Although Columbia
(Huntsville, Ala.) lost its 87th straight game Thursday, extending its
own national record for consecutive losses, the Eagles can take heart in
knowing that the win that ends the streak can come at any time, even
when it's least expected. Just ask the players, coaches and fans of the
2003 Elmhurst (Fort Wayne, Ind.) team.
Mired in a 64-game
losing streak that started in 1996, the Trojans had the unenviable task
of facing Bishop Dwenger (Fort Wayne) in the opener of the 2003 season.
Dwenger went 13-2 the previous season, losing to Roncalli (Indianapolis)
in the Class 4A state championship game, and was ranked No. 1 in the
state in the preseason.
The previous year in 2002, Bishop Dwenger had defeated Elmhurst 45-7.
But
Elmhurst had a secret weapon and that was James Hardy. Regarded as one
of the top high school basketball players in the country, Hardy led
Elmhurst to the Class 3A state championship game where it lost to Bishop
Chatard (Indianapolis). Hardy played football on the 2002 team that had
extended the loss streak to 64 games and was even the team's MVP.
In
2003, however, Hardy was playing at a different level. He had three
touchdown catches against Dwenger and led Elmhurst to a 27-23 win. Hardy
went on to earn Class 4A all-state honors in football and was the
runner-up for Indiana Mr. Basketball honors. Elmhurst missed out on a
chance to play in the state final again during the 2004 basketball
season, losing to Belmont 58-57 in overtime despite 40 points from its
star player.
Hardy went on to an All-American career on the
University of Indiana football team (playing only one year for the
Hoosier basketball team) and was drafted in the second round of the NFL
Draft by the Buffalo Bills. He played two seasons in the NFL and
tragically passed away at the age of 31 in 2017.
Columbia might
not have a James Hardy roaming the hallways ready to help the football
team end a long losing streak, but the end will come eventually –
perhaps when it is least expected.
Following is a list of
all known streaks of 50 or more losses in high school football history.
The list was compiled with information from Doug Huff's National High
School Football Record Book, Texas High School Football History by Joe
Lee Smith, Alabama High School Football History by Dave Parker and
assorted state association websites.
Corrections or additions? Email kevinaskeland65@gmail.com.
Longest losing streaks
87 — Columbia (Huntsville, Ala.)
Years: 2015-present
How it started:
After winning two in a row, including a 34-16 win over Ardmore on Oct.
16, 2015, Columbia lost to J.O. Johnson 38-22 on Oct. 23.
Close call: Lost 50-40 to Tanner on Sept. 25, 2020. The 40 points are the most Columbia has scored in a game during the streak.
How it ended: The streak hasn't ended yet, but there is still a chance with four games left on the 2024 season schedule.
82 — Glascock County (Gibson, Ga.)
Years: 1990-99
How it started: After a 13-13 tie with Georgia Military Prep, the Panthers lost 27-0 to Aquinas in the final game of the 1990 season.
How it ended:
Although Glascock County received a forfeit win over Washington-Wilkes
in the fifth game of the 1997 season (Washington-Wilkes won 55-0), the
Panthers didn't get a win on the field until the fifth game of the 1999
season with a 12-6 victory over Cross Creek. The official record says
Glascock County lost 62 games in a row, but its on-the-field streak
was 82.
80 — Northside (Houston, Texas), previously Jefferson Davis
Years: 1985-93
How it started:
Davis' last win of the 1985 season was a 7-0 victory over Austin. The following week Davis lost to Milby 13-0 to start the
longest loss streak in Texas history.
How it ended: Davis
drove 80 yards in the final minutes to defeat Wheatley 19-18 and end the
longest win streak in history, topping the previous old mark of 72 by
Iberia (Mo.).
79 — Sturgis Brown (Sturgis, S.D.)
Years: 1997-2006
How it started: Sturgis defeated Belle Fourche 10-7 on October 17, 1997. The streak began the following week with a 36-16 loss to Spearfish.
How it ended:
One game into the 2006 season, Brown defeated Rapid City Stevens,22-20.
The Scoopers got off to a good start, scoring on the first play
of the game with an 80-yard touchdown pass.
