All good things must come to an end…sooner or later. That ideology was reinforced nearly nine years ago on a rain-soaked Friday night in Lawrence County.

The Breathitt County Bobcats had strung together 42 consecutive wins, including back-to-back-to-back perfect regular seasons, and back-to-back Class AA state championships. They were three games away from a third. Without question, in 1997 they were the best team in Class AA—they may have been the best Breathitt football team of all those which comprises the Bobcats’ relatively young highly successful program.

No team had been able to stop Coach Holcomb’s air attack piloted by senior quarterback Kyle Moore. The strong-armed quarterback, already with a championship under his belt, would amass amazing numbers. In three seasons he would complete 61.1% of his passes, putting him at tenth on Kentucky’s all-time list. He would throw for a career 111 touchdowns, fourth on Kentucky’s list. He would account for 10,026 yards passing, second only to Tim Couch in Kentucky. He would complete 252 passes in 1998, putting him at number five in Kentucky’s quarterback history. His 3805 yards in 1998 would rank sixth all time in Kentucky. He would rank third all-time with 578 completions over his high school career. What or who could possibly stop the Bobcats?

Breathitt had breezed through the 1997 season beating Estill 55-8 in the Rec. Bowl, Belfry 42-8 in the Honey Bowl, Lexington Bryan Station 40-6, Leslie County 67-12, Shelby Valley 73-20, Prestonsburg 48-22, Cawood 53-13, Whitesburg 61-0, Lexington Lafayette 49-12, Betsy Layne 49-0, Mason County 56-0, and East Carter 53-6. What could stop the Bobcats?

The Bobcats were ranked number one in every Class AA poll published and in the top ten overall in Kentucky high school football. They had just tied Danville with the state’s second longest winning streak of all time and they were eyeing the top spot. What could possibly stop the Bobcats?

The most formidable foe feared by Breathitt’s fans did not possess a team color. It did not wear a uniform, have cheerleaders, or put on a band’s halftime show. Understand that the Bobcats were fast and their offense was as precise as a surgeon’s knife…cutting away week after week. Kyle Moore had multiple receivers as targets and each play could see any of them get the ball. And then there was junior Jonathon Chapman, one of the state’s best running backs, waiting to catch the ball as a relief valve. Bobcat fans feared no opponent in pads.

Rain—dreaded rain, and its associated mud were the adversaries most feared. They were great equalizers. They took away from the Bobcats’ speed, made them a step slower. They dulled the sharpness of their razor offense.

It had rained all week and was still raining when the Bobcats took the field that Friday night in Lawrence County. After the first few plays all the players looked the same in their mud clad uniforms. Moore couldn’t choose which receiver to throw to after the ball was snapped. He had to keep his eye on one receiver with each play and hope he’d be open—everybody looked the same.

Breathitt lost. Whereas, the elements couldn’t receive the victory, it went to Lawrence County instead. Not to be misunderstood, the Bulldogs had a good team…but not nearly good enough to beat the Bobcats without a whole lot of help. Their ungracious attitude regarding the bountiful gift brought by the dreaded rain that night made it all the more difficult to witness their gloating celebration.

I DON’T KNOW JACK SQUAT, and I’m still probably tasting sour grapes, but it was too soon. Rain…that dreaded rain.