 41.  Aided by a 15-yard penalty against the Engineers, good runs by Harmon and Barnett, and a completed pass to Brown, the Cats were back in scoring position.

A 12-yard touchdown run by Harmon put the Cats back in control 14-7.  On their following possession.  The Engineers got three quick first downs, and Fox caught a nine-yard touchdown pass to cut Breathitt’s margin to just one point, 14-13, the score that stood at halftime.

The only score in the third frame was Judd Hubbard’s 29-yard field goal that gave Breathitt a 17-13 advantage going into the final frame.  In that decisive fourth quarter, Breathitt did not pick up a first down on their first possession.  In fact, a pass was intercepted on third down with three to go.

Taking over on their own 45 with 9:05 left in the game, the Engineers seemed to have the momentum going in their direction even though Coomer sacked the quarterback for a 12-yard loss.  Not deterred, Niece got up and completed a 24-yard pass that swung all momentum to his team.  Puckett scored on a five-yard run that pushed the Engineers in front 19-13.

With less than two minutes to play, he scored again on a four-yard run, giving the Engineers their largest lead of the game, 25-17.

Breathitt quickly reduced the margin to two points, 26-24, following a 28-yard touchdown pass to Craig Taulbee.  Hubbard’s kick was good, which, for all practical purposes, ended the game.

Niece, the son of Estill County Coach Hoover Darrel Niece and one of the highly recruited players in the state, threw to mostly three receivers.  Fox caught five of Niece’s passes for 74 yards, Burchfield received three for 27 yards, and Richardson caught one 32-yarder.

Looking at the game in review, Coach Holcomb highlighted the performance of some of his individual players.  He emphasized that he thought Lovely played well.  So did Brian Prater and Craig Edmonds, who moved to new positions following a team injury.

He said that Billy Neace played hard and gave a good effort on the defensive end.

Continuing, he added that Lat Harmon ran the ball well, and big catches were made by Greg Brown, Wick Chapman, and Craig Taulbee.

The Jackson Times, August 23, 1990, page A6

Bobcat Pride Shirts

This fellow doesn’t mind…

Anyone and everyone knowing that he is indeed full of ‘Breathitt Pride.” An indicated on the BHS football T-shirt.

I got that way thanks to football coach Mike Hokomb, his assistants, and the players I have been privileged to observe and know these past few years. These young men have shown me their pride members of their families also have indicated their Breathitt Pride.

I have been fortunate enough to watch them and join them in this classic Breathitt Pride. Join us at any and all games and increase your ‘Breathitt Pride.’

BREATHITT PRIDE • Catch it!

The Jackson Times, August 23, 1990, page A6

Madison Central Preview

First football home game Friday night

Bobcat fans will have a chance to see their team in action on their home field Friday night for the first time this season.

The Cats will be hosting Madison Central, a strong central Kentucky team.

It will be the first of three straight home games.

Having lost their season opener last week to Estill County, the Cats will strive to even their record at one and one Friday night.

The coaches and team urge all Bobcat fans everywhere to come out and support the team in its quest for a win.

The team has been working hard this week in preparation for the game.  The Cats hope the long hours of practice will bear dividends Friday night.

Fan support, strong and loud, can help clinch the win.  Therefore, the invitation is ‘You all come.”

The Jackson Times, August 23, 1990, page 6

Madison Central – August 24, 1990 – Loss 14 – 35

Bobcats hope for better luck in Honey Bowl

Coach Holcomb compared the Bobcats’ performance Friday night against Madison Central to a car traveling at 60 miles per hour when suddenly a wheel comes off.

Tragedy strikes.

That’s the way it was with the Cats.  At intermission, they were tolling along with a 14-7 advantage.  By game’s end, they were trailing 35-14.

Just slightly into the third quarter, quarterback Brent Lovely was injured, and the team seemed to lose its cohesiveness.

Immediately after Lovely’s injury, Judd Hubbard’s attempted field goal was blocked, and Madison Central got the ball.  Central’s Carlos Igo scored on a 36-yard run.

With 9:27 left in the fourth round, Igo scored again on an 80-yard run.  Two minutes later, he crossed the goal line again for another touchdown.

A 56-yard run by Gilbert Sweat with almost four minutes remaining in the game put Madison Central in the winner’s circle 35-14.

Coach Holcomb said he was well pleased with his team’s performance in the first two quarters.  “Everybody was playing well, and the team was doing what we asked them to do.  We were playing at a level I was happy with,” he said.

Then tragedy struck.  Murphy’s Law was evident everywhere.  Everything that could go wrong did, said Holcomb.  “The second half was a nightmare I would just as soon forget.”

To forget it is what the coaches and team are trying to do.  “It’s behind us, and we’re not dwelling on it,” stressed Holcomb.  “We’re focusing our attention on the Honey Bowl game with Pineville.”

Pineville is expected to bring a strong team to town Friday night.  The school is rich in football tradition since its program stretches all the way back to 1924.

Pineville has a fine quarterback in the person of Shawn Woolum, whose father played football at UK.

Holcomb said he expects the team to run the wishbone a lot.

Back to the Breathitt Madison Central game. 

The Cats got off to a great start.  Following the initial kickoff, Mike Bowling returned the ball to Breathitt’s 32.  Four first downs later, Lovely completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Greg Barnett.  Hubbard’s kick was good, and the Cats were up seven to zero halfway through the first round.

Recovering a Breathitt tumble, the Indians took over on Breathitt’s 21-yard line and tied the game at seven – seven with 0:38 left in the first quarter.  Sweat scored for his team on a two-yard run.

Although the Bobcats fumbled the ball three times early in the second frame and Madison Central recovered as many times, the Cats put together a successful 70-yard drive late in that quarter.  The drive was highlighted by a fantastic 38-yard catch by Wick Chapman, who reached up and pulled the ball out of the air even though he was covered.  Lovely put the ball right on the money, and Chapman was there.  A few plays later, he did the same thing again with Greg Brown on the receiving end of a 17-yarder.

That put the ball on Central’s seven-yard line, and from there, sophomore Lat Harmon scored his team’s second and last touchdown of the game.  Hubbard’s kick was good giving the Breathitt club its 14 points.

The Bobcats rushed for a total of 134 yards on 36 carries.  Lovely picked up 42 of those yards on keepers.  Harmon ran 15 times for 64 yards, and Greg Barnett ran 11 for 41.  Greg Brown and Willie Griffith had a minus three and ten yards, respectively.

Mike Bowling led the team in tackles again- with 12 for this game.  Nine were solos.  Other leading ladders included J. Hubbard, who had six; B. Smith, who had seven; C. Edmonds, who had four; and B. Neace, who had five.

In the air, Lovely completed nine of 15 passes before he was injured and had to leave the game.  Brown caught six of those passes for 83 yards- Chapman two for 41, and Barnett one for seven.

For Madison Central, Grundy found his receiver one of seven times for 16 yards.  Isaacs caught the ball that time.

All the Bobcat fans everywhere have a special invitation to the game Friday night when the Cats host Pineville for the 13th Honey Bowl contest.  All fans are urged to come out and support the Cats in their quest for their first win this young season.