77 — Diamond Hill-Jarvis (Fort Worth, Texas)
Years: 2010-17
How it started: The streak began with a 47-14 loss to Whitewright on Sept. 24. The Eagles had defeated Dallas Jefferson 31-7 the week before.
How it ended:
By winning the first game of the season in 2018 with a 40-12 victory
over Dallas Conrad, Diamond Hill was over .500 for the first time since
the 1999 season.
73 — Richmond City School of the Arts (Va.), formerly George Wythe
Years: 2004-2011
How it started: Richmond
City Arts (known then as George Wythe) defeated John Marshall 20-8 in
the final game of the 2003 season. It lost its opener in 2004 to
Armstrong 28-0. Richmond did receive a forfeit win over Monacan in the
fifth game of the 2004 season, but lost on the field 32-0.
How it ended: Richmond defeated Greensville County, 22-6, on Oct. 14, 2011, to end the streak.
72 — Iberia (Mo.)
Years: 1965-74
How it started:
Iberia began playing football in 1965 and actually tied its very first
game against Osage 19-19. After two losses, Iberia beat Versailles,
13-0. The loss streak began the following week with a 27-25 loss to
Missouri School for the Deaf.
How it ended: Playing Stratford,
which was in its first season of football, Iberia captured the first
win since the program's first season. The 72-game streak
was the longest losing streak in the nation until Davis (Houston) went
past Iberia in 1993. Iberia no longer fields a football team.
71 — Thrasher (Miss.)
Years: 1995-2002
How it started: The Rebels defeated Mooreville 6-0 on Sept. 15, 1995, and lost a close one the following week to Hatley, 25-20, to start the streak. Thrasher received a forfeit win over Falkner in 1996, but lost on the field 46-6.
How it ended: Thrasher picked up its only win of the season with a 7-6 victory over East Oktibbeha County on Sept. 20, 2002, but it was good enough to end the streak.
70 — Glenville-Emmons (Glenville, Minn.)
Years: 1978-86
How it started:
The Trojans defeated Minnesota Lake 18-6 on Sept. 8, 1978 for its last
win before the streak. The Trojans lost the next week to New Richland
49-0.
How it ended: Closing in on Iberia's record for
consecutive losses, Glenville defeated Ellendale-Geneva 14-8 on Sept.
12, 1986. Glenville had been featured by Sports Illustrated the previous
season when its streak reached 68 games in a row.
69 — Red Boiling Springs (Tenn.)
Years: 1986-92
How it started: The Bulldogs won the first game of the 1986 season, beating Cannon County 22-13. The next game was a 54-6 loss to Celina.
How it ended:
Red Boiling Springs blanked King's Academy 38-0 to start the 1993
season. They lost the next nine games and won the first game of the 1994
season as well.
69 — Edinburgh (Ind.)
Years: 2002-09
How it started:
The Lancers defeated Indiana School for the Deaf on Oct. 4 before losing to Milan 28-6
to start the streak. Twenty games into the streak, Edinburgh received a
forfeit win over South Decatur due to the use of an ineligible player.
South Decatur won the game 58-6.
How it ended: After the
forfeit win over South Decatur, the Lancers did not win on the field
until Oct. 2, 2009, with a 12-7 victory over the Indiana School for the Deaf.
69 — Clayton/Barbour County (Clayton, Ala.)
Years: 1994-2001
How it started: Clayton knocked off Bullock County 19-12 on Sept. 9, but it lost to Dale County the next week 60-20 to start the streak.
How it ended:
Clayton lost 56 games in a row before combining with Louisville to form
Barbour County High School. The Jaguars lost their first 13 games over
the 2000 and 2001 seasons, ending with a 14-7 win over Catholic
Montgomery on Sept. 21, 2001.
69 — Bluestem (Kan.)
Years: 2000-08
How it started: After its only win of the season, a 25-18 victory over Belle Plaine, Bluestem lost 36-6 to Douglass and finished the 2000 season with four straight losses.
How it ended: Over seven years later, Bluestem defaeated Belle Plaine 15-12 to end the streak.
68 — Hatch (Uniontown, Ala.)
Years: 1997-2005
How it started:
The Bobcats defeated John Essex 24-22 on Oct. 31, 1997 to end a
33-game losing streak. On Nov. 7, the 58-game loss streak began with a
28-3 loss to Francis Marion.
