On Friday September 19^th the ranked #1 team in Class 3A of the http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-football-high/bluegrasspreps-com-kentucky-284149.html Belfry Pirates will make the trip to Pikeville to take the #5^th ranked team in Class 1A of the http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-football-high/bluegrasspreps-com-kentucky-284145.html Pikeville Panthers.

 

Belfry will come into the game at 3-0 with their wins coming against; Henry Clay 29-7, Harlan County 38-20 and Southwestern 28-7. The Pirates come in averaging 32 points per game while allowing 11 points per game.

 

Pikeville will come into the game at 4-0 with their wins coming against; Prestonsburg 30-29, Hazard 49-36, Paintsville 62-8 and Sheldon Clark 63-20. The Panthers come in averaging 51 points per game while allowing 23 points per game.

 

Every time these two teams hook up, it never disappoints and this year should be no exception. Phillip Haywood will have his big red monster up and ready to go as Daric Pugh will be ready to lead the Pikeville Panthers. This will be the best game that takes place in the mountains this week.

 

Belfry will be led by senior running back Austin Hatfield, who had 273 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns coming into the game with Pulaski Southwestern. Xondre Willis and Andrew Fletcher will also help contribute to the Pirates in this game. Going into the game against Pulaski Southwestern Andrew Fletcher had 111 rushing yards while Xondre Willis had 129 rushing yards.

 

Dairc Pugh will be the one man horse who leads Pikeville against this Belfry defense. On just 60 carries, Daric has 569 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, coming into the game against Sheldon Clark. Daric is averaging 200 rushing yards per game. Pikeville will also rely on starting quarterback Austin Charles who has completed 18 of 33 passes for 337 yards and 4 touchdowns.

 

1998: Pikeville defeats Belfry 35-19

 

1999: Pikeville defeats Belfry 26-8

 

2000: Pikeville defeats Belfry 31-14. The Panthers were led that season by Barrett Rogers and Matt Braham. Rogers who rushed for 1,761 yards and 30 touchdowns while Branham threw for 1,975 yards and 21 touchdowns on 138/226 passing.

 

2001: Belfry defeats Pikeville 21-0

 

2002: Belfry defeats Pikeville 20-13. The Panthers were led that season by Paul Sullivan who rushed for 2,111 yards and 31 touchdowns. Paul had 192 total points that season by himself alone. Belfry was led by Jonah Caudill who rushed for 1,139 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns.

 

2003: Belfry defeats Pikeville 28-6

 

2004: Belfry defeats Pikeville 30-0. The Panthers were led by Robert Shurtleff and Weston Robinson. Robert rushed for 1,470 yards and 26 touchdowns that season. Weston ran for 1,236 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season. Doug Howard and David Jones led Belfry. Doug who ran for 2,066 yards while David rushed for 1,805 yards. Both players had 29 total touchdowns on the season.

 

2005: Belfry defeats Pikeville 36-13. Weston Robinson led Pikeville on the season with 650 rushing yards. Corey Chapman, Dustin May and Matt Maynard led Belfry on the season. Corey ran for 1,115 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dustin ran for 1,016 yards and 14 touchdowns while Matt ran for 954 yards and 20 touchdowns.

 

2006: Belfry defeats Pikeville 20-14. Pikeville was led by Daniel Harmon who ran for 1,328 yards and 15 touchdowns. Dustin May, Corey Chapman and Gerald Epling led Belfry. Dustin had 1,425 rush yards and 17 touchdowns. Corey had 1,117 rush yards and 16 touchdowns. Gerald ran for 808 yards and 13 touchdowns. Andrew Elkins threw for 827 yards.

 

2007: Belfry defeats Pikeville 49-7. Daniel Harmon led the Panthers with 2,062 yards and 27 yards. Belfry was led by Dustin May and Ivan Lee. Dustin who ran for 1,747 yards and 28 touchdowns. Ivan ran for 1,318 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season.

 

2008: Belfry defeats Pikeville 48-7. Thomas Varney led the Pirates with 133 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. James Clearly led Pikeville with 93 rushing yards. Blake Branham threw for 90 yards and 1 touchdown.

 

2009: Belfry defeats Pikeville 54-20. Blake Branham led Pikeville with 153 passing yards and 1 touchdown. Nathan Carroll and Chase Maynard led Belfry. Nathan with 95 rush yards and Chase with 87 rush yards.

