The Shadow
During the 56-year history of Clifton Forge High School beginning in 1926 till consolidation with Alleghany County High School in 1983, CFHS fielded some undefeated Mountaineer athletic teams.
Notably, after integration took place in 1966 which resulted in the combining of students from Jefferson High School with those at Clifton Forge High School, the combined student bodies made athletic history.
Not only did CFHS’s Mountaineers bring home the school’s first 2A State Tournament Championship in basketball in 1966, but for two consecutive seasons, the Mountaineers went undefeated in football, finishing 23-0 for 1966 and 1967. There were no playoff systems in Virginia for high school football during those two years.
Colin Ferguson served as varsity basketball coach in 1966, and his Mountaineer team proved to be invincible with Walker Banks, the 6’9” center, breaking the school’s individual single-game scoring record by tossing in 49 points to eclipse the 47 point mark.
Ferguson’s team set the single-game high point scoring record by trouncing Riverheads High School’s Gladiators 117-70 after breaking the century mark earlier in the season by drubbing Lord Botetourt High School 102-59.
During the regular season, the Mountaineers defeated both of their crosstown rivals, the Covington High School Cougars 72-66 and 89-50 and the Alleghany County High School Colts 75-48 and 99-76.
Entering the District V. Tournament at 18-0, the Mountaineers breezed past Fort Defiance High School 69-51 before winning the championship by defeating Woodrow Wilson High School 62-57.
Four Mountaineers were named to the District V. All-Tournament Team, two who had played for Jefferson the year before, Norman Thomas and Banks, and two who had performed for CFHS their junior year, Wayne Humphries and Tony Simpson.
After slipping past William Campbell High School 62-59 to win the regional tournament, the Mountaineers emerged triumphant in another close encounter, dispatching Emporia High School 51-49 in overtime at Blacksburg in the state tournament. The 51 points turned out to be the fewest points scored by the Mountaineers during a single game for the entire season.
In the championship game, the Mountaineers trailed Thomas Walker High School by seven at halftime, but Ferguson’s champion’s put together a furious second-half rally and outscored TWHS by 27 to bring home the state championship via a 71-51 victory.
There have been other Mountaineer state championship teams over the years, including the one coached by Carol Van Lear. Her girls’ basketball team brought home the state championship trophy in 1981.
After consolidation took place in 1983 between Clifton Forge City Schools and Alleghany County Public Schools, the Mountaineers have won state championships in boys’ cross country and girls’ cross country.
Due to consolidation between Covington City Schools and Alleghany County Public Schools that officially took place on July 1, 2022, the Mountaineers as a school mascot will be abandoned, and at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year Alleghany High School will field its athletic teams as the Cougars.
Covington High School was established in 1913. The Cougars won the Class A State Championship in football in 1984.
If the past combining of student bodies in the Alleghany Highlands serves as an indicator for fielding championship athletic teams, Alleghany High School appears to be on the threshold of creating a new legacy of championship teams under the Cougar banner.
