This is a rivalry that goes back many decades and is the battle for Kings of Pike County. Anyone who ever has worn the Red or Maroon will tell you that this is one game on the schedule that nobody wants to lose. There is absolutely no love lost between these two fan bases, but there is a ton of respect.

 

Belfry had dominated this series winning 13 in a row leading into last years game. The Pirates were the defending 3A Champs, came into the game 3-0 and there had been a lot of talk that maybe this series should be cancelled because it had become so lopsided. Pikeville was 4-0 and knew they had a special team and were not drinking the same Kool-Aid as the Pond Creekers.

 

The Panthers shocked the Pirates, whipped them on the line of scrimmage, and rode the back of RB Daric Pugh to a very convincing 29-20 win.

 

Enter 2015 where the Panthers are one of the favorites in Class A, Belfry is one of the favorites in Class AAA, and this game suddenly has the same "feel" to it that it used to have. All is right with the world again in Pike County.

 

So, can Pikeville do it again? Or will Belfry take back the bragging rights for another year?

I like Belfry 35-14 and the atmosphere should be electric at the CAM, but to answer your questions, YES, Pikeville can win if they outplay Belfry and Belfry is not focused. Should be a real good game.

Nobody gave Pikeville a chance last year, including me.

 

Some interesting comments in the prediction thread... http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-football-high/pikeville-belfry-predictions-284846.html

Pikeville must play a near perfect game.no turnovers and they must keep belfrys offense off the field.

"Cutting" gets an unfair negative connotation. The casual fan views a team who cuts linemen as almost a cheating type of context. I think a lot of people confuse cutting with chop blocking.

 

To cut an offensive or defensive player is completely legal. It is a risky strategy because you basically sacrifice your own player for the sake of disrupting he timing and flow of a play.

 

I say all this because in last year's game the critical part of Pikeville's success was the fact that the majority of the plays, both sides of the ball, the Panthers used the "cut" to neutralize Belfry's size advantage and strength advantage.

 

 

The outcome of this year's game directly falls with how Belfry adjusts to this. Last year the Panthers basically logged the middle of the line scrimmage and forced the entire game to be played between the Tackle and Tight End. Belfry was unable to establish an outside running game and the Panthers were content taking 3 yards per run and utilizing the short passing game to move the sticks. Then in the 4th Quarter Pugh took over and broke a couple long runs.

 

Pikeville definitely can beat Belfry again. They are a very well coached team and very quick. If Belfry allows the Panthers to disrupt their two greatest strengths at the LOS and lets Pikeville grind drives History will repeat itself.

 

Daric Pugh was the only HB in 2014 to run for over 100 yards on Belfry. He is a beast. Pugh is very good at turning 1 yard gains into 4 yard gains. Belfry has to get him before he gets to full speed and create some negative plays.

 

Pikeville's young QB will have to emulate Austin Charles last year and hit the small stuff and the Jarrell kid will have to replace Estep and make plays in the open field.

Agree. At first glance, some would think this would be a cheap trick, or as someone called it "chicken snot football." I totally disagree. If a football team's line is say forty to fifty pounds lighter, and four to six inches shorter, then this would be sort of an "equalizer" I would think. It puts the responsibility on the larger team to counter that. The good thing for the smaller, less depth football team is the KHSAA allows it. Imo, Pikeville has a chance to repeat the win, if Daric Pugh is 100% healthy, and they play a near perfect game.

Who you cheering for Five-0 ?

This is the Bluegrasspreps.com Eastern Kentucky Game of the Week!

 

Probable Starters

 

Belfry Offensive Starters

 

SE # 27 Austin Woolum 5'8 145 Jr

 

TE # 44 Cole Bentley 6'4 301 Jr

T # 61 Austin Dotson 6'6 276 Jr

G # 76 Jordan Scott 6'5 305 Jr

C # 56 Brayden Preece 5'9 200 Jr

G # 54 Jordan Wolford 5'11 307 Jr

T # 53 Austin Gibbs 6'2 276 Sr

 

QB # 6 Noah Corbett 5'10 176 Jr

**QB #8 Avery Browning 5'9 150 Fr (Started last week)

 

FB # 1 Andrew Fletcher 6'0 222 Jr

 

HB # 10 Cameron Catron 5'9 173 Jr

HB # 3 Xondre Willis 5'10 170 Sr

 

 