The Jackson Times, August 30, 1990, page 10

Pride Time Season Opener

The Bobcats are nursing a two-game loss streak.  Their appearance as the host team in the annual “Honey Bowl” game this Friday, they find they are staring at a need for exceptional ‘PRIDE’ as they face the Mountain Lions of Pineville in the annual ‘Honey Bowl’ contest, on the Breathitt County field, this Friday night.  The starting time is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

There is little doubt that it will be a full house with everything “on the line” for Holcomb and his team.

Every cliche known in the field of football points out the importance of this game, such as ‘Crunch Time’ and ‘win this one for the hometown fans.’

In talking with Coach Holcomb on Tuesday, he indicated his team would be more than ready to play on Friday night after suffering from the two losing efforts in the past two weeks.  The old saying that ‘The third time is the charm’ may or may not be correct in this case, but it would be appreciated if this should be absolutely true. 

We must not forget we will take all the possibilities for assistance, but you can be sure it will be the team and a team effort to accomplish a win.

The Honey Festival starts on Saturday morning here in Jackson, and it is nice to look the schedule over and find the festival will be taking off by the kickoff starting this game.

Get out there, for we need all the help we can get, and fan support is the highest order at every sporting event by our local schools.

Talk to coach Mike Holcomb, and he simply says we will wait and see when it gets nearly 8:00 p.m. Friday evening.  The one thing in favor of the Bobcats in this game is really “Breathitt Pride,” and it might be the overriding factor for these beleaguered Cats.

All known facts of this stage of the week are that the Cats are expected to demonstrate before the hometown that they do have the well-known “Breathitt Pride,” and this would almost have to be the only edge that will be on the field when the whistle blows for the opening kickoff.

This is not the start of the season, but it is the best place to start one at this stage of the game.

Counting from last fall, this is a three-game losing streak for Holcomb and his young men with the necessary Pride to start a winning streak, one game at a time.  The conference season has not started, so that aspect of the season has not been put to any test, and this game does not fit into that category.  This game will not start a new beginning, but it could Stan a winning streak for the Cats.

That is enough of a reason to win, and that should be incentive enough.

This is a special group for coach Holcomb, his assistants, Doug Back, Irton Sparkman, Tim Noble, and the many others who have a part in making this a TEAM.  It is a team sport, and that thus is, the only way to play a team can be the winner or loser, but no one person is responsible for a victory or a loss.  All share the glory, and the other end of the spectrum is also shared by the team and this includes the fans and supporters alike.

The one thing that we can claim as individuals is PRIDE!  There are probably 50,000 people who will be here over the Labor Day weekend, and a stadium full is expected.  Under ordinary times, that should be enough to motivate all of us regardless of the large or small part we have in the annual event.

In talking with coach Holcomb for a few minutes Tuesday AM he probably had the matter in full focus.  Carter, you know, we have had the game scheduled for many weeks.  We have to make an appearance.  We do not hand over a forfeit, and the young men of Breathitt know what Breathitt Pride is, and I am sure they will not just show up but be there and put the issue on the line.

The Jackson Times, August 30, 1990, page A10

Pineville High School – August 31, 1990 – Win 21 – 13

Bobcats win another Honey Bowl

The Honey Bowl was all sweetness for the Bobcats Friday night.  They experienced the sweet taste of victory for the first time this season, beating Pineville 21-13.

Down 7-0 after the first quarter, the Cats charged back and clawed out an exciting win for themselves. 

Coach Holcomb credited the win to the team’s doing a lot of things right.  He said the team was blessed with good leadership.  “Too,” he added, “we came together really well.  We played more like a team than we have all year.  We really worked well together.”

On the other hand, there were some individuals that had impressive performances.  One was Lat Harmon, MVP for the game.  The leading rusher, he carried the ball 36 times for 203 yards, and he scored a couple of touchdowns.

Holcomb said he was impressed with Greg Barnett and noted that he played much better than he had been.  He pointed out that he blocked well and ran well.  He rushed for 69 yards on 12 carries, and he was the first to score for Breathitt on an 11-yard run with 9:22 left in the 2nd quarter.

Barnett received the Best Offensive Back trophy at the Bowl game.  The best Defensive Back award went to Mike Bowling, the Best Offensive Lineman went to Judd Hubbard, and the Best Defensive Lineman was Billy Neace.

Holcomb stressed that if there had been “A Guts Award,” it surely would have gone to Quarterback Brent Lovely.  Even though he played with a sprained ankle, he had a fine game.  He completed four of his eight passes.

Looking at more team strengths, Holcomb pointed out that his squad played better defense, and his offensive linemen blocked especially well, opening up holes for Harmon and Barnett.

Pineville got on the boards first Friday night with a 20-yard TD pass to Green.  The kick was good, and Pineville was up 7-0 with just over a minute left in the 1st quarter.

A couple of touchdowns in the 2nd period gave the Cats a 14-7 advance at intermission.  Early in that second, Barnett scored on his 11-yard run.  With just five seconds remaining in the half, Lat Harmon scored from 1 yard out.  Both of Judd Hubbard’s kicks were good.

Harmon’s five-yard run in the 4th with just 2:56 left in the game gave Breathitt a seemingly comfortable 21-7 lead.

Just 38 seconds later, Pineville scored on a 65-yard pass to Bishop, which reduced the margin to the final 21-13 score.

With nine solo tackles and five assists, Mike Bowling led his team defensively.  Other leading tacklers included Hubbard with nine, Prater with eight, Brown with seven, Edmonds with five,  Harmon with five, and Neace with five.

Greg Brown caught three of Lovely’s passes for 40 yards, and Chapman received one for three.

For Pikeville, Woolum completed two of six passes for 28 yards and Stewart was three of six for 82 yards.

Green hung on to two of his bombs for 29 yards; Bishop grabbed two for 73 yards, and Seavers picked up eight yards on one catch.

The Cats rushed for a total of 264 yards on 51 dashes, and they gained 43 yards in the air.

Friday night, the team will host arch-rival Belfry in a district game.  Belfry always puts a good team on the field against the Bobcats.  This year is expected to be no different.

The Cats would like really well to win this game since they have never defeated Belfry here.  Good fan support might just help bring that about.

Coach Holcomb said he, the other coaches, and the team invited their fans from everywhere to come, support, and enjoy the game.

“We really need our fans out for this game,” Holcomb emphasized.

The Jackson Times, September 6, 1990, page A10

Belfry High School – September 7, 1990 – Loss 7 – 23

Pirates 23 – Bobcats 7

Pirates repel hostile den of Bobcats

With just six and one-half minutes to go in the ball game Friday night, the Bobcats were still very much in it.  At that point, they were down only 13-7.

In the remaining time, though, Belfry scored 10 points to win the game 23-7.

Even in the loss, Holcomb said his team did a lot of positive things.  He said the Cats had a good running game, put together some good drives, played hard and super well, and played with a good team effort.

Considering that Belfry was ranked 3rd in the state in Class 3A, the Breathitt squad treated their fans to a good game.

Just under a minute into the 4th quarter, Lat Harmon scored the Bobcats’ only TD on a one-yard run.  Judd Hubbard’s successful kick gave the Cats their total 7 points. 

Speaking for the team, Holcomb said the boys hated to lose their first district game.  “Hopefully, we can build on it,” he stated.  “By realizing at what level we can play.  Once we find our level, we need to play at it every week.”

