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!
1976 Lloyd Memorial Football
The 1976 Lloyd Memorial Juggernauts have to be in the mix for one of the best teams to come out of Northern Kentucky. They went 14-0 against a tough Class 3A schedule that included wins over Newport Central Catholic and Highlands during the regular season. The NewCath game is one to remember for the ages. Trailing late, the Juggernauts drove the length of the field and completed a forward pass from quarterback Mark Molitor to receiver Doug Berkemeier, something not seen too often in this era of football to win it. The tough regular season schedule had them ready for postseason as they rolled through teams by a combined score of 96-12.
The team was coached by Jim “Red Dog” Dougherty as they were labeled a “bunch of blue collar types that just mauled people.” The defense allowed 89 points all season and the Juggernauts outscored teams 434-89. Lloyd’s average margin of victory was nearly 25 points per game.
Dougherty, a Northern Kentucky coaching legend, took over the program in 1974 and built the Juggernauts into a powerhouse known for physical line play and relentless defense.
Mark Molitor was the quarterback, Dave Smith and Mika Lockard were the running backs. Bobby Mullins was a standout on defense. Tim Wheeler helped man the offensive line after transferring from Ludlow and the 1975 state championship team. Other members of the team included receivers Doug Berkemeier and Gary Eades, running backs Steve Hahlen and Kevin Ashley.
Erlanger was the place to be in the fall of ’76. The stadium was packed and the band was huge, stretching from one 20-yard line to the other.
Dave Smith scored two touchdowns in the 24-0 state championship victory over Shelby County at University of Kentucky’s Commonwealth Stadium. Mika Lockard added a touchdown while Tim Pumphrey kicked a field goal and three extra points for the Juggernauts.
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