Mark Maynard, a veteran sportswriter and current managing editor of Kentucky Today, has completed a new book examining one of the most celebrated teams in local athletic history. Titled “The Boys They Called JAWS,” the upcoming release offers an in-depth look at the 1975 Ashland High School football squad and its dominant defensive unit. The book will become available for preorder in late September, with both softback and hardback editions available through Maynard’s social media.
Maynard, who graduated from Ashland in 1975, developed close friendships with many players on that year’s defensive roster. The Tomcats finished the season with fourteen wins, matching the school record set by the 1990 state champions. Though the team went undefeated in the regular season, they ultimately fell to St. Xavier in a championship contest, the first year of Kentucky’s newly implemented four-class football system. Maynard brings extensive reporting experience to the project, having covered the team throughout his tenure at The Daily Independent and conducting multiple interviews with former coach Herb Conley.
According to Maynard, the book provides context and details that extend beyond typical sports coverage. The JAWS nickname, inspired by the popular film and adopted to motivate the defense, serves as a focal point for exploring the team’s rise to prominence. Maynard emphasizes that all players were homegrown talent without transfers, a fact that deepened community support. The volume includes previously unheard quotes, historical statistics, and an iconic team photograph on the cover.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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