Did the Cats play at their optimum level Friday night?  Holcomb said he thought they did.  “If we continue to play at that level and if we continue to improve as we have in the last two or three weeks, we’ll win games.”

The Pirates got on the board early.  On their first possession, they scored on a successful 72-yard drive capped off with a 39-yard TD run by Oliver.  Barker’s kick was good, and the guest team was up by seven with 7:48 remaining in the first period.

Starting the 2nd quarter from their own 40, the Pirates capped their successful 60-yard drive with another touchdown by Oliver with 9:14 left in the first half, a lead Belfry carried with them into intermission.

Breathitt put together two long drives, both of which ended in disappointments for the Cats.  Just before the half ended, Breathitt was down to Belfry’s 11-yard line.  On a 4-2 situation, the team attempted a pass, and it was incomplete.

Starting the second half, the Bobcats began a drive from their own 23 and steadily advanced the ball to Belfry’s 15.  Again, it was a fourth-and-two situation, and the Cats did not pick up the necessary yardage. 

The play that seemed to really take the wind from the Cats was Belfry’s successful 26-yard field goal by Barker that put the Pirates up 16-7.

Although the Cats lost the contest, it was not without its thrilling plays.  Take, for example, Mike Bowling’s solo tackle against Oliver early in the game.  Then there was Craig Taulbee’s saving solo tackle that lowered Kevin Varney, who had already cleared all obstacles and was touchdown-bound until he encountered Taulbee.

Harmon completed an exciting 26-yard run, and Barnett wiggled his way through most of Belfry’s line on a run that looked for a second or two as if he might clear all obstacles.

On a four-and-one situation early in the 2nd half, the Cats decided to go for it.  Harmon swept right and picked up seven yards.

Harmon was the Cats’ rushing workhorse.  He carried the ball 38 times for 182 yards.  Greg Barnett picked up 33 yards on ten rushes.

The defense was led by Mike Bowling with 11 tackles of which seven were solos.  Craig Edmonds had seven.  Judd Hubbard had six.  Craig Taulbee had six.  Greg Brown had five.  Brent Lovely had five, and Billy Neace had five.

Lovely completed three of 15 passes for 40 yards.  Craig Taulbee caught one for ten yards, and Greg Brown two for 30 yards.

Belfry quarterback Hylton completed one of four passes for six yards.  Friday night, the Bobcats take to the road again- this time to Johnson Central for another district game.  Johnson Central always has a strong team, and this year is no exception.

The coaches and team are looking for a lot of fan support for the game.  Holcomb said it was very important right now for the team to realize their fans are behind them.  He urges all fans possible to attend the game and show the Cats that their fans are still with them.

The Jackson Times, September 13, 1990, page A10

Johnson Central – September 14, 1990 – Win 9 – 7

Bobcats improve record to 2-3

Benefiting from a good team effort and some exciting individual plays, the Bobcats improved their record to 2-3 Friday night when they posted a 9-7 victory over Johnson Central.

The win was important, in itself, much more impressive in light of the fact that it was a road game and a district contest.

Breathitt is now 1-1 in the district.

Coach Holcomb said he was happy to get the win on the road, a win he credited to good team offense and defense.  “We did a lot of things right,” he said, “in spite of poor playing conditions due to the rain.”

The Bobcats soundly controlled the game.  They came close to scoring a couple of more times, but the efforts did not materialize.  Holcomb said the Cats were a bit discouraged that they did not put more points on the board.  He stressed to them that a win was a win even though the point spread may be small.

In reference to his team’s mental preparation for a game, he stated, “We have to be mentally ready for every game.  In fact,” he stressed, “We have to play hard mentally and physically every play.  We can’t let up at any point during a game.”

Continuing, he added, “When we are playing our very best, we are capable of being good.  If we perform at a level less than that, we are in serious trouble.”

In reference to some of those good individual plays, none was more important than one made by Ronnie Coomer.  He was the one who tackled Central’s quarterback in the end zone for a safety, the winning play of the game, as it turned out.  Coomer tackled Johnson, and Billy Neace finished him off.

Coomer has made some important contributions to the team this season.  His big play Friday night was spectacular.  He was all over Johnson back there in the end zone before Johnson knew what was going on.

Looking at some other individual performances, Holcomb said he thought Greg Brown played well.  Of course, Lat was the workhouse again.  He ran the ball 41 times for 177 yards.  He also scored the team’s touchdown on a seven-yard run in the second quarter.

Hubbard’s excellent playing did not go unnoticed by his coach.  “He did a lot of good things for us.  He had a good game,” emphasized Holcomb.

Then there’s Billy Neace, who’s worked hard throughout the season.  Holcomb added that he played hard and well against Johnson Central.

So did Mike Bowling.  He’s played consistently well all year and has been a major factor in the team’s successes this season.  The Bobcats scored their TD after putting together a 58-yard drive in the second period.  Barnett and Harmon both picked up some yardage on that drive, and Lovely completed two big pass plays to Greg Brown.

Before the period was over, Coomer and Neace teamed up for the safety, and the Cats took a 9-0 add with them into intermission.  As it turned out, that was all the Cats would score, but it was enough to win the game.

The Golden Eagles scored their only run with 8:38 left in the 3rd frame.

In addition to Harmon’s 177 yards, Barnett netted 80 on 11 carries, and Bowling ran once for four yards.  That adds up to a team total of 261 yards on 53 rushes.

In the passing stats, Lovely completed six of 11 for 59 yards.  Brown caught the six completed passes.  Johnson Central’s quarterback, Johnson, completed four of 12 passes for 41 yards.  Howard received one, Whitaker two, and Sinners one.

Judd Hubbard made five tackles on defense, four of which were solos.  Mike Bowling was 3-2.  Billy Neace had four solos, Lat Hannon three, Craig Edmonds two, Bill Smith two, and Brian Prater two.  As stated earlier, Ronnie Coomer made three tackles.

Friday night, the Cats will be playing back at home, where they will host Fleming-Neon.  As usual, the coaching staff and team invite their fans to the game, which marks the mid-way point of the season.  The Bobcats have played five games, and after Friday night’s game, there will be five more to go.

The Jackson Times, September 20, 1990, page B8

Fleming-Neon High School – September 21, 1990 – Win 33 – 21

Breathitt Bobcats Defeat Fleming-Neon 33-21

Last Friday night, the Breathitt Bobcats defeated a stubborn Fleming-Neon team under about the worst conditions any two football teams should have to play in.  The final score was Breathitt 33, Feming-Neon 21.

Coach Holcomb said it is always great to win the game on Homecoming Day.  He said he hoped the fans were pleased.  Thanks to a good first quarter, the Cats amassed 21 points on three touchdowns and three extra points.  The Bobcats had the lead at halftime, and Holcomb had the chance to save his team for next week’s encounter with the Tigers of Clay County, who will be in town to battle the Bobcats in what probably will determine the top team in our district.

Holcomb said he was glad to have a chance to do some of the hard work that should be done to face Clay in a district game that might well settle just who will be able to claim the district crown.  Since the Tigers are 2-0 in the district, another win would give the district title at Clay County.  Again!

Coach Holcomb indicated that he was grateful for the opportunity to rest his starters and allow them to heal their bruises and hurts.  He said he hoped that the break would allow Brent Lovely, his first-string quarterback, to mend better and return after an ankle injury during a prior game.

