What does Belfry need to do to improve in 2014? What do they need to keep doing to be successful? Remember, please be constructive.

Belfry 2014 should be an interesting team to watch with potential to either run the table as State Champs or take a visible step back.

 

First we shall look at the huge obstacles this team will face:

- Replace Sani Warren, one of the most decorated Pirates ever. The clear emotional leader of last year's team. A 3-year starter at QB and arguably one of the best option QB's to ever suit up. A 4 year starter at DB where he was consensus 1st Team All State.

- Replace 2/3 of your starting backfield in Trenity Carr and Justin Johnson. Combined these guys accumulated 5,482 career rushing yards and scored 74 career touchdowns.

- Replace your most dominant defensive player in the undersized DT Hayden Hatfield. Hatfield had an amazing 161 tackles last year and was borderline unstoppable despite facing someone bigger and stronger every week.

 

Those are some daunting bullet points. Even with that though, it is my opinion that I would be very surprised if Belfry doesn't enter as the consensus favorite to re-peat as 3A State Champs.

 

The 2013 Belfry team was best described entering the season as a team with very nice individual pieces, but very big questions as a team. Despite the Senior stars listed above, the rest of Belfry was basically summarized with a completely re-built O-Line, a completely re-built Front 7 on defense, and the most talented Freshman Class in Belfry History being forced into immediate duty due to a lack of depth. The growing pains were very evident through the 10 regular season games at times, and though Belfry managed a 9-0 start they constantly battled injuries and entered the Johnson Central game as a team who still wasn't completely running like clockwork. The Eagles destroyed Belfry as a result leaving everyone wondering if the Pirates were simply fool's gold.

 

What happened in the playoffs though is what sets the tone for the 2014 Pirates. I don't think anyone would say Belfry winning the State Title shocked them, but how they went about winning it certainly would. Belfry got healthy... and with that new found depth made changes on defense and became a completely different team. In the span of two weeks Belfry went from a team who won despite their defense to a team winning with their defense. They concluded the season by holding two of KY's most prolific offenses (Bourbon County and Wayne County) to 13 combined points. Two teams who otherwise combined to score 1,234 points in the '13 season. The title game was the ultimate coming out party for the Belfry youth as 5 Freshman played huge minutes and made the biggest plays of the game.

 

The 2014 Pirates now begin the off-season as the polar opposite of the 2013 team. Belfry has a veteran line and a veteran defense, but the questions focus on what individual players will step in as the playmakers and leaders at the skill positions.

 

The injury bug that plagued Belfry did give rise to an increase in playing time for young players and valuable snaps. Austin Hatfield holds as an anchor at FB where he is one of the premier players in the State at his position. X Willis is the "X-Factor" at HB. He was in the midst of a breakout season when an ACL injury ended it short, if he regains his form he will immediately become the feature back. Keaton Taylor was a major part of Belfry's success at SE and has starting experience at QB if needed. Andrew Fletcher was huge for Belfry during injuries as a Freshman and will certainly tote the rock more.

 

Defensively I expect DT RayQuan Horton to emerge as one of the best players East of I-75 despite only being a Sophomore. As a Freshman Horton made huge plays while growing on the job and was practically unblockable during the playoffs.

 

If Belfry can plug the gaps left behind and find a way to fill depth with another sensational Freshman Class (that won their second consecutive Middle School State Title), I expect the Pirates to begin as the #1 team in what appears to be a bit of a down year in 3A. I suspect 2014 will be a slight step back for Belfry on the whole, before a string of the next 3 years being very, very up years.

Although the Pirates return a good nucleus, they do have some really big holes to fill.

 

The losses of Warren, Carr, Johnson and Dari will leave you with an offensive backfield looking for an identity. Who will play QB right now is a huge question, and I have no idea at this point what the answer will be to that question.

 

I can't remember a time, though, when the future was any brighter across the board, with so many talented young players on the roster.

 

This schedule will test them and they may struggle, especially early.

 

Didn't you guys play Southwestern in Somerset last season?

Yes :irked:

Why over here back to back seasons?

It is Ashland's fault.

Well my HS Reunion is that weekend or I'd try to hook up with you at the game if you came over.

Sorry for the smart alec answer, here is the reason Belfry is playing at Southwestern for the 2nd year in a row.

 

Belfry was really scrambling to fill their schedule when East Ridge dropped out of the district and Ashland backed out of their verbal agreement with Belfry to play Sheldon Clark. Belfry already had a couple of openings. This led to us finding games with Christian Academy of Knoxville, Gallia Academy OH and Harlan County, but we had a hard time finding that last game. Southwestern had an opening but due to their scheduling the only way it would work for them was for us to come there both years. I think we were happy just to find a good game.

Well Southwestern has a new coach so maybe they can give you a different look this season. I'm looking forward to that game to see how much Coach French has been able to put his mark on the program in 8 or 9 months

Belfry supposedly has a new transfer.

 

Until everything is made official I can't say the name. All I can say is expect him to significantly contribute at HB. He ran for over 1000 yards last year in his Sophomore season.

 

If everything goes through with this player Belfry adds another piece that will make them even stouter the next two years. Belfry's biggest hit from last season was in the backfield where they graduated QB Sani Warren, HB Trenity Carr, HB Justin Johnson and backup RB Devontae Dari. The Pirates are anticipating moving Keaton Taylor to QB where he has taken some significant snaps, FB Austin Hatfield returns, and HB X Willis was seeing starter's reps prior to a leg injury... this addition will really help bring that backfield back up to speed to run behind an OL that is basically fully in tact and a very experienced defense.

The transfer has enrolled so it is now safe to put this out there:

 

Deonte Joplin - Hudl

Belfry has a second transfer:

Mullins: Logan QB Corbett transferring to Belfry - loganbanner.com

 

Noah Corbett will be a Sophomore in the Fall. As a Freshman he saw some starting action on Varsity for Logan HS at QB who made the WV Playoffs in 3A (Largest classification, the Top 16 teams make the playoffs). Also played some as a WR, DB, and KR.

 

Great athlete who needs polishing. Not sure if he will be able to step in right away and be the Pirate's starting QB in the fall, but he will be well positioned to be the QB in 2015 and 2016. Should be able to see the field this year though.

 

 

Belfry has the pieces to be very, very strong not only in 2014, but the next 3-4 years as well.