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Well over 1 million people will flock to their local high school football stadium for Friday Night Lights this week, making it one of America’s favorite pastimes. But, for fans of one high school, they haven’t gone home happy in years.
On Thursday, lowly Columbia High School in Huntsville, Alabama lost a football game to Decatur High School. But, there was something special about the loss that separates it from the other 8,000 or so high school ball clubs that will lose this weekend.
Columbia High School is one of a half-dozen high schools in the Huntsville City School District. And, over the years, Huntsville, Alabama has produced some good football players like Pro Football Hall of Fame selections Walter Jones and John Stallworth. But, that past talent isn’t trickling to Columbia High School.
Thursday’s loss marked their 87th consecutive loss, a number that MaxPreps says is a national record. Here’s MaxPreps with more.
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 Curse” could be continuing on for a long time.