He was pleased to note that Greg Brown, Craig Taulbee, and Wick Chapman drew his praise for their performance under the weather conditions that they had to endure.

Coach Holcomb hopes that weather conditions will be better for the game this Friday night so both teams can perform at their best.

The Jackson Times, September 27, 1990, page 22

Clay County – September 28, 1990 – Loss 55 – 7

Bobcats fall to talented Clay County

Coach Holcomb described Friday night’s slaughter of the Bobcats as “the longest two hours of my life on the football field.”

Then he added, “I hope we never have to live through another game like that one.”

It was all in reference to Clay County’s walloping of the Bobcats 55-7 on the Cats’ home field in a district contest.

Maybe the Tigers remembered last year’s game, in which Breathitt defeated them 15-13 in the last few seconds.  If revenge is what they wanted, they got it big time.  They completely dominated the game.

Breathitt fumbled the ball five times, and all led to touchdowns.  In fact, Clay County, being the good team that it was, seemed to capitalize on every mistake Breathitt made.

The Tigers came to play ball, and they had the horses to play with.  They played with 12 seniors and brutes that weighed 248, 237, 243, 240, and the like.  They fielded 15 players who weighed 190 lbs. or more.

Clay County, undefeated this season, got on the board early.  Had it not been for Morgan Hooker, who made a saving tackle on the original kickoff, the Tigers likely would have scored on that play.  They moved the ball in their own 43.  And seven plays later, Henson scored on an 8-yard run with 8:23 remaining in the first quarter.

The Cats fumbled on their first possession; the Tigers recovered it, and in less than two minutes after their first touchdown.  They scored again.  Both PATs were good.  The Tigers’ lead was 14-0.

Mike Bowling returned the Tigers’ kickoff to Breathitt’s 30-yard line.  Two plays later, Lat Harmon ignited his team with a 35-yard run, and Barnett added spice with his 20-yard touchdown run with 4:23 left in the first period.  The extra point by Judd Hubbard was good, cutting the difference to 14-7.

From that point on, it was a long game for the Bobcats and their fans.  Clay County scored again before the quarter was over, and at halftime, the Tigers enjoyed a commanding 33-7 advantage.  Going into the 4th round, they had a 47-7 lead.

Toward the end of the 2nd quarter, Breathitt was putting together a pretty good drive.  Aided by a 26-yard run by Harmon, the Cats had the ball on Clay’s 40.  That’s where another fatal blow fell.  The local squad fumbled.  Clay recovered and scored.  The two-point conversion was good, which gave the visiting team a 33-7 intermission advantage.

Henson scored three times for the Tigers- on an 8- and-15-yard run, respectively, and a 60-yard fumble recovery.  Davidson scored a couple of times, Hacker once, and quarterback Garrison twice. 

Harmon ran the ball 22 times for the Bobcats and gained 128 yards.

Greg Barnett picked up 133 on 15 rushes.  He had one 20-yard run and two 21-yarders.  Lovely ran on four keepers, gaining 13 yards.

For Clay County, Davidson rushed 12 times for 183 yards and two touchdowns.  Henson picked up 82 yards on 12 rushes and three touchdowns; Hacker went seven times for 24 yards and one touchdown.  Quarterback Garrison scored a couple of touchdowns.

Lovely completed three passes to Greg Brown for 23 yards, one to Lat Harmon for nine yards, and one to Chapman for seven.

Both teams had 14 first downs, and each was penalized 15 yards.  Not making excuses for the defeat.  Holcomb said he thought the Bobcats were beaten by the best team Clay County has had in recent years.

“We gave them the opportunity to beat us, and they did,” he added. 

The Cats have four games left, and Holcomb stressed that the squad has to get its head up and prepare for the rest of the season.  “If we play our remaining games with a positive attitude, we’ll be in the ball games,” he concluded.

The Bobcats aren’t playing Friday night.  They resume action on October 11 with Russell in an away game.  The last three games in order are Knott County, Leslie, and Whitesburg.  Leslie is at home; all the others are away.

The Jackson Times, October 4, 1990, page 22

Football Is Family

BHS football team “like family”

There’s something special about being on a football team according to Greg Brown, a senior Bobcat.

There’s a spirit found there that’s missing on other kinds of teams he said.  Greg put it this way: “Your football team is almost like your family.  You shed blood and tears together.  On a football team, you are there for each other.”

Greg joined his first football team as an eighth grader at SMS.  Noticing his friends having fun playing and having an adventuresome spirit, he decided to give the sport a try and found it much to his liking.

When he moved to high school, Coach Holcomb saw he had ability and, “he talked me into playing quarterback and defensive end,” laughed Greg.

It’s a decision he’s glad he made because football has been one of the highlights of his high school career.

This year, he’s playing wide receiver and has contributed to his team game after game with some beautiful catches.  None stand out vividly in his mind he said than the one-hand catch he made against Madison Central.

He’s powerful on defense, too.  He was recognized as the Best Defensive Back in the Choo-Choo Bowl.

Greg’s second love in sports is baseball.  He started playing in the BYF baseball program when there was a Pee Wee league, and he’s been batting and catching balls ever since.  A three-year Bobcat baseball player, Greg plays mostly in the left field.

The son of Dennis and Eunice Brown, Greg has strong family support for all his athletic involvement.

Regular in attendance at the Jackson Christian Church, he had a new experience this summer.  He helped build his family’s new house on Belcher Fork.  Having lived on Lakeside Estates just prior to moving, he vowed that he loved being “a country boy.”

The county is much to his liking since he especially loves to squirrel hunt.  “I go almost every Saturday morning,” he stressed.  He enjoys fishing, too, but that happens less frequently.

Following graduation, he’s looking forward to enrolling in a vocational school to study auto mechanics, something he has a deep fascination with.

The JacksonTimes, October 11, 1990, page 18

Russell High School – October 12, 1990 – Win 35 – 7

Bobcats claw their way over Russell 35-7

After a weekend off from football games, the Bobcats went back into playing action last week against Russell.  They totally dominated the game and won it 35-7, improving their season record to 4-4.

Against Russell, the Cats looked like a different team compared to the way they played against Clay County.  They eliminated turnovers, played with confidence, and totally delighted their fans.

“It was good for our team to win,” said Coach Holcomb.  He stressed that it was a true team win since everybody played well.

The offensive line, he said, really came through.  On that line were Wick Chapman, Judd Hubbard, Brian Prater, Chris Gillum, William McIntosh, and Bill Smith.  On the other hand, some individuals had a big night.  Craig Taulbee had the best game of his career.  He caught three passes for a total of 82 yards.  One was a 35-yard touchdown pass.

Holcomb added that Greg Barnett played the best game of his football career.  He led the team in rushing with 96 yards on 15 carries.  Also receiving words of praise for jobs well done were Mike Bowling, Greg Brown, Brent Lovely, and Billy Neace.

Breathitt got on the board early.  In fact, they did so on their very first possession, a 71-yard drive.

Quarterback Lovely completed a 35 touchdown pass to Craig Taulbee, and Judd Hubbard’s kick was good and put the Cats up 7-0 with 7:04 left in the first quarter.

When the Red Devils took over, they put together a 62-yard drive, moving the ball to Breathitt’s 14.  Gibbons gave Russell a boost along the way with a 36-yard dash.

