It sounds like everyone is expecting the Belfry/NCC game to be lopsided, but I don't think so.

 

The only thing you ever know about Belfry heading into an early season game is they will be physical and they will play hard for 48 minutes. There aren't a lot of sureties beyond that. Typically, Belfry starts off pretty slow and it takes a while for them to hit their stride. Heck, that is Coach Haywood's philosophy, just get a little better each day and peak in November.

 

Last season was an anomaly in that they started off really strong and then the injury bug set them back for a while. With a new center and QB, I expect it will take a few weeks of game experience before they really start to get their timing down and begin to "gel" offensively. If that happens, this game may very well be a tight one.

I don't think anyone expects the game to be lopsided. Honestly, NCC plays teams like Belfry every year. It is all about the trip. Why travel 4 hours? What are they getting out of a 4 hour road trip to play Belfry that they couldn't get playing a similar team that is less than an hour road trip? That is what everyone is wondering about.

Because Belfry is a 3A school correct? More than likely have a roster size comparable to that of NCC.

 

Wrong answer! Belfry is big and looks like a 6A team.

Did you see Belfry play last year? They would have won the NKY 6A district.

 

And whatever Dixie fans, don't even get me started.

 

You don't believe that do you really.....They don't beat Dixie....They lost 36-0 to JC...cmon Gu! I think its a great game for NCC regardless the outcome. Its a quality opponent.

You don't believe that do you really.....They don't beat Dixie....They lost 36-0 to JC...cmon Gu! I think its a great game for NCC regardless the outcome. Its a quality opponent.

 

You are right, they lost to JC at JC. They also beat up on a solid Henry Clay team at home.

 

And if Belfry was in NKY and played in the 6A district I do believe the title would have come down to Dixie or Belfry.

I honestly think the only benefit to either team would be the gate. The last time they played Highlands won literally about 69-0. It sent Ncc spiraling. Being that there are many friends and family competing against each other, and it would be very one-sided, the game is not good for relations. I like to give my many NCC friends and family a hard time, but I really didn't enjoy the last meeting. They are some years NCC could stay within 4-5 TD's but those years are rare.

 

Coach Mueller at the time was willing to continue playing NewCath. They did not want to keep playing the Birds because of the last time they met. Highlands just had way too many athletes and size for the 'Breds in that one. I think NewCath also worried over injuries suffered against bigger team like Highlands.

I have no idea how Belfry would have fared in the NKY 6A district, but judging them by the JC score is no indicator. The team they sent to Johnson Central was a MASH unit with several starters on the bench. The team that played against Henry Clay, and in the finals against Central in no way resembled that walking wounded squad.

I have no idea how Belfry would have fared in the NKY 6A district, but judging them by the JC score is no indicator. The team they sent to Johnson Central was a MASH unit with several starters on the bench. The team that played against Henry Clay, and in the finals against Central in no way resembled that walking wounded squad.

 

6 Defensive starters out including All-Staters Horton and Bentley. Even still JC only had around 100 rushing yards and almost 3/4 of that came on one carry by the QB when they attacked Belfry the play after an injury.

 

JC was better than Belfry..but I honestly think that is probably a 14-7, 10-7, or 7-0 kind of game if Belfry were healthy.

 

Belfry also spanked Southwestern on the road in a game that was a couple penalty flags and a merciful knee away from being a running clock. Southwestern was easily one of the Top 4 or 5 teams in 5A and possibly even an equal to Pulaski County (who they beat in the regular season). I think Belfry and Dixie were pretty even teams...think I would give Dixie a slight edge due to offensive balance at the end of the year.

 

To Tusi's point... once Belfry got healthy that defense was playing some grown man football. IMHO you could count on one hand the number of teams in Kentucky who I think could have put more than 21 points on them come November.

I commend NCC for scheduling Belfry. Since the Eviston era started the schedule has gotten better and so has NCC football. Wagner has continued strong scheduling. I don't want that to sound like a negative to the legend, but I believe the scheduling philosophy Ncc has now is making them better than say a decade ago.

 

???? NewCath always scheduled tough under Mr. Schneider.

Coach Mueller at the time was willing to continue playing NewCath. They did not want to keep playing the Birds because of the last time they met. Highlands just had way too many athletes and size for the 'Breds in that one. I think NewCath also worried over injuries suffered against bigger team like Highlands.