Belfry Defense

DE #2 TJ Dotson 5'11 175 Sr

DT # 23 Rayquan Horton 6'2 290 Jr

NG # 44 Cole Bentley 6'4 301 Jr

DT # 20 Chase Dove 6'0 170 Jr

DE # 40 Austin Hall 6'2 197 Jr

 

LB #5 Derek Wellman 5'11 183 Soph

LB # 11 Nate Sanger 6'0 195 Sr

B # 3 Xondre Willis 5'10 170 Sr

** CB # 28 Taveon Hunter 5'9 155 Soph (Started last week)

S # 13 Justin Adkins 5'9 170 Soph

S # 10 Cameron Catron 5'9 173 Jr

CB # 15 Devin Varney 6'0 160 Soph

Pikeville Offense

 

T # 61 Tanner Roop 6'0 241 Sr

G # 56 Austin Salyer 5'10 230 Jr

C # 59 Logan Coleman 5'10 225 Sr

G # 64 Nate Campoy 5'10 190 Jr

T # 53 Kyle Martin 6'3 245 Jr

TE # 7 Andrew McNamee 6'1 190 Jr

 

H-Back/FB # 33 Cody Charles 5'11 215 Sr

 

RB # 45 Daric Pugh 6'0 210 Sr

 

WR # 1 Chatlin Jarrell 5'7 140 Sr

WR # 15 AJ Vanderbeck 6'0 175 Sr

 

QB # 12 Cody Dials 6'1 180 Jr

 

 

 

PIKEVILLE DEFENSE

 

DE # 45 Daric Pugh 6'0 210 Sr

DT # 59 Logan Coleman 5'10 225 Sr

NG # 58 Gunner Edmonds 5'11 250 Jr

DT # 55 Dalton Meade 6'2 245 Sr

DE # 33 Cody Charles 5'11 215 Sr

 

LB # 56 Austin Salyer 5'10 230 Jr

LB # 52 Isaac Lucas 5'9195 Sr

 

CB # 1 Chatlin Jarrell 5'7 140 Sr

S # 14 Kory Stevens 6'0 175 Sr

S # 10 Wyatt Battaile 6'3 160 Soph

CB # 11 Clay Slone 5'11 180 Jr

What jumps out is Belfry has an absolutely massive size advantage... even moreso than last year. Obviously that doesn't matter if Belfry's linemen and DLinemen are on the ground.

 

Pikeville has 5 guys starting both ways.. pretty respectable for a 1A school. With that said none of the Belfry OL or Front 7 start both ways besides Bentley.

 

Tates Creek and NewCath each had success against the Belfry DB's using a distinct size advantage. The size difference here is minimal if not a complete wash.

 

The duo of Charles and Pugh are the most physically imposing backfield Belfry has seen thusfar. NewCath was a much faster and explosive backfield, but the Panthers bring a power element Belfry is yet to see.

I absolutely LOVE it when the Pikeville / Belfry game has a little fire to it.

I'll take Belfry 27-14.

 

I could see this one get real ugly... I could also see a Pikeville upset... but the most likely scenario is a quick moving clock and Belfry gets a couple big plays and the young Pikeville QB misses his target on 3rd Down forcing a punt.

One other key thing IMO is Special Teams.

 

Pikeville won the Special Teams battle last year. Belfry muffed a punt that led to a Pikeville TD. Belfry missed a FG. Pikeville also hit a 35 yard XP that set the Final margin to 9.

 

Pikeville forced an offsides on the Belfry Field Goal Block Team and scored a 2 point conversion that loomed huge at the end. Pikeville does this every week and Belfry needs to be aware... they line up and hard count and if they draw a flag they go for two from the one and try to still a point.

 

Belfry is improved but they need to win the Special Teams battle straight up. No leaving points off the board, no muffs or turnovers, no long returns... Woolum has been excellent at kicking touchbacks and Wellman is a sound punter. Belfry needs both to win the field position game.

 

Even despite the great Pikeville gameplan last year, if Belfry doesn't make the Special teams Mistakes they probably win 24-21.

Who you cheering for Five-0 ?

 

Ha H a! Should there be any doubt?

Pikeville Offense

 

T # 61 Tanner Roop 6'0 241 Sr

G # 56 Austin Salyer 5'10 230 Jr

C # 59 Logan Coleman 5'10 225 Sr

G # 64 Nate Campoy 5'10 190 Jr

T # 53 Kyle Martin 6