How it ended: After a close call
against Francis Marion on Halloween night in 2003, Hatch got the win to
end the streak over Francis Marion with a 20-14 victory on Oct. 28, the
final game of the season.
66 — Barbour County
Years: 2013-21
How it started:
The Jaguars dominated Catholic Montgomery 51-8, but then lost to
Daleville 14-12 on Oct. 25, 2013. Barbour County lost again the next
week to G.W. Long and then fell to Leeds in the first round of the
playoffs.
How it ended: The Jaguars opened the 2021 season
with a 6-0 win over Stewart County (Ga.). Barbour County then lost its
next 19 games before winning its season opener in 2023 against Calhoun.
66 — Lincoln Park (Mich.)
Years: 2006-13
How it started: The Railsplitters were 1-1 after the first two games of the season, defeating Edsel Ford 24-19 on Sept. 1, 2006. Lincoln Park lost the next game Trenton, 35-6.
How it ended: Defeated Taylor Kennedy, 34-20, in the sixth game of the 2013 season.
66 — Fayette Ware (Somerville, Tenn.)
Years: 2007-2014
How it started: The first loss in the streak was actually a second-round playoff loss to Bolivar Central, 48-20.
How it ended: The Wildcats won their only game of the 2014 season against Chester County, 48-14.
66 — Carl Hayden Community (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Years: 2002-2009
How it started: The longest losing streak in Arizona history began in 2002, but the actual game is not known.
How it ended: The Falcons defeated San Luis, which was in the early stages of its own long losing streak, 42-21 for the victory.
64 — Savanna/West Carroll (Savanna, Ill.)
Years: 1996-2003
How it started:
Savanna ended the 1995 season with a 29-8 win over Erie. It is believed
to have started the 1996 season, and the streak, with a 56-8 loss to
Winnebago.
How it ended: Savanna combined with Mount Carroll
and Thomson high schools to form West Carroll in 2003. After a
season-opening loss to extend the streak to 64 games, West Carroll
defeated Lake City 41-14.
64 — Elmhurst (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Years: 1996-2002
How it started: After beating Fort Wayne Concordia 26-17 on Sept. 20, 1996, Elmhurst lost to Fort Wayne North the following week 48-14.
How it ended:
Defeated No. 1 ranked Bishop Dwenger 27-23 in the season opener in
2003. The school went on another 45-game losing streak from 2004 to 2008
and closed for good in 2010.
63 — Kempsville (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Years: 2013-19
How it started: Kempsville defeated Tallwood, 25-20, on Sept. 27 of 2013, but lost the next week to Ocean Lakes 70-7.
How it ended: A 32-28 win over Bayside ended the second-longest losing streak in Virginia history.
63 — Shorewood (Wis.)
Years: 1989-95
How it started:
Shorewood defeated Wauwatosa East on Oct. 21, 1988 for the final win of
the season. Shorewood opened the 1989 season with a 48-12 loss to
Germantown.
How it ended: Shorewood opened the 1996 season
with a 14-0 win over Milwaukee Riverside, ending the 8-year streak.The
school no longer fields a football team.
63 — Garinger (Charlotte, N.C.)
Years: 2002-08
How it started:
The Wildcats were 4-3 heading into the eighth game of the season
against powerhouse David W. Butler and suffered a
lopsided 70-6 loss to a team that finished 12-3. The Wildcats lost their
final four games of the season to finish 4-7.
How it ended:
Garinger somehow ended up with four forfeit wins in 2007 despite losing
all 10 of its games on the field. The Wildcats didn't get an
on-the-field win to break the streak until the fifth game of the 2008
season with a 31-12 victory over West Mecklenburg.
62 — Bassick (Conn.)
Years: 2001-07
How it started: Trinity Catholic defeated Bassick, 39-14, on Thanksgiving Day in 2001 to start the streak.
How it ended: The Lions knocked off Harding 20-18 in the second-to-last game of the season.
61 — Red Boiling Springs (Tenn.)
Years: 2002-2008
How it started: The Bulldogs defeated Pickett County 49-0 in the penultimate game of the 2002 season, but lost in the season finale to Gordonsville, 43-21.