Mike Bowling gave the Bobcats a boost with a saving tackle, bringing his man down on Breathitt’s 31.  Later, on a four and 12 situation, Russell was going for it.  But thanks to good defensive action by Greg Barnett, Lat Harmon, and Brent Lovely, the Devils didn’t go anywhere.

On their next possession, Russell fumbled, Breathitt recovered, and Barnett scored on an 11-yard run, which gave his club a 13-0 advantage.

That was followed by Russell’s only score of the night.  Craft returned Hubbard’s kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown.  The kick was good, and Breathitt’s lead was cut to 13-7.

But not for long.  Craig Taulbee came through again for the Cats.  He caught two back-to-back passes for 47 yards, one being a 37-yarder.

Three plays later, Lovely scored from one yard out, and his two-point conversion was good, which put the Bobcats back in control 21-7.

In the third quarter, Barnett scored on a three-yard run, capping a 35-yard drive.  Lovely scored last for his team on another one-yarder.  That completed a 68-yard drive, leaving 7:51 remaining in the game.

The Bobcats enjoyed a 21-7 lead at intermission and an upbeat mood.  In the final seconds of the first half, Lovely intercepted a pass, but the team had no time to capitalize on it.

Lovely intercepted another pass later, and just before the game ended, Todd Williams recovered a fumble.

Gibbons led the Red Devil in rushing.  He carried the ball 14 times for 73 yards.  Lockhart went eight times for 31 yards.  Osborn picked up 27 yards on five dashes.

Lovely completed six of 12 passes for 106 yards.  Hutchinson found receivers on six of 16 tries for 68 yards for Russell.

The total offense for Breathitt was 307 yards.  For Russell, it was 227.

Knott County Friday night Friday night the Bobcats go to Knott County for their final district game.  The Patriots are on a winning streak right now, having won their last three games.  They’ll be up for Breathitt.

The entire coaching staff and team all invite their fans from everywhere to go support them Friday.  Coach Holcomb feels the Cats will need help to manage a win.  He, therefore, encourages fans everywhere to attend the game Friday night and help the Cats put this last district contest of the session in the win category.

In fact, only two games remain after Friday night.  They are with Leslie and Whitesburg, respectively.  Leslie is at home, and Whitesburg is away.

The Jackson Times, October 18, 1990, page B6

Knott County – October 19, 1990 – Win 42 – 7

Cats scratch Patriots, 42-7

The Bobcats evened their district record at 2-2 after walloping Knott Central, 42-7 Friday night in a district contest.

The Cats’ defense totally dominated the game.  They allowed the Patriots only one first down in the first three quarters.

Knott Central did not score until the 4th period.  In fact, there were only 2:45 left in the game when they got on the board.

Breathitt rushed for 261 yards compared to Knott Central’s 55.  In the air.  Lovely completed four of seven passes for 67 yards.  The Patriots picked up 25 passing yards on three of eight throws.

“We looked like our old football team,” Holcomb observed in a review of the game.  He said his team came out ready to play and wasted no time getting into the spirit of the game.

He pointed out that the men on the front line came through with flying colors.  Well pleased with their blocking success, Holcomb added that they controlled the line of scrimmage.  Receiving praise for jobs well done on the line were Judd Hubbard, Bill Smith, William McIntosh, Chris Gillum, Brian Prater, Wick Chapman, and Craig Edmonds.

Edmonds and Billy Neace were commended by their coach for well-done jobs as defensive ends.  Others who were described as playing outstanding defense were Hubbard, Ronnie Coomer, and Mike Bowling.  Greg Brown contributed with some good hits.

The team depended on Lat Harmon to run the bail a lot.  He didn’t let anybody down.  On 25 carries, he gained 145 yards.

Greg Barnett also continued to run well and with lots of power.  On ten carries, he rushed for 67 yards.  Morgan Hooker ran twice and got 19 yards; he gained 14 on his first carry.

On five keepers, Lovely dashed for 33 yards.  Holcomb said he was well pleased with the way Lovely ran the offense.  He described his efforts as “flawless.”

Wick Chapman, a sophomore, had a big night.  He caught two passes for 18 and 13 yards, respectively.  Greg Brown received one of Lovely’s other passes for 28 yards, and George Chapman caught one for eight yards.

Harmon scored Brcathitt’s first two touchdowns, each on two-yard runs; it took the team only six plays to complete the first drive of 31 yards, leaving 2:51 in the first period.  It took 16 plays and 71 yards to complete the second drive with 3:43 remaining in the 1st half.  That left enough time for the Cats to score before intermission.  They did it with just 14 seconds left when Chapman scored from 13 yards out.

The two-point conversion was good as were the extra points after the first two TDs.  Breathitt went into intermission with a 22-0 command.  In the 2nd half, Harmon scored a couple more touchdowns.  Chapman Harmon ran from 12 and 18 yards out, and Chapman scored on another 13-yarder.

Hubbard did a fine job kicking the extra points.  He was successful on every attempt.

Fort Knott Central, Givson was the team’s leading rusher with 31 yards on nine tries.  Craft dashed seven times for nine yards, Adams six for 12, and Morrison three for seven.  Adams scored his team’s only TD.

Leslie Friday Night

The Bobcats will host Leslie County Friday night in the last home game this season.

Leslie has an outstanding quarterback, Greg Couch, a junior.  Coach Holcomb said he thinks he might be the 2nd best quarterback his team has faced this season.  He ranks right behind Estill County’s Jeremy Niece, who is reputed to be among the state’s top and maybe the top high school quarterback in the state.  He is highly recruited by major universities.

The Leslie Eagles have one of the largest (number-wise) rosters of any team in the mountains.  They have 61 players, of which nine are seniors and nine are juniors.

Coach Anthony Lillie will bring a well-coached team to Breathitt on Friday night.  The Eagles have played a tough schedule, and they’ll be hoping for another “W” game.

It will be senior night for the local team.  All fans everywhere are invited to the game to support the team as a whole and, especially, the seniors since this will be their last home regular season game.

The Jackson Times, October 25, 1990, page 22

Leslie County – October 26, 1990 – Win 35 – 18

Bobcats blast Leslie Co. 35-18

The Bobcats played their last home season game Friday night and won it grandly.  The offensive team exploded as they amassed 457 yards- 324 rushing and 133 in the air to win the game, 35-18.

The Bobcats came out ready to play, and they never let up.  Coach Holcomb had nothing but words of praise for the offensive line.  They did a great job,” he stressed.  They blocked well all night- a super performance.”

Receiving some credit for jobs well done were Judd Hubbard, Bill Smith, Craig Edmonds, William McIntosh, Chris Gillum, and Wick Chapman.

The workhorse of the evening was Lat Harmon, who was honored as player of the week.  He ran the ball 27 times and acquired 164 yards.  He also scored a couple of TDs, a six-yarder in the second quarter and a ten-yarder in the 3rd.

Of course, Harmon had some good help along the way.  Holcomb had words of praise for Mike Bowling, Billy Neace, and Greg Barnett, who blocked well for Harmon throughout the game.

Neither team scored in the first quarter, although Breathitt came very near.  On their first possession, the opening round, the Bobcats moved the ball 70 yards, right down to the Eagles’ six.  Just when it looked like the Cats would score for sure, Lovely was sacked for a loss of 12.  On a four-and-18 situation, Hubbard attempted a field goal that veered left.

