Gerald Poynter won 152 games as head coach of the Owensboro Red Devils and even though he died in 2017, a part of him will still be at Kroger Field Saturday when OHS takes on Bowling Green for the 2020 UK Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Class 5A State Football Finals.
Jackson Littlefield, Poynter’s grandson, will suit up for the Bowling Green Purples as they go for their first state championship since 2016. But the road to Saturday was long with twists, turns and a little bit of luck for the two western Kentucky powers to meet in Lexington.
Leigh Ann Littlefield, Poynter’s daughter, said with the district realignment, they knew the only way for the two programs to meet would be in the playoffs — and with the way the RPI looked, they soon realized all roads led to Kroger Field.
“As it unfolded and we saw the only opportunity would be in the finals, I was just like the chances of that are so slim,” she said. “Last Thursday night, it really started to hit me that it was a possibility. I kept thinking to myself, we’ve got to get through Cov Cath. I can’t think about it, we’ve got to get through Cov Cath.”
Spoken like a true coach’s daughter, Leigh Ann said she knew they couldn’t overlook the Colonels as they were the defending champions in Class 5A, but once they took them down, she then set her sights on her dad’s favorite team.
“When we won, we were keeping up with the Owensboro score and saw how far ahead they were and I was overcome with emotion because this is unbelievable. I just never expected this could happen,” she said. “My husband and I were driving home and we were listening to the game. When they won, they pulled it out at the end, I just burst into tears. Dad would be so proud of both of these programs right now. There’s just a lot for him to be really proud of. It’s just really exciting.”
Jackson was following the game on the bus after the Purples 20-0 shutout of the Colonels and he could sense he and his teammates would have to face a team his grandfather help propel to even bigger heights.
He said he was proud of the opportunity fate had given him.
“It’s like you get a chance to come back after they beat us two years ago and now we’re meeting them at state,” he said. “Then you add on top of that, obviously my grandpa, he was, not to brag, but he was kind of a legend. It’s just like wow, I get the chance to go out, be done with football forever and add on to his legacy. You know it’s going to be a special moment no matter what happens. You’re adding on to what he built, being the only grandson. It’s really special to me, it’s close to my heart.”
Jackson is one of several grandchildren of Poynter, but he’s the only boy.
Leigh Ann said her father never treated Jackson like he was his coach, just as his grandpa and his top supporter.
“Dad was very humble,” she said. “He didn’t talk about himself and he didn’t talk to Jackson like a coach, he just built Jackson up. He was always Jackson’s biggest fan and any sporting event Jackson had on a Saturday, dad was there. Whether it was football, basketball, whatever, if it was on a Saturday, dad was there.”
Although Poynter had been a legend in Owensboro for decades, Leigh Ann admitted she wasn’t sure Jackson fully understood the impact his grandfather had on the Red Devil program.
“When the field house was named, Jackson was in sixth grade,” she said. “I think that’s when Jackson had the first ‘okay he was maybe kind of a big deal. Maybe he had a bigger impact than I thought.’ But again, Jackson was young and I don’t think he really knew how powerful the head coach of a football program is.
“If he didn’t get it with the field house and he didn’t get it through the funeral, he’s getting it now. He’s realizing it and he’s excited about it. He loves that his grandfather’s name is on the field house.”
Now, Jackson said when they make trips back to the ‘Boro, he sees namesake on the wall of Poynter Field house.
“Even after he passed away, we took trips to Owensboro and on the way to my grandparents house, you drive right by the stadium and so every time you drive by you see it and you sit there and no matter how many times you go past it, you’re like ‘dang, that’s my grandpa. That’s my blood, that’s my grandpa, that’s his name, that’s his legacy,’” he said. “That’s forever going to be a part of that stadium and that field house.”
Leigh Ann was three years old when her father and the Red Devils won a state title but for her, it was normal to have her dad as the football coach.
“I grew up going to that field house, I grew up going over there,” she said. “I can remember going over there, they had that 70s barrel furniture, I thought it was so cool. I couldn’t understand why we didn’t bring it home. I loved going over there … I didn’t think anything about it. I grew up with him being a coach. I grew up with Friday nights, he was gone to watch film, it was the whole weekend every fall. That’s what he did.”
When Poynter left the program and later returned, she said she heard the buzz from classmates and others in the community when her dad decided to return to the helm of the Red Devils.
But again, it was commonplace.
“He was just my dad,” she said. “He was a really good dad. He always put family first.”
Poynter did get to see his grandson suit up at Rash Stadium during a middle school game at OHS. Leigh Ann said she looked over from the visitors section and saw her dad through a window in the press box.
Poynter passed away in September of Jackson’s freshman year at BG.
“He died the morning of the Bowling Green and Owensboro freshman football game that was hosted at the El, here in Bowling Green,” she said. “The timing of that was crazy and Jackson was playing on that team … There was actually a moment of silence, led by Mark Spader at that game and Jackson’s teammates wrote ‘GP’ on their wrist tape. That was really cool. It was a really special game for Jackson and I think it was a little overwhelming.”
When she thinks about Saturday afternoon, Leigh Ann said she can’t help but think about what her dad would be feeling.
“I know nobody’s happier than dad,” she said. “I know nobody’s enjoying this week anymore than he is because it’s been a long time coming. I just can’t even believe he’s here.”
Jackson said he’s ready to take the field Saturday and battle his grandfather’s former team for a state championship but in his heart, he knows Poynter is already elated that he’s made it this far.
“I want him to be proud,” he said. “Proud of where I’ve come, where I’ve come from, what I’ve gone through. I was hurt last season, couldn’t play. He helped me get through that … You’ve got to love Owensboro considering all the history our family has. I’m proud of that program and getting back to a state championship and possibly having another undefeated season, which you can’t take away from them. That would be awesome but still, you want to win. You’re planning on ending it but he’d be proud either way.”
Not only would her dad be excited for the matchup, Leigh Ann said he’d also be happy for the head coaches as both have had an impact on her family.
“There’s a huge rivalry between these two programs and it’s really cool,” she said. “Rivalries are good, they make you better. When Jackson played youth football, Mark Spader would always stop and talk to dad on the sidelines, always made a point to talk to him. Dad is big fan of Mark Spader and he’s also a huge fan of Jay Fallin. I think dad is probably very happy for both of them too. He thought a lot of Mark Spader and he thought a lot of Jay Fallin. That makes me really happy. These two super classy head coaches are able to meet up, head to head, I think they’re both class acts and that’s really cool.”
When she sees her son take the field against the red and black she grew up with, Leigh Ann’s not sure what she’ll feel but she knows her dad will be looking down.
“I couldn’t be more grateful that I was raised an Owensboro Red Devil and that my dad was a part of that legacy,” she said. “It makes me so proud and I also am very proud of Bowling Green’s program. This program has been really good to Jackson, the coaches have been really good to Jackson and the district’s been really good to me. It’s really a powerful thing to be a part of two of these dominant programs that have been so outstanding. Not very many people have that and I feel very connected and loyal to both of them. It’s kind of this crazy run of emotions on both sides.
“When push comes to shove, I believe, nobody’s a more die-hard through and through, Owensboro Red Devil fan but I believe dad will be very proud to have Jackson out there and would be thrilled to see it happen for him.”
