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.
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.
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.
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!
2011 Highlands football
The 2011 Highlands Bluebirds didn’t just win a state championship, they produced one of the greatest offensive seasons in Kentucky high school football history.
Guided by legendary head coach Dale Mueller, Highlands finished a perfect 15-0, captured the school’s 21st state championship with a 42-14 victory over Franklin-Simpson at Houchens-L.T. Smith Stadium and cemented their place among the state’s all-time great teams. Mueller, who finished his career with 309 victories and 11 state championships, led a Bluebirds squad that overwhelmed opponents by an average of 43.9 points, outscoring them 849-121 while allowing just 12.7 points per game.
Highlands set Kentucky records with 849 points, 121 touchdowns, 7,517 total yards and 104 extra points, while averaging 56.6 points and 501.1 yards per game. The Bluebirds eclipsed 70 points three times and scored at least 40 points in 13 of their 15 games. Their only two single-digit victories came against Elder (Ohio), 34-29, and Covington Catholic, 42-37.
Quarterback Patrick Towles, the Kentucky Mr. Football and Gatorade Player of the Year, orchestrated the explosive offense by throwing for 3,820 yards and 42 touchdowns with just one interception while adding 589 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. The four-star recruit went on to start at the University of Kentucky and Boston College, finishing his college career with 6,829 passing yards. Towles was surrounded by playmakers, including Jake True (16 rushing touchdowns), Zach Harris (three touchdowns in the state final), Colin Siedl, Austin Sheehan, Donovan McCoy, David Christian, Jac Collinsworth and Ian McGurn.
The defense matched the offense’s dominance, recording 24 interceptions, five interception returns for touchdowns, 18 fumble recoveries and three fumble return touchdowns while allowing only 208 yards per game.
Other standout contributors included Luke Brockett, Carter New, Blake Schutte, Devin Bruns, and Josh Quillen.
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
Day 9: 1991 Beechwood Football
Day 10: 1954 Newport Catholic Baseball
Day 11: 1982 Highlands Football
Day 12: 2019 Ryle Girls Basketball
Day 13: 1987 Boone County Football
Day 14: 1981 St. Henry Volleyball
Day 15: 2021 Beechwood Football
Day 16: 2002 Covington Catholic Baseball
Day 17: 1957 Highlands Football
Day 18: 2006 Ryle Softball
Day 19: 1975 Ludlow Football
Day 20: 1979 Notre Dame Volleyball
Day 21: 1977 Bellevue Football
Day 22: 2015 Holy Cross Girls Basketball
Day 23: 1970 Highlands Football
Day 24: 2013 Notre Dame Soccer