 

Fellas, that was 1999. NewCath's worst team ever, record wise, v. Highlands, arguably, most talented team. Since that time, Highlands has gone to an higher level and NewCath has as well. The major difference being that Highlands has gone to like a 9 and NewCath has gone to about a 5-7, depending on the year, in comparison to everyone else. There are outliers like 2005 and 2010 where NewCath would have kept it very close, but most years, this game would get ugly. Highlands has double the enrollment and almost triple the number of players. Where NewCath can keep up with some bigger schools most years due to discipline and coaching, Highlands has that advantage on NewCath (no disrespect intended.) I'd love to see it b/c I loved the rivalry, but it isn't 1989 anymore.

I honestly think the only benefit to either team would be the gate. The last time they played Highlands won literally about 69-0. It sent Ncc spiraling. Being that there are many friends and family competing against each other, and it would be very one-sided, the game is not good for relations. I like to give my many NCC friends and family a hard time, but I really didn't enjoy the last meeting. They are some years NCC could stay within 4-5 TD's but those years are rare.

 

I guess there is Bosshog History and then there is accurate History. Last time NCC met Highlands was in 1998 when NCC was in a period of having 3 of their worst years since the early 60s. Highlands did win easily 62-0 but Highlands also won easily over just about everyone including a 56-7 win in the State Championship. Highlands actually beat Holmes, Campbell County, and Scott worse than they beat NCC that year. Highlands also scored 70 on CovCath.

 

The next year Highlands replaced NCC with a series against Elder which eventually led to playing Elder in the new Paul Brown Stadium so it was a great decision by Highlands and Elder. As for NCC I guess 1998 did not send them spiraling. Well actually an upward spiral maybe. In 2000 and 2001 they reached their first State Championship games since the mid-80s and the 2000-2014 period is by far the most successful in their history. Likewise, Highlands has continued to enjoy much success.

You are right, they lost to JC at JC. They also beat up on a solid Henry Clay team at home.

 

And if Belfry was in NKY and played in the 6A district I do believe the title would have come down to Dixie or Belfry.

 

Henry Clay is a solid win...I don't disagree that it would have come down to Dixie and Belfry.

6 Defensive starters out including All-Staters Horton and Bentley. Even still JC only had around 100 rushing yards and almost 3/4 of that came on one carry by the QB when they attacked Belfry the play after an injury.

 

JC was better than Belfry..but I honestly think that is probably a 14-7, 10-7, or 7-0 kind of game if Belfry were healthy.

 

Actually Workman had over half of the JC rushing yards, he had 144 by himself in that game, scoring on runs of 70, 30 and 6, and the team combined for 243 yards. Belfry was the team that had around 100 yards rushing. X went out late in the first half with a bad ankle injury but with the exception of their two TEs, Horton and Bentley, numerous people have said the rest of Belfry's O was intact. Had those guys been playing on the defensive side it would've probably helped and been a closer game, not denying that possibility. Regardless of this one, Belfry gained momentum when they got healthy on the defensive side and went on to win their 4th state title. I think any time a team can pick up a game against Belfry it is a great get, such a classy group of fans and a top notch team. Losing Hatfield will hurt, he was a dandy of a player that did so many things well, but they are my pick to be the top team in EKY for at least the next two seasons. Should be an excellent early season game for both teams.

You are right, JC ran all over the Pirates that night, way more than 100 yards, and Workman was a beast. Belfry was really depleted on defense, but I'm not taking anything away from JC. They were very good offensively and the Pirates were just not able to contain them that night.

 

X dressed for that game after missing a couple games with an an injury but had very little action (3 carries). Corbett was the starting QB who went out with the ankle injury, adding to the list for Belfry. Additionally, the Pirates were without RB Catron, TE Bentley from the start.

 

Defensively was where they were really banged up. DT Horton, DT Bentley, NG Sanger, FS Catron, SS Edwards and then CB Corbett went out too and CB Willis wasn't 100%. CB and K Woolum was out too and he had been playing backup CB. It was a true MASH unit but luckily they got healed up in time for a strong playoff run.

I can't say enough good things about NCC's football program. I always enjoy watching them play and I know I will get 100% effort from them every time out. However, after seeing both NCC and Belfry play in the finals last year I am not sure NCC wants any. Belfry is Manstown and they return the majority of their team from 2014.

 

So everyone, is Belfry a good game for Newport Central Catholic?

 

NCC playing Belfry would be like SK playing Trinity. It will not be pretty.

 

NCC always plays a great schedule, but especially after last year where they didn't get their first win until district play started showed they just weren't ready for teams outside their district in any class.

 

Unless people are of the belief a beat down is good for a team, this game really isn't going to benefit NCC at all.