The Top 15- Games #3 and #4

The review of the Top 15 games in Tiger football history continues with games #3 and #4.  The top two games in Tiger football history will be unveiled in the 7/30/25 issue.

#4 ‘THE DRIVE FOR THE BACKSIDE FLY’

 

PINEVILLE-- It was the home opener for the Pineville Mountain Lions and the program was dedicating their new field, nobody told the Tigers they weren’t supposed to crash the party.

The game would be a close one, but with the dedication of the new field, the Mountain Lions received every break possible to ensure they would come out on top.

The game was played in the mud and later became known as ‘The Mud Bowl’.  Constant rain throughout the night hindered both teams offensively.  

“The PA announced basically said the game was over at halftime with us trailing 9-6,” former Tiger Jeff Woods remembered.

A stingy Pineville defense combined with the Tigers struggling in the mud, made it a long night.

The announcer was nearly right. Leading 13-9 Pineville went on a final drive to put the final nail in the coffin.

“They were ahead 13-9 with about three minutes to go and had the ball on the two-yard line ready to score,” coach Hensley recalled.

“Pineville’s back dove for the end zone and Billy Robinson met him in mid-air with a great tackle,” Hensley said. “It was a perfect hit,” Woods remembers. “Billy had perfect timing on that hit.”

That hit caused Pineville to fumble, and Clay’s Mark Roberts recovered the ball on the two-yard line.

Star quarterback Sean Pennington would have to lead the Tigers 98 yards down the field with just over a minute to play to win the game.

Pennington and a talented receiving corps would march to the Pineville 40-yard line.

The fumble set up a 98-yard drive led by Pennington.

Then, with only 15 seconds left, Pennington found wide receiver Tim Jones down the right sideline for a 40-yard touchdown pass that gave the Tigers the 15-13 victory.

The play is now famous and known as ‘The Backside Fly’.

 

 

 

TIGER STADIUM -- The storied Clay County-Belfry rivalry would get off to an incredible start as the two met for the first time ever in the 1985 state playoffs.

Each team had identical 9-2 records entering the contest.

Both teams went scoreless heading into the halftime break.

Coach Eugene Hensley said his Tiger defense was coming off their best performance of the year in the regular season finale against Leslie County.

“We had our best defensive effort of the year against the Eagles,” he said.  “We knew we would have our hands full with Belfry’s triple option.  Our defense really rose to the occasion.”

Both teams were supported by a large contingency as it is still one of the biggest crowds ever at Tiger Stadium.

Belfry finally broke through in the fourth quarter with an 11-yard run, followed by the extra point kick.

With less than a minute left on the clock, Sean Pennington hit Julius ‘Tater’ Hacker with a three-yard touchdown pass

“We dominated the second half in that game,” coach Hensley said. “We trailed late but were able to score with less than a minute to go to cut the lead to 7-6.”

That’s when Hensley had to make a decision that he still thinks about today.

“We had played so well in the second half that I thought if we could get into overtime, we would win it,” he said.

Coach Hensley decided to go for the tie with the extra point kick instead of the two-point conversion try for the win.

The kick was blocked and Belfry won 7-6. Clay’s season ended, while Belfry continued on through the playoffs. The Pirates would make it to the state title game where they lost to Paducah Tilghman 21-17.

As for the Tigers loss, coach Hensley is still sure about his call that night.

“I regret losing the game after such a great season, but going for one was the right choice from a coaching standpoint,” he said.  “The thing that makes this so hard to accept is the fact, we whipped them good all over the field.”

The loss ended the season for a group of Tigers that propelled Clay County football to heights that had never been reached before. 

“It showed we could play with anybody in our class,” Hensley said.  “We played with a lot of heart, emotion, and character.  Even when we got behind we showed the poise of a championship team by coming back to score and getting a chance to send it into overtime.  Things just were not meant to be.”