Slow Motion Replay: Justin Haddix, whether playing or coaching, is just a freaking winner! @CoachHaddix11, @BCRebelFootball, @BreathittFb, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @CountyMustangs, @KyHighFootball, @kyhighs, @khsaafootball

Led Mike Holcomb to his third title (’02), played at WKU, and then embarked on a heck of a coaching career

"There are two great games in Breathitt FB history, in my opinion, which defined and even created 'the Bobcat legacy' as a program. Those games were Danville for the title in '95 and the '02 semifinal game, on the Riverbank, between Breathitt and Ivan McGlone's Russell Red Devils."
David Hendrickson

Justin Haddix is all guts, verve, and daring. Had he been alive in the “Old West,” he would have been a Doc Holiday-type gunslinger. Over his coaching career to date, he has proven himself a fast gun and has built a powerhouse football program in a place we call “Title Town.” However, if it took you until Haddix’s run at Boyle County to figure out what a winner he is, you haven’t paid much attention to his past exploits. Haddix is a mountain boy, from a mountain family, and an Appalachia mountain legend as big as those types come. There was a night, his senior year, right on the Riverbank where Justin ultimately revealed everything he would one day be, and everything he had both been and presently was.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”

Jackson/Danville, KY: Justin Haddix is among the best high school football coaches in the game today. Haddix is also a near cod-lock cinch to make the KHSAA, Dawahares, Hall of Fame when he hangs up the whistle.

We have a 15-year, sample size already. In his 15-years, Haddix has posted a 145-42 record with four (4) titles (2020, ’21, ’22, ’23) in six (6) attempts (Corbin, played for the title in 2017, 2018).

The true legend of Justin Haddix started well before Haddix moved to Danville, KY. His story started well before he signed his “LOI” (Letter of Intent) with WKU’s “Hilltoppers” in 2003.

According to a very good friend of his and mine, and a lifelong friend of his, David Hendrickson, it may have started back home, in high school, on a high school playing field. It may have actually begun on The Riverbank, in what is now the Mike Holcomb Athletic Complex, against Ivan McGlone‘s Russell Red Devils on a late November evening in 2002.

It was not that Haddix hadn’t done anything to that point. Regardless of what Haddix had either done or failed to do, this was the time in Haddix’s life where his character would neither be created nor developed but revealed.

These times may not make you, but reveal who you really are. There are times which reveal a man’s true grit, true character, especially among mountain men.

There are times which call for a man to stand up and be counted. November 29, 2002, in Jackson, Kentucky, was such a time, was such a place.

Haddix was commanding Mike Holcomb‘s charges that night. Holcomb was hunting his third (3rd) title to hang up beside the titles he won in 1995, 1996.

I was not there that night in 2002. I have heard the story many times. It is almost as if I was.

I can see it in my mind. I can feel it. I can smell it.

McGlone and his “Red Devils” had the Bobcats down, with their backs thoroughly against the proverbial wall. Holcomb’s crew were down a couple TDs with little more than seven minutes left in the game. It looked as if the undefeated season was on life-support and the Red Devils were “pulling the plug.”

Haddix had led the Bobcats on a furious charge to get back in the game. With a minute to go, on a 4th and 14, Haddix was down to his final play if the drive were to continue.

It was get this first down or season over, career concluded. Convert this first down and the drive into Red Devil territory toward McGlone’s end zone continued. Fail, and (as the late Jack Buck from the St. Louis Cardinals would say) “…that’s a winner…” and for Russell. The stakes could not have been any higher, nor could have been the pressure.

Haddix faded back to pass subjected to a furious pass rush with would-be tacklers virtually draped all over him. Haddix throws the ball, barely getting it off, in the direction of Courtney Johnson.

Haddix puts the pass the only place Johnson, who was doubly covered, would have a chance to catch it. Haddix threw it high up in the air.

Johnson jumped hirer than Johnson had ever before jumped, got both hands on the ball, got his legs knocked from under him turning him in a somersault, and landed on his head and shoulders, a good yard past the marker. The Bobcat faithful didn’t know how, and perhaps Courtney Johnson knew least of all, but Johnson had held onto the ball. First down, Breathitt!

Three plays later, Haddix on a middle QB keeper, trucks a Russell tackler set up outside the goal line to score. This wouldn’t be the last Russell tackler Haddix would be called upon to “truck.” Buster Little converted the PAT and the Bobcats had ripped a tie from the jowls of bitter defeat. The Bobcats were headed to overtime.

Russell drew the opening possession in OT and scored a TD. McGlone trotted out a PK who hadn’t failed on a PAT in his HS career, or so rumor had it. The Red Devil blew the PAT, giving the Bobcats two important things in any overtime period, both possession of the football and a chance.

Haddix went to work again, scored on a 3rd and five right up the middle, and once again trucked a “would be” tackler set up outside the goal line. Buster Little trotted out in OT, hit the PAT, and catapulted the Bobcats to Lexington to play for the title.

The title game was anticlimactic. Breathitt beat Corbin in ’02, 51-0. Most people agree the two best teams in 2A, Breathitt and Russell, had ultimately (and actually) settled the title on the Riverbank in the semis.

It is the stuff of which legends are made. It is the stuff of which movies are made.

Haddix went on to set marks, and win games and titles, as both a player and a young coach. Haddix left WKU with several career passing marks and went into coaching in the mountains, first heading up the program at Perry County Central before moving on to Corbin.

There are those who don’t realize how fine a career the 6’2,” 193-pound, dual-threat QB had as a Hilltopper. Haddix finished his playing career, ranked second, all-time, with 541 completions and 7,929 passing yards.

Haddix also set school records for total offense (8,890 yards), completion percentage (57.1), and pass efficiency rating (137.28) during his time at WKU. 

Like we’ve been trying to tell you…Haddix is a winner. So, in the end, is it surprising he has won 145-games in 15-seasons? Hardly. Is it surprising Haddix should own a 4-2 record in championship game appearances with a four (4) peat in titles from 2020-2023? No sir, not the least bit.

You see, doing those type things, winning at such a clip and being so manifestly productive and prodigious are all characteristics those of us who have ever lived around the Appalachias have come to expect from Justin Haddix. Haddix is, after all, one of our own, one of our finest.

Haddix is a champion, a winner. Why would you expect any less from him?

That is the crux right there. We don’t!

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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