Longest losing streak in high school football history extended to 87 games

In what could have been the best chance this season to snap a historic high school football losing streak that stretches nearly 10 years, Columbia (Huntsville, Ala.) fell 42-16 to Decatur on Thursday.

The setback extends the program's losing streak to 87 games. According to research by Kevin Askeland of MaxPreps, it is believed to be the longest run of consecutive losses in high school football history.

Decatur, which is 8-0 all-time vs. Columbia and won last year's meeting 42-0, came in 1-5. But the Red Raiders jumped to a 35-8 halftime lead and cruised to the 26-point victory. 

The last time Columbia won was Oct. 15, 2015, when the Eagles beat Ardmore 34-16. Barack Obama was president.

The loss drops Columbia to 0-6 under second-year head coach Sean Watson, the fifth head coach during what the team's X page labeled "The Curse." 

The Eagles have games remaining with Cullman (3-3), Athens (5-0), Jasper (4-2) and Hazel Green (1-5).

"I really want to change this," Columbia junior Hakim Dunnigan told television station WAAY in a preseason preview. "Everybody in school, they be talking about us. I be telling them we gon' win. We gon' win."

Columbia has been playing varsity football for 17 seasons with a 31-153-0 record and have yet to make the postseason.

87 — Columbia (Ala.), 2015-present
82 — Glascock County (Gibson, Ga.), 1990-99
80 — Davis (Houston, Texas), 1985-93
79 — Sturgis (S.D.), 1997-2006
77 — Diamond Hill (Texas), 2010-17
72 — Iberia (Mo.), 1965-74
70 — Glenville (Minn.), 1978-86
69 — Red Boiling Springs (Tenn.), 1986-93
69 — Edinburg (Ind.), 2002-09
68 — R.C. Hatch (Uniontown, Ala.), 1997-2005
66 — Barbour County (Clayton, Ala.), 2013-21
64 — Savanna/West Carroll, 1996-2003
64 — Fort Wayne Elmhurst (Ind.), 1996-2002