Published: November 07, 2009 06:53 pm      

Perfect Heredity

Somerset — It has been 25 years since the Somerset High School football program has been able to accomplish what they have so far this year.

Though the past quarter century has seen its ups and downs, there has undoubtedly been a great deal of success under the leadership of the three head coaches over that period-John Cain, Jeff Perkins, and Jay Cobb. And some of the teams that have worn the purple and gold onto the field during the years since Cain’s 1984 team finished off a 13-1 season have probably been as good or better than this year’s team.

But the 2009 version of the Briar Jumpers has done something that hasn’t been done since Tony Massey and James Fletcher lined up in the same backfield—they finished the regular season undefeated.

It marks the third time in school history that the feat has been accomplished, the first two times being the back-to-back season of 1983-4. After starting the season by surviving the early season five game gauntlet of non-district foes, the possibility that Somerset could finish 10-0 became an unspoken reality. After taking care of business week after week in district play, the regular season ended unblemished, leaving everyone to wonder just where this team fits into the historic fabric of SHS football.

Comparisons between the two teams, this team and the ‘83-84 teams, is difficult because of the different eras, styles, and competition experienced by each. But certain similarities, some almost eerie, link these teams together across the years.

The easiest comparison would be with the 1983 team that finished as 2A State Runners-up. Some of the comparison could seem fairly random, like the fact that each team has a forfeit win to their credit. This year’s 1-0 win over district foe Jackson County, because of illness, mirrors the 1-0 win over district foe Wayne County in 1983.

But many other similarities strike right at the heart of the teams.

In 1983, like in 2009, Somerset was expected to be a fine team, but probably a year away from serious contention. Gone from the team were their rifle armed starting quarterback, Shannon Neikirk, their All-State running back, Scott Stephens, and the leading receiver in school history Allen Sexton. Stephens had just set the school’s single season rushing mark, in only 11 games, and Sexton had just been named the Kentucky High School Player of the Year. That award is now known as Mr. Football in Kentucky. The records set by Stephens and Sexton would later be broken by James Fletcher and John Cole, but that was a huge loss from a team that claimed a road victory over the eventual 1983 state champions, Corbin.

This year’s Briar Jumper team was seen in much the same light. After taking a dip last season, finishing 5-6 while Head Coach Jay Cobb had to spread playing time among a host of very young players, they have rebounded this season, seemingly a year ahead of schedule. The tremendous talents of their underage skill players were anticipated, but their maturity was in question. But after a year of growth, and a coaching situation beyond their control, which forced them to bond together and mature in a hurry, the Briar Jumpers have arrived on the scene earlier than expected.

In 1983 the cast of characters thrown into the spotlight became household names in the area: Tony Massey, James Fletcher, Kelly Stigall, Randy Mills, Chris Perdue, Karl Crase, Jerry Starnes and numerous others. In 2009 there is another list of names: Erik Manning, J. P. Henderlight, Storm Wilson, Derrick Jackson, Taylor Sears, Trey Slaughter, Rob Stevenson, Zach Bastin, Clayton Stringer, Jordan & Justin Perdue, and others. All these are huge contributors to the fact that each team finished the regular season undefeated. Another fact—they were and are all underclassmen.

But another huge similarity is that these underclassmen, who are the face of the program, and whose stats are seen as an easy window into the quality of the team, did not take the field alone.

Here is another list for you: Thomas Boyle, Andrew Salmons, Billy Roberts, Otie Manning, Hunter Nelson, Josh Troxtle, Jordan Jones, Jake Williams, Cody Smith, Jake Anderson, Taylor Davis, Chris Howlett, Travis Vanhook, Justin Bivens, and Corey Mounce. Just as in 1983, the young stars on the Somerset team build their success on the backs of young men who have given everything they have for the team, often toiling in the shadows of media coverage for four years. The list in this paragraph contains the names of this year’s seniors. Many haven’t been in the positions to rack up the big stats or get a lot of attention. But they have done practically all of the heavy lifting on the line of scrimmage, and the other hard-nosed dirty work that has made the season’s success possible.

Imagine where this team would have been without the great play of their offensive line, comprised totally of seniors, or the rock hard running of Otie Manning, who brings a lineman’s mentality to the backfield.

The same was true in 1983. The explosive offense, led by juniors Massey, Fletcher, Stigall, Mills, etc., built their success around a core of seasoned linemen. Senior Jeff Perkins was named 1st team All-State at center. That was a strong core to build around. But the men flanking him were just as important, including a pair of current SHS assistant coaches—Scott Price and Chris Perdue.

For Price and Perdue, the cord linking the two teams is more than just an abstract comparison. When they sit across the dinner table from their sons, (or wherever they may sit, since guys tend to be such slobs), they can say that they have been a part of every undefeated regular season in Somerset High School history.

Coach Perdue, who was a year behind Price in school, has watched his twin sons Jordan and Justin contribute heavily to the Jumpers’ success this season as juniors. Two sophomores, Price’s son Jarred and Taylor Speaks, whose father Jason was a member of the 1984 squad that didn’t lose until the state semi-finals, have also contributed to the impressive line play of Somerset this season.

So, are there any words of wisdom that they can pass on to their sons and their Jumper classmates?

“Enjoy it while you can, “ says Price. “And take care of business while you can, because you don’t get a second chance.”

But what about all these underclassmen? Won’t they get a second chance to accomplish all they can? Consider the following…

In 1983, as an undefeated Somerset team was preparing to play in the state championship game, a story in a state-wide paper declared that if Somerset could pull out the win they would likely win back-to-back titles. With all their superstars coming back in 1984, surely they would repeat. Well, as you know, SHS is still awaiting it’s first state title in football. It was a narrow miss in 1983, but a surprise loss in 1984 ended the Jumpers season short of another trip to Louisville.

“I think a big reason they didn’t win it in 1984 was because Coach Roscoe left,” said Price of Roscoe Perkins, long-time assistant to John Cain, who was in charge of the offensive line. “Coach Roscoe would’ve demanded that the line maintained physical dominance. I think that’s been something that Coach Lucas has given us again this year. He has always been big on dominating physically, instead of winning just by finesse.”

For Lucas, he has made it very clear what he thinks is really at stake when he leads his team onto the field in the playoffs. It is the one thing he has focused on since being named the head coach.

“District play and post-season are what it’s all about,” said Lucas. “It’s how we are able to stay together as a team, and how we can keep our seniors with us as long as we possibly can.”

When Lucas talks about playoff football, he does it in more personal terms—like he’s fighting to keep his loved ones close to him. It’s almost like he can’t bear to send his seniors off with a loss in their final game.

It’s an attitude the underclassmen should consider as well. Though they may be the ones collecting the headlines, and looking forward to another banner season next year, a debt is owed to their forgotten teammates who have made it all possible.

So maybe there are a few lessons from the successes and mistakes of the past that can help these young men, and this program, succeed in the present and future.