Not daunted, the Cats came right back and drove the ball 55 yards.  Harmon scored from six yards out.  Hubbard’s kick was good, and the Cats were in front 7-0 with 9:44 left in the first half.

On Breathitt’s next possession, pass to Greg Brown, and the Cats enjoyed a 14-point edge.

With less than a minute left in the half, though, Leslie cut the difference to 14-6 when Baker caught a 20-yard TD pass from Couch.  Since the two-point conversion was no good, the Bobcats had a 14-6 lead at intermission.

In the 3rd round, Harmon scored again on a ten-yard run.  Then Breathitt gave Leslie some good positions, and the Eagles took advantage of both of them.  First, they took over on Breathitt’s 27, and five plays later, they had the ball in the end zone, a one-yard plunge by Lewis.

Then Leslie recovered a Breathitt fumble, taking over on their 47, and it took the Eagles only five plays again to score.  Rapidly closing the gap at 8:18 in the 4th round, the Eagles reduced Breathitt’s margin to 21-18.

In reality, though, that was all Leslie was to do.  They scored no more.

With a 70-yard TD run.  Lovely pushed the Cats back in front 28-18, and Billy Neace made it 35-18 with an eight-yard touchdown run, his first TD this season.

Judd Hubbard did a great job kicking.  Each of his PATs were good.

Couch, Leslie’s outstanding quarterback, had trouble finding his target early in the game.  Seven of his first nine passes were incomplete.  After that, he was accurate on five of nine throws.  Couch picked up 103 yards in the air, his longest being a 36-yarder to Collette.

Lovely completed five of nine zips for 133 yards.  His longest was a 47-yard TD pass to Brown.

Coach Holcomb stated that he thought Lovely did a super job running the offense.  “He ran the offense faultlessly again,” he added.

Greg Brown’s good performance did not escape the eye of his coach, who pointed out that Greg did a good job.  So did sophomore Steve Spencer and Wick Chapman, he added.

“It was just a good team win for us,” observed Holcomb.  “We’re excited about it.”

Contributing to Breathitt’s 324 yards rushing, in addition to Harmon, was Lovely with 103 yards on ten rushes.  Barnett ran five times for 20 yards.  Bowling five for 29, and Neace one for eight.

Whitesburg Game

Friday night, the Cats close out their season when they go to Whitesburg to play the Yellow Jackets.

Until last Friday, the Jackets had been undefeated.  Belfry stopped their winning streak.  Coach Holcomb said Whitesburg would be a “big challenge.”  However, he was quick to add, “We’re excited about playing them.  Our team is playing excellent football right now.”

He emphasized that his team will be up for the Jackets.  He pointed out that the mental framework of the team is good.

All the coaches and team invite Bobcat fans everywhere to go support them Friday night in what promises to be an exciting game. 

Whitesburg will be out in full force.  Breathitt has had good fan support at away games this season.  The invitation is to keep up the good work.  Give the Cats the support they need and deserve Friday night.

The Jackson Times, November 1, 1990, page 14

Whitesburg High School – November 2, 1990 – Win 24 – 21

Bobcats close their season with a flourish

Last week, there was a large poster in Breathitt High halls that read “Sting the Yellow Jackets.”

The Bobcats took the advice seriously and did just that Friday night when they stung the Jackets 24-21 in one of their thrilling wins of the season.

With nothing but praise for his team’s win, coach Holcomb said it was an exciting game as the Cats had played all season.

He added that he was extremely happy for the seniors, especially that they could end their high school football career with such a big win.  The victory improved the team’s record to 7-4 and allowed them to close their regular season, winning their last four games.

That was important because it reflected the accomplishment of a goal.  After falling to Clay County, the Bobcats set their goal to win their last four scheduled games.  And they did.  They defeated Russell, Knott Central, Leslie, and Whitesburg.

Whitesburg had an undefeated season until they met Belfry two weeks ago.  The Bobcats’ sting meant the Jackets lost their last two season games.

Whitesburg played catch-up all night against Breathitt.  They never had the lead, although they did tie the game at 7, 14, and 21.

With 5 seconds to go in the game, the score was even at 21-21.  Then came another big moment for Judd Hubbard, the Bobcats’ talented kicker.  Coach Holcomb asked him to attempt a 37-yard field goal.  With the tremendous pressure of the game on his shoulders, Hubbard prepared for the kick.  He approached the challenge with an air of confidence, and with the accuracy of a veteran kicker, he blasted the ball between the uprights in a long-to-be-remembered play.

His kick won the game 24-21.

Hubbard said it was among the exciting kicks of his football career.  “It was a great way to end one’s football career,” he pointed out.

Holcomb emphasized that he was happy not only for Judd but for all the seniors that they could finish the season with such a big win.  He said all the seniors played well, and he was pleased with their efforts.

“I’m pleased that we could end the season on a winning note,” stated Holcomb, “but I hate to see the season end in a way because we’re playing such excellent ball right now.”

He further stated that he hoped the win would serve as a motivation to the younger players that will be moving into their winter workout program in the near future.

Breathitt got on the board the first quarter Friday night after completing an 86-yard drive on 14 plays.  Lovely completed a 17-yard TD pass to Greg Brown with 1:16 to go in the first round.  After Hubbard’s kick, the Cats were in control 7-0. 

Bates completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Ahhinanti in the second quarter to even the score at 7-7.  From 14 yards out, Lovely ran for Breathitt’s 2nd touchdown with 1:45 remaining in the first half.  That was enough time, though, for the Jackets to the game at 14-14 after Bates connected with Combs for a 67-yard TD pass.

Harmon scored the Cats’ last TD on a 4-yard run early in the 4th.

In the rushing category, Harmon ran the ball 20 times and picked up 87 yards.  Lovely gained 60 yards on seven keepers, and Greg Barnett rushed for 43 yards on 14 dashes.  Total: 190 yards.

Holland carried the ball 25 times for Whitesburg, and he gained 121 yards.  Gibson ran ten times for 34 yards for a total of 155 yards rushing.

Lovely ended the season with a super performance.  He completed nine of 11 passes for 116 yards.  Greg Brown, who played impressively, was on the receiving end six times for 73 yards.  Hannon caught two passes for 34 yards, and Chapman one for nine.  Lovely threw one TD and one interception.

Bates for Whitesburg completed ten of 12 passes for 169 yards.  He threw to four different receivers: Abbinanti, Combs, McFall, and Hall.  Bates threw two TDs and no interceptions.

Total yards: BHS 306; WHS 324.

Other game stats: BHS had 22 first downs, WHS 17.

The Bobcats will celebrate the close of their 1990 season on Sunday afternoon with their traditional football banquet.

The Jackson Times, November 8, 1990, page B14

Banquet Scheduled

Sunday, November 11, 1:30 p.m.

BHS Bobcat Football Banquet

The best banquet held each year in Breathitt County is the Bobcat Football Banquet, which takes place the week following the final game of the season.  This year is not an exception, for the Bobcats completed a successful season with a record of 7-4 in what some might have thought would be a rebuilding year after the heavy loss of 16 outstanding seniors from the 1989 team that went undefeated during the regular season.

The recognition banquet will be held in the dining room at Breathitt High.  It is being held on Sunday afternoon starting at 1:30 p.m.  The buffet-type meal ensures that there will be plenty to eat for everyone.

