Final score

Congratulations to the Belfry Pirates on your victory !!

What a gritty, tough effort by Belfry on the road.

 

Pirates were without their top HB, and their other primary big play threat Keaton Taylor (who had a 76 yard sprint on the game's first play) left in the 1st Qtr after only 3 carries. Belfry also played the entire 2nd Half without their top run stopper, 4 year starting MLB Peyton Mullins.

 

Pirates took over at their own 2 yard line with around 7:30 to go in the 4th..they proceeded to march the ball 98 yards to take a 17-6 lead with around :30 on the clock. Belfry essentially allowed the Eagle QB to score a TD as time expired to set the final margin.

 

JC's lone score prior to the final play came on a 93 yard TD run on their First play from scrimmage 1:30 into the game. Belfry shut them out until the final scoring play.

Just to let you know coach Matney, running a go route everytime doesnt mean u have a viable passing game.

 

Congrats on your win pirates. You definitely wanted it more

Congrats on the win Toots.

Nice win for the Pirates; congratulations.

The game started off like a track meet and almost all the scoring came in about a 2 minute period split between the beginning and ending of the game. Belfry's Keaton Taylor took an option pitch on the game's first play about 75 yards down to the 5 where the Pirates scored a couple of plays later. Taylor would leave the game a few plays later after a hard hit. Johnson Central's Dillon then took their first play 93 yards but a missed 2 point conversion left the score at 7-6 with only a minute and a half gone from the clock. Belfry's next drive chewed up about 7 minutes and ended in a field goal. That lead of 10-7 would stand until Belfry punched it in with undera minute to go in the game to take a 17-6 lead. Johnson Central had time for 4-5 plays and the QB Gound scrambled and reversed field on the games final play for a touchdown, setting the final score at 17-12.

 

It wasn't a particularly pretty game for either team. It is nice to get the win, but watching it even late in the game it had the feel where you were surprised that Belfry was actually winning. Johnson Central's DL outplayed Belfry's OL all night long and Belfry was continually in 3rd and long situations. Part of that was due to a night where it seemed Belfry was trying to see how many penalties they could garner.

 

The good news is Belfry found a way to convert on a lot of those 3rd and 4th down situations and the defense showed a lot of grit and determination in a bend but don't break effort. Belfry had bad field position most of the night and played through it. Special teams play was much better, and speaking of Kudos to Freshman punter Devin Wellman on a 70 yard punt that pinned JC back deep on a crucial drive.

 

Both these teams are fundamentally sound, and I don't think we saw their best effort from either squad. You have to play through those kind of games sometimes and it was good to see Belfry do that. Especially with their top running back still in street clothes and then his backup, Taylor, getting sidelined after only a few plays in the 1st quarter. The loss of Mullins on defense also cannot be overlooked. It appeared to be an ankle sprain and he played a series in the first half after he injured it. Hopefully all these guys ill be healed up and ready to go if not this week, then at least by week 2 of the playoffs.

 

Belfry has a good football team, but they are not going to go far in the playoffs unless they can fix the little things. I am not seeing any leadership on the field and mental mistakes and penalties are killing them. Those things will result in a loss against really good teams.

Congrats on the win Toots.

Thanks, leatherneck, we felt we let one get away from us last season so it is nice to get payback.

Just to let you know coach Matney, running a go route everytime doesnt mean u have a viable passing game.

 

Congrats on your win pirates. You definitely wanted it more

Thanks 76. I thought on JC's next to last possession that Coach Matney kind of hit the panic button too soon. The Eagles were moving the ball well on the ground and there was lots of time left but he came out and threw the ball 4 straight downs. And all of the throws were deep, really deep. On one play the Belfry DB even fell down but the receiver was over thrown.

Could very well be looking at the 3A state champions here.....don't sleep on these guys, seen it happen too many times before....

I am still curious to see what Belfry looks like offensively if and when they get healthy.

 

Early in the season Belfry was missing a couple starting linemen when the backfield was essentially healthy, even then a couple pieces like SOPH's Austin Hatfield and Keaton Taylor were still trying footing and what role they would play.

 

Once the linemen got back Belfry lost Sani Warren for 3 games with a hip injury. Now you had a SOPH working his way in at QB and the Pirates essentially had to change up to account for it. Hatfield started making progress at FB and Johnson began looking like one of the better HB's in the state.

 

Once Sani returned in time for Ashland, Belfry then was without Hatfield (mono) and lost Johnson early in the game to a concussion. The Pirates got Hatfield back and Taylor was finally adjusting to the HB position, then they lose Taylor in the 1st Qtr.

 

Belfry is yet to have their full stable of backs, their capable QB, and their OL together at the same time and even when they have been close an injury early in the game has seemed to throw everything off kilter. I think timing, and to a certain degree, penalties (for illegal motion for example) have been a direct result.

 

I think Belfry will have Knott Central severely over matched next week, but if Johnson is able to go I think it may be paramount to play him and give him more carries than expected to shake the dust off and get him re-acclimated to game speed. One of the key advantages I feel Belfry has entering into an imminent shwodown with Breathitt County is the fact Breathitt will have to severely adjust to the speed of the game and level of competition... I think all these injuries have hurt Belfry to some extent in regards to this advantage.

Johnson has been practicing. I am sure he will get some reps next week for just the reason you mention. I am interested to know about Taylor's injury and how serious it is, and also Zack Taylor came out late in the game, looked like he re-injured his shoulder. Hope it heals up, they need him on the OL. It would be a nice thing if Belfry could get everyone healthy ready to play a full game for the 2nd week of the playoffs.