We gave you the 50 greatest sports icons from NKY last summer. Since we had so much fun with that, we’re bringing you another list of the 50 greatest things this summer…The 50 greatest prep sports teams from NKY.Â
Each day for the next 50 days, we’ll release one of the area’s 50 greatest prep sports teams. It starts June 22 and runs into August. This is not a ranking 1-50, it’s just a collection of the 50 best sports teams ever assembled.
We’ll preface this by saying you may or may not agree with all 50 and that’s fine. Sports editor Evan Dennison assembled a panel of dedicated and longly-tenured NKY sports fans to weigh in and give their takes on who should be on the list. I trust those people because of their history and knowledge of the game in NKY. We compiled numerous lists and identified the most certain candidates for inclusion.Â
Some of the traits we sought in these teams were state championships (almost certainly a requirement), dominance, and standout players and coaches. We may have cheated a little by lumping some dominant teams together that achieved numerous consecutive state titles, but that gives a few more teams an opportunity to be recognized.Â
I hope you enjoy this, as sports are slow in the summer. This list serves as a way to remember the past a little and keep you entertained daily as it continues.
Another note, while we respect and give coverage to golf, tennis, wrestling, bowling, track and field and cross country, we consider those individual sports, so any teams from those sports will not make the list.
Here we go! Â
1987 Boone County football
For much of the fall of 1987, Boone County appeared destined to capture the state football championship.
The Rebels entered the season motivated by a loss in the Class 4A state championship game the year before and responded with the program’s first undefeated regular season. Under legendary head coach Owen Hauck, Boone County went 10-0, spent much of the season ranked No. 1 in Kentucky and established itself as one of the state’s most dominant teams.
The Rebels combined a punishing rushing attack with a defense that thrived on creating turnovers. Boone County rushed for 4,258 yards and averaged 33 points per game. John Ransdell led the offense with 1,687 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, while Tony Law added 1,008 yards and 11 scores on just 115 carries. Jon Smith nearly gave the Rebels a third 1,000-yard rusher, finishing with 966 yards and a team-high 21 touchdowns. Quarterback Phil Dinn directed the offense before continuing his career at Morehead State.
Defensively, Boone County was just as impressive. The Rebels recorded 27 interceptions and forced 37 turnovers while allowing only five passing touchdowns all season. All-state linebacker Dave Trosper led the way with 181 tackles, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries. Law added a staggering 25.5 sacks.
Boone County entered the state championship unbeaten after winning their first three playoff games by an average of 29 points. Facing Shelby County, a team they had beaten 28-0 during the regular season, the Rebels fell behind 17-0 before rallying with 14 fourth-quarter points. The comeback came up just short in a 17-14 defeat.
Although the championship eluded them, the 1987 Rebels remain one of Northern Kentucky’s most celebrated teams and are often considered the greatest squad never to win a state title.
Here’s the rundown of the 50 greatest NKY prep sports teams day by day:
Day 1: 1998 Highlands Football
Day 2: 1963 Holmes Baseball
Day 3: 2019 Covington Catholic football
Day 4: 2021 Notre Dame Academy Girls Soccer
Day 5: 1960 Highlands Football
Day 6: 1980 Villa Madonna Volleyball
Day 7: 1976 Lloyd Memorial Football
Day 8: 2009 Holmes Boys Basketball