Another plus for the affair is that it does not conflict with any other meetings.  You will have plenty of time to attend your church.  You will not have to change the closing, for we all know how well you dress, and a change of clothing will not be necessary.

All football player families are urged to join the festive occasion.  Mothers, you will not have to go home after church and prepare the usual Sunday dinner.

Parents and all football fans are urged to attend and show their respect for the people who support an excellent football program because the coaching staff is one of the finest in high school sports.  Let all of us show our pride, and we can join the team who display their ‘BREATHITT PRIDE’ whenever and wherever they make a team affair.

Don’t forget the time and place: 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 11, at Breathitt High School’s dining room.  Buffet dinner, courtesy of all involved in the football team.  Our Bobcats- they belong to all of us, and we enjoy their success and regret a loss.  We are all a part of a winning tradition.  Come celebrate with us.

The Jackson Times, November 8, 1990, page 26

Football Banquet

Football boosters, parents celebrate with Bobcats

The maxim “You’ve Done Us Proud” in large letters above the head table at the football banquet Sunday afternoon proclaimed the mood of the annual event.  If coaches and speakers voiced anything, it was that everybody was proud of this year’s football team.

Many claimed it would be a rebuilding year for the Cats since they lost a bunch of talented seniors last year.

Even though the Cats got off to a slow start, losing their first two games, they soon got their games under control and ended the season with a 7-4 record.  They highlighted their season by winning their last four games.  Indeed, they did us proud.  The refrain heard over and over Sunday afternoon was.  “We’re proud of you.”

It was made specifically in reference to the Bobcats, but it was also spoken in reference to others who helped make the good football season a reality.

Paul R. Herald, BHS’s new principal and emcee for the banquet, said he was especially grateful for the parents’ support of their child’s football involvement.

In reference to the team’s 7-4 record, Herald said he thought it was “tremendous.” He pointed out that the team had played quality teams, and they did not get down after some early losses.  “They hung in there,” he added, “and for that, I’m proud of them.”

Early in his remarks, he introduced Wilma Quicksell and her lunchroom staff.  He thanked them for the delightful meal and stressed that the women always do a good job preparing and serving food.

Others he recognized were the football boosters, Carter Combs from The Jackson Times, Board Members Kelly Noble and Seldon Short, and Oakley Turner, a former board member.

Hargus Rogers, Breathitt County School Superintendent, discussed the elements of success in his remarks and pointed out that he considered Coach Holcomb an example of success.  Rogers stated that in Holcomb’s eight years as BHS head coach, he had compiled an impressive 61-27 record.

Karen Griffith, the cheerleader sponsor, introduced the cheerleaders and expressed appreciation to the parents.  Stacy Chapman, and others for their contributions to the cheerleading squad.  She introduced two seniors, Traci Hudson and Bethel Sheffel, and stated that she had enjoyed working with them and wished them well.  She also introduced the sophomores and juniors.  The sophomores were Melanie Mullins, Angie Brown, Crystal Gabbard, Patricia Lovins, and Heather Miller.  From the junior class were Katrina Faulkner, Jana Abner, Tracey Combs, Donna Moore, and Andrus Douthitt.

Moving into the recognition of the football players, Holcomb welcomed the capacity crowd and expressed appreciation to many organizations, individuals, and businesses that contributed in some capacity to the football program.  “It takes a lot of people to run a football program,” he said.  “In our community, almost everybody helps.”

He expressed appreciation to the school staff and faculty, from the office, Board of Education, bus drivers, Superintendent, both banks, Kiwanis Club, Quality Home Supply, Jackson Times, Wal-Mart, True Value, State and local police, ambulance service, fire Department, Dr. Cornett, J.K. and Addie Murphy, WEKG, Jeff Gabbard, Sam Herald, Hubert Herald, Coach JamesTurner, Boosters Club, Ron Harmon, and especially the parents.  He expressed special appreciation to the band, cheerleaders, pep club, ROTC, and student council for their support of the 1990 football program.

He introduced each assistant coach and explained their main area of expertise.  Presented were Coaches Tim Noble, Steve Thomas, Irton Sparkman, John Paul Chapman, and Doug Back.

In jovial spirits, Holcomb introduced the football players, starting with the freshman class.  He quipped that a fellow coach once saw the freshman team and inquired whose varsity squad were they.  The freshman team has some impressively large young players.

On that team are Shane Carpenter, Greg Gross, Carlis Hudson, Ricky Ritchie, Danny Napier, Frank Neace, Brad Thomas, Gene Duncan II, Earl Young, Ken Fugate, Tim Taulbee, Mort Turner, Shawn Smith, Michael Lively, Michael Spencer, and Willard Gross.

From the sophomore class are Steve Spencer, Willie Griffith, Shannon White, Jarrod Morgan, Lat Harmon, Jason Carpenter, Chris Gillum, John Wolfe, Chris Hayes, Wick Chapman, George Chapman, Richard Short, and Tony Gilbert.

The junior class is represented by Billy Neace, Ronnie Coomer, Greg Barnett, Aaron McIntosh, Morgan Hooker, Todd Williams, and Cartus Parks.

Coach Holcomb presented each of the seniors with a plaque that highlighted some of their football accomplishments.

Leading this list of seniors was Bjorn Larsson, an exchange student.  Holcomb pointed out that he was a first-year player, provided the team with a great personality, and showed lots of dedication and pride. 

Tracy Noble was a one-year player.  He played defensive back.  Holcomb stated that Tracy was a hard hitter who did a super job on the specialty teams.  “He contributed to our team greatly.”

William McIntosh, center, was a three-year player.  His coach said he was an outstanding blocker who did a great job on the offensive line and worked very hard.  “He had a great attitude.”

Craig Edmonds was a four-year player, a guard, and a defensive end.  His plaque read, “he did a great job as a defensive end, a good blocker on the offensive line.  Provided lots of enthusiasm and excitement to our team through hard work.”

Brian Prater, four-year player, was a guard and linebacker.  Holcomb stated that he was a great blocker, hard hitter, player, and hard worker.  “He provided our team with great leadership and enthusiasm.”  He had 46 tackles, 22 assists, and three fumble recoveries.

Bill Smith played tackle.  He was a four-year player.  His coach told the audience that Bill was an “outstanding offensive and defensive tackle; he blocked well and provided leadership to the team through hard work and dedication.” He had 35 tackles and 22 assists.

Craig Taulbee played wide receiver and defensive back; concerning Craig, his coach explained that he was a four-year player and outstanding receiver, excellent blocker, and good defensive back.  “He worked extremely hard,” said his coach, “and got the most out of his ability.”  He had 15 tackles, 12 assists, two interceptions, two TDs, and ten receptions for 202 yards.

Judd Hubbard, a four-year player, was a tackier and kicker; he was described as a three-year starter, outstanding blocker, and offensive lineman.  He was a great kicker who made many pressure kicks during his career.  In 1988, he kicked five field goals and 21 extra points.  In 1989, three field goals and 23 extra points.  In 1990, four field goals and 21 extra points.  During his career, he had 96 tackles, 54 assists, and four fumble recoveries.