 

2010: Belfry defeats Pikeville 55-24. Jeffre Pruitt, Trey Willis and Tyler Williams all led Belfry. Jeffre with 182 rush yards and 4 touchdowns. Trey Willis added 130 rush yards and 3 touchdowns while Tyler Williams put in 101 rush yards. Randy Maynard led Pikeville with 130 rushing yards and 147 passing yards.

 

2011: Belfry defeats Pikeville 55-14. Justin Johnson led Belfry with 89 rush yards. The Pirates had 9 different players that ran the ball. Randy Maynard led Pikeville with 137 passing yards and 2 touchdowns.

 

2012: Belfry defeats Pikeville 48-0. Belfry was led by Trenity Carr and Austin Hatfield. Trenity ran for 150 yards. Austin ran for 149 yards and 3 touchdowns. Chase Hall led Pikeville with 56 rushing yards.

 

2013: Belfry defeats Pikeville 56-20. Pikeville was led by Chase Hall who had 116 rush yards. Justin Johnson led Belfry with 97 rush yards and 2 touchdowns. Sani Warren threw for 81 yards and 1 touchdown.

This is the best Pikeville team in a decade.

 

Belfry's defense though is something Pikeville has had no preparation for.

 

Close for a while then Belfry's size, depth, and team speed wins out.

 

Belfry 48

Pikeville 20

 

 

 

UNLESS.... if Belfry commits penalties like they did last week and don't execute this game could be closer than most expect. Pikeville is a very confident group and if Belfry lets them hang around it could get interesting.

Does Pikeville have the kind of team who can hang with Belfry, and push them for 4 quarters?

 

I hope they do, but it has been a while since this game is competitive.

Does Pikeville have the kind of team who can hang with Belfry, and push them for 4 quarters?

 

I hope they do, but it has been a while since this game is competitive.

This is the best Panther team I have seen in well over a decade.

 

Pikeville has tremendous talent for a 1A team, they have lots of experience, and they have playmakers on both sides of the football. Pikeville has improved their depth and have a solid O-Line.

 

With that said their D-Line doesn't appear to be strong enough to withstand the rolling thunder Belfry brings and Pikeville's Oline is about to witness a Front 7 unlike anything they have ever seen before. I am also not sold on the Panther Secondary's tackling ability. They have some big hitters, but outside of Estep they have had some poor displays of tackling against Hazard and Pburg.

 

What Belfry has to overcome is this is a Pikeville team playing with supreme confidence who is very hungry and tired of being 2nd Fiddle to the County School. The Pikeville Freshman class literally was so young they cannot remember the last time Pikeville beat Belfry.

 

What Pikeville does have is enough weapons that if Belfry makes mistakes they will be able to stick around.

 

If Belfry brings their A game..or for that matter their A- or even B+ game Belfry puts this away before the 4th Quarter starts. If Belfry lets the Panthers hang around though.. a big play here..a big play there... and a short field from a turnover.... then suddenly Pikeville has a chance to shock the Bluegrass.

 

I see about 5 scenarios that can play out and 4 of the 5 have Belfry winning comfortably...but that 5th one is entirely possible and it ends with Pikeville having a chance to re-define their program.

This game used to be so relevant and people from all over, not just Pike County, watched it with anticipation. Not anymore tho, as of right now, this pole here has 8 votes. That's is how exciting the Pikeville and Belfry game is now. The seniors on this team, most of them were in preschool or kindergarden the last time Pikeville beat Belfry. They don't have no idea what it used to be like for us old dogs. I like Coach Mac and I hope he keeps on making them better, but for now, Belfry rules the roost in Pike County, and I don't see those winds of fortune a changin' any time soon.

 

I may take a nap during the 3rd quarter and hope somebody wakes me up in time to see the final score.

Does anyone out there seriously think Pikeville has a real chance at beating Belfry? I see they got 2 votes already.

Does anyone out there seriously think Pikeville has a real chance at beating Belfry? I see they got 2 votes already.

I wouldn't put their chances above about 20% of doing so, and that may be a little generous.

 

I do think they match up better with Belfry than they have in quite some time. Pikeville has some big play capability and Belfry has shown that they can be vulnerable to that. Whether it be big kickoff returns, interception returns or just a blown coverage, the opportunity for a big play against the Pirates is there.

 

I think Belfry is superior up front, and that is where the game will be won. Pikeville, though, if they can limit mistakes and play enough defense to make Belfry work for it, anything can happen. A couple of Belfry turnovers combined with a couple of big-plays for Pikeville and a lot of Pond Creekers could be looking some crow seasonings.

