PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – Prestonsburg High School has been playing football for a long time.
In fact, the Blackcats have been playing for nearly a century. The program has played more than 1,000 games. Earlier this season, they celebrated their 600th win as a program. They have played in multiple state championship games. However, in their 29-0 win over Betsy Layne in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs, they accomplished something quite rare.
Including Friday night, Prestonsburg has played 84 playoff games. In those 84 games, only seven have been shutouts. That is just more than eight percent of all postseason games in Prestonsburg history, and one of those instances occurred just last week.
To take that even further, the Blackcats’ shutout win over the Bobcats was just their fourth such victory in the second round or later, and the first since 2007. And all four victories have something in common: the defense stopped a highly ranked offensive player on the other side.
Let’s go back to 1993. The Russell Red Devils were rolling at 11-2 when Prestonsburg came to town for the Class 2A Region IV championship. Running back Robert Brown had rushed for more than 1,400 yards on the season.
What did the Blackcats do?
They held Russell to 74 total yards of offense and just 54 yards rushing in a 21-0 region final victory on their way to an appearance in the Class 2A state championship game.
In 2001, Leslie County featured one of the state’s top passing offenses behind quarterback Chris Barger. Barger ranked fifth in Class 2A that season with nearly 1,900 yards passing and 20 touchdowns and led an Eagles offense that scored 34.4 points per game, including at least 32 points in the five games leading up to their second-round playoff game at Blackcat Stadium.
What did the Blackcats do?
They handed Leslie County its first shutout loss of the season and just second shutout loss in its last 36 games, winning 33-0 and advancing to just their second region final since 2001.
Shelby Valley featured one of the more dynamic offenses in all of Class 2A in 2007. Quarterback Tyler Johnson, running back Jonah Justice, and wide receivers Chris Adkins and Lucas Simpkins all ranked among the top 20 stat leaders at their respective position. Johnson had thrown for more than 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns entering the Wildcats’ second round playoff game against district rival Prestonsburg, while Adkins and Simpkins each had nearly 500 receiving yards.
What did the Blackcats do?
They held Shelby Valley’s offense, which was averaging more than 26 points per game, to zero in a 38-0 rout. As a matter of fact, it was the second time Prestonsburg shut out the Wildcats that season, also winning 14-0 just three weeks prior.
And then there is Friday night against Betsy Layne. Bobcat running back Andrew McCutcheon entered the game with 2,157 yards and averaging 215.7 yards per game, both leading Class 2A and ranking second in all classes. Offensively, Betsy Layne was averaging 35.4 points per game, and just seven weeks earlier had scored 32 points against the Blackcats in a 39-32 loss, a game in which McCutcheon rushed for 183 yards and three touchdowns.
What did the Blackcats do?
They held a Bobcat offense that was averaging more than 350 yards per game to less than 100 total yards of offense, all while pitching a 29-0 shutout to advance to their first region final since 2014.
The saying goes, “Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.” Sounds like the Blackcats' defense, led by head coach Wes Hager and defensive coordinator John Mark Stephens, is prepared for the fight.
Prestonsburg will host Somerset at 7:30 p.m. this Friday at Blackcat Stadium/Josh Francis Field.
Prestonsburg shutouts in postseason history
• 1983 First Round vs. M.C. Napier (20-0)
• 1993 Region Final vs. Russell (21-0)
• 2001 Second Round vs. Leslie County (33-0)
• 2004 First Round vs. Leslie County (36-0)
• 2007 Second Round vs. Shelby Valley (38-0)
• 2010 First Round vs. Knott County Central (66-0)
• 2024 Second Round vs. Betsy Layne (29-0)