Mike Bowling was a four-year player who played LB/FB.  Holcomb explained that Mike was an “Outstanding linebacker who played extra hard, made several big plays for defense, and was always ready to contribute any way the team needed help.”  During his career, Mike made 65 tackles, 39 assists, three interceptions, and five fumble recoveries.

Greg Brown, a 4-year player, was a WR/Rover.  A two-year starter.  Greg was described as being an “Outstanding hitter, great receiver who played many positions well.”  He had 34 receptions for 503 yards, two TDs, 68 tackles, 36 assists, five interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.

Brent Lovely, QB, DB, and punter, was a three-year starter.  In 1989, he completed 81 of 172 passes for 1,189 yards and 19 TDs.  That year, he carried the ball 434 yards, scored two TDs, and had one conversion.  He punted for an average of 34.5 yards and made five interceptions.   In 1990, he completed 64 of 129 passes for 1,058 yards, ten TDs.  Rushing, he gained 273 yards and scored seven TDs.   He made eight interceptions.  He was described as an “All-around football player who provided our teams with great leadership.”

Only three trophies were presented at the recognition banquet.  Recipients of the leadership, 110 percent, and MVP awards were all selected by the team members.

The leadership award went to Brian Prater.

Greg Brown received the 110 percent award.

Brent Lovely was presented with the MVP trophy.

The Jackson Times, November 15, 1990, page 12

Post Season Awards

A historical repeat

Two Bobcats named to All-State Team

First Team

Recognition was brought to Breathitt High’s football program this week with the announcement that two Bobcats were selected for membership in the All-State Teams.

Judd Hubbard was on the first-team offense, and Brent Lovely third-team defense.  This is the second time in the history of football at Breathitt High that the school had a player to make the first team.  Rich McCune did it in 1987.

Hubbard was recognized as a placekicker, and it was Lovely’s ability as a defensive back that got him statewide attention.

Announcing Judd’s selection to the All-State first team, The Courier-Journal stated Sunday.  Hubbard ended his career on a storybook note, kicking his longest field goal (38 yards) on the last play of his final game to beat Whitesburg 24-21.

“That gave the Breathitt County star 15 field goals in three years, including this season, he kicked three as a junior and six as a sophomore.”

Judd’s kicking won several ball games for Breathitt High, a notable win being the Clay County game last scar at Manchester.

Delighted with the statewide recognition of both Hubbard and Lovely, Coach Holcomb said he thought the boys were deserving of the honors.  He pointed out that Judd had put in long hours working on his kicking.

“Kicking is a phase of the game that has been very valuable to our team for the last three years,” according to Holcomb.  He said he was especially grateful for Judd’s ability and the way he developed it for the benefit of the team and, of course, for himself.

Holcomb said the two big kicks that stand out in his mind were the ones against Clay County and Whitesburg.

He stated that he always felt comfortable whenever the team got inside the 40 because he thought Judd had a good chance to make a field goal.

“It was an outstanding honor for Judd to be one of the top 12 offensive players in the stale,” Holcomb emphasized.

For his career, Hubbard made 66 of 90 extra-point attempts, including a 29-34 mark this season.

Kicking wasn’t all Hubbard did.  He played tackle on offense and defense.  In fact, his coach pointed out that he never came off the field in three years.

Modest about his recognition, Hubbard said much of his credit went to his holder and snappers.  Greg Brown has always held for him.  During his sophomore and junior years, his snapper was Kevin Calhoun.  This year, it was Craig Edmonds.  “Without them, I could not have kicked at all,” Judd stated.

He added that he was thankful for and appreciative of several people who helped him along the way.  He emphasized again that his holder and snappers got much credit.

Appreciation was also expressed to his coaches, the fans, his family, friends, and his teammates.  Coach Holcomb pointed out at the football banquet that Judd kicked five field goals and 21 extra points in 1988.  In 1989, he had six field goals and 23 extra points.  In 1990, it was four field goals and 21 extra points.  During his career, he had 96 tackles, 54 assists, and four fumble recoveries.  When all was said and done.  Judd confessed that kicking was the most fun part of his football career.

Speaking of his kicking, he said he always breathed a prayer before each kick so that he might do his very best.  After the kick, there was a prayer of thanksgiving.

Being selected to the Commonwealth’s All-State first team gives him some much-deserved recognition.  It can only improve his status among the recruiting coaches.

Several colleges have already been in touch with Judd.  Presently, he’s interested in walking on at U.K., Eastern, or Tennessee.

Of the three, he said he would really like to play for the University of Kentucky.

Third Team

Coach Holcomb said he thought it was a great honor for Lovely to be selected to the All-State third team, especially in light of the fact that there is much competition in the position in which he was recognized.

Most fans appreciate Brent as a quarterback.  That’s the position most people saw him in action.  On the other head coaches appreciated his defensive ability.  “As a coach, I was very appreciative of what he did as a defensive player,” Holcomb stated.

Brent said he was overjoyed to be selected to an All-State team.  He added that he had worked hard for 4 or 5 years to develop his football prowess and was pleased that his ability was recognized statewide.  During the past three years, he made all the defensive calls on the field.

He had to adjust according to what the offense did.

“He was a good student of the game,” pointed out Holcomb.  “He had to play smart.  On the field, he was both the offensive and defensive coach.”

Brent was a three-year starter.  During that time, he was QB, DB, and punter.  In 1989, he completed 81 of 172 passes for 1,189 yards and 19 TDs.  That year, he carried the ball 434 yards, scored 2 TDs and one conversion, he punted for an average of 34.5 yards, and made five interceptions.  In 1990, he completed 64 of 129 passes for 1,058 yards and ten touchdowns.  Rushing, he gained 273 yards and scored seven touchdowns.  He made eight interceptions.  He was described as an “All-around football player who provided the Bobcats with great leadership.”

He made several saving tackles during his Breathitt High football career.

Recognized as the MVP at the football banquet this fall, Brent said he felt that being on an All-State was a credit to his ability as well as to the whole team.

Yes, Brent would like to continue his football playing at the college level.  Several colleges have been in touch with him, but he has not made a decision at this point.

Holcomb said both of the young men had set standards for future players in Breathitt’s football program.  “I’m very proud of both of them,” he confirmed.

Both boys are good college material, and Holcomb said he hoped our area colleges don’t overlook them because both Brent and Judd are fine athletes and would make good players for any football program.

The Jackson Times, December 13, 1990, page 8

---

After the success of the 1989 season, hung like a shadow over the 1990 season. Everyone expected similar results as the previous year but failed to take into account the loss of a large portion of the defense and most of the offense. Expectations early in the year were just too high for a young team. While the community support continued and grew in some areas, the 1990 team quietly went to work to continue the “Pride” they had for Breathitt football.

After the shock of several early season losses, the Cats buckled down and ran through the final games of their season. ”We started to play as a team,” one 1990 starter said years later. ”We had not done that early in the season, and we let little things distract us. There was a lot of pressure we put on ourselves and a lot from the fans. When we decided to start playing, you could see and feel the difference on the field.”

Fans could see it too. The Bobcat finished the year with a 7-4 record and lost district matches to Clay County and rival Belfry. Coach Holcomb was pleased with his team because “they could have given up early in the year, but they just did not quit.” ”They worked every day until the end of the last practice,” Holcomb told Carter Combs at The Jackson Times. “That tells you they were a good team, and they knew that too.”

---

© 2023 Stephen D. Bowling