How it ended: Red Boiling Springs won the first two games of the 2009 season, beating Oakdale 28-12 and then Pickett County 23-22. During the streak, the Bulldogs had a forfeit win over Mt. Julien Christian in 2003, making the official loss streak only 54 games. The Bulldogs lost to Mt. Julien Christian on the field, 28-6.
60 — East (Waterloo, Iowa)
Years: 2000-2006
How it started:
East won its final game of the 1999 season with a 36-8 win over
Linn-Mar. The Trojans then opened the 2000 season with a 49-6 loss to
Linn-Mar to begin the streak.
How it ended: The streak ended
with a 9-6 win over Dubuque Senior. With the 60 losses, East became
owner of the longest losing streak in Iowa history while also owning the
longest winning streak, a 55-game run (since broken) over the late
1960s and early 1970s.
59 — Scarborough (Houston, Texas)
Years: 2009-15
How it started:
The Spartans defeated Austin 18-12 on Sept. 10, 2009 to end a nine-game
losing streak. Scarborough then lost to Kashmere 41-0 to start the
streak.
How it ended: Scarborough ended the streak with an 18-14 win over KIPP Sunnyside.
59 — Gumberry (N.C.), now Northampton County (Gaston, N.C.)
Years: 1972-78
How it started:
Gumberry began playing football in September of 1972 and didn't win a
game until 1979. The first opponent is believed to be Enfield, but no
score is available.
How it ended: The Lions defeated Eastman
in their season opener on August 31, 1979. The win was the first in
school history and it also marked the first time Gumberry had ever led
in a game.
59 — North Greene (Greeneville, Tenn.)
Years: 1976-82
How it started: The Huskies began varsity play in 1976 and didn't win a game until beating Unaka in 1982.
How it ended: North Greene edged Unaka 26-8. The Huskies were coached by Carl Fletcher, who had never played high school or college football.
59 — Turtle Mountain (Belcourt, N.D.)
Years: 1990-97
How it Started:
The Braves won their first four games to start the 1990 season, but
lost four in a row to finish the year. The first loss was 47-20 to
Bishop Ryan Catholic (Minot).
How it Ended: Turtle Mountain opened the 1998 season with a 20-17 win over New Town.
Others
58 — West Side (Newark, N.J.)
Years: 1993-2000
58 — Creighton (Neb.)
Years: 1990-97
57 — Girard (Pa.)
Years: 1988-93
57 — Gainesville (Mo.
Years: 1979-85
56 — Whiting (Iowa)
Years: 1977-84
56 — Central (Hayneville, Ala.)
Years: 2007-13
56 — South Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Years: 1990-96
55 — Garinger
Years: 2012-17
55 — Richmond Heights (Ohio)
Years: 1984-90
53 — Woodward (Toledo, Ohio)
Years: 2007-12
53 — Parkton (N.C.), now closed
Years: 1977-82
53 — Thomas Jefferson (Richmond, Va.)
Years: 1998-2003
53 — Bullard Havens (Bridgeport, Conn.)
Years: 1996-2001
53 — Owings Mills (Md.)
Years: 2003-2009
53 — North Fond Du Lac (Wisc.)
Years: 2016-2023
52 — East Catholic (Manchester, Conn.)
Years: 1992-97
52 — Socorro (El Paso, Texas)
Years: 2015-21
52 — Foard (Newton, N.C.)
Years: 1971-76
52 — Rio Rico (Ariz.)
Years: 2000-06
51 — Eastside Early College (Austin, Texas)
Years: 2017-24
51 — San Antonio Memorial (Texas)
Years: 1983-89
51 — Thomas A. Edison (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Years: 1984-1991
Note: Had 58-game winless streak
50 — Burbank (San Antonio, Texas)
Years: 1989-93
50 — Cleveland Central Catholic (Cleveland, Ohio)
Years: 1994-99
Note:
Youngstown North (Ohio) is listed with a losing streak of 64 games from
1957 to 1964, however the streak reportedly is a "winless" streak and
includes several ties. Black River (Ohio) had a 53-game winless streak
from 1961 to 1966, but had two ties during the streak. West Harrison (Mondamin, Iowa) went 12 years without a win (1985 to 1997) losing 66 straight games during that stretch. However it spent the 1993-95 seasons as a co-op with Logan and Magnolia (during which it won games).