 

Blech, that tasted bad just typing it.

What I will say is Pikeville has came a long way under Coach Mac.

 

Belfry has beat the Panthers firmly for the over a decade, and though i could see this game going the same route...to me there is NO QUESTION Pikeville has improved.

 

This Panther team would be every bit as good as the 2010 Belfry team that reached the State Finals and would probably even push the 2011 team. It's just Pikeville is facing a buzzsaw in 2014. They are good enough that Belfry simply can't phone it in or take their foot off the gas.

 

I could very easily see this game going the way the Pike Central game did last year in the regular season. If Belfry comes out and steps all over themselves like they did last week with penalties...and a fortuitous bounce here and there... Pikeville could jump on them and make it VERY interesting.

 

The fact remains for as good as Pikeville's skill players are..and as improved as they are up front... Belfry is simply nothing like they will ever see again this season... even in the State Finals. The Belfry Front 7 is big, fast, and skilled. The Belfry OLine is massive and deep and coming behind that line is a ton of talent.

 

Pikeville needs to find a way to keep this one within reach entering the 4th and keep it about two plays away at all times. I think Pikeville will struggle mightily to sustain success and put point on Belfry..so they need to pick their spots to go for the home run and need to force fumbles so they have a short field.

 

What I think happens is Pikeville hangs tough for a Half, Belfry extends in the 3rd...then Belfry shuts the door at the start of the 4th.

 

I am thinking 49-17 Belfry.

I see it something like 49-14. (35-7 at half)

 

I simply don't see Pikeville competing enough on the LOS to be that competitive in the game. Estep and Pugh will make a couple big plays though.

Pikeville has improved over the last few years. Coach Mac really has that program heading in the right direction. The only problem is this years Belfry team will probably go down as one of the best ever teams of the programs history. With the history of the Belfry program, thats saying a lot.

 

 

Pikeville may come out and keep it close in the 1st quarter on adrenaline alone, but Belfry wins this one by as many as Haywood wants. The good thing for Pikeville is Haywood is a classy coach and will not run up the score intentionally.

 

Belfry 49

Pikeville 14

What I will say is Pikeville has came a long way under Coach Mac.

 

Belfry has beat the Panthers firmly for the over a decade, and though i could see this game going the same route...to me there is NO QUESTION Pikeville has improved.

 

This Panther team would be every bit as good as the 2010 Belfry team that reached the State Finals and would probably even push the 2011 team. It's just Pikeville is facing a buzzsaw in 2014. They are good enough that Belfry simply can't phone it in or take their foot off the gas.

 

I could very easily see this game going the way the Pike Central game did last year in the regular season. If Belfry comes out and steps all over themselves like they did last week with penalties...and a fortuitous bounce here and there... Pikeville could jump on them and make it VERY interesting.

 

The fact remains for as good as Pikeville's skill players are..and as improved as they are up front... Belfry is simply nothing like they will ever see again this season... even in the State Finals. The Belfry Front 7 is big, fast, and skilled. The Belfry OLine is massive and deep and coming behind that line is a ton of talent.

 

Pikeville needs to find a way to keep this one within reach entering the 4th and keep it about two plays away at all times. I think Pikeville will struggle mightily to sustain success and put point on Belfry..so they need to pick their spots to go for the home run and need to force fumbles so they have a short field.

 

What I think happens is Pikeville hangs tough for a Half, Belfry extends in the 3rd...then Belfry shuts the door at the start of the 4th.

 

I am thinking 49-17 Belfry.

 

You're vastly overrating this Pikeville team IMO. It would be a running clock sometime in the third quarter against the 2011 or 12 team, and they'd lose competitively to the 2010 team. If we don't see a running clock by the third quarter this year then it's a big let down to me and numerous others.

Since no one else has mentioned it yet. Jr. RB Deonte Joplin has apparently left the team. I can speak for myself and I feel many other Pirate fans when we say his transfer this offseason brought high expectations. I for one thought he would be a gamebreaking caliber RB in Haywood's system. However, through 3 games he had only carried the ball a dozen or so times.

 

I hate to speculate about why he may have chosen to leave, but he is gone. In week 1, Belfry lost another of their top 3 RB's to a broken collar bone. So, Haywood and company will have to find a combination that works. I doubt this is enough to change the outcome of this game, but it certainly adds a wrinkle and gives fans something else to keep an eye on.

Belfry 28-21.

Machine 52 Pville 13

Pikeville has about a 5% chance in this game. They have improved as ATL says, but so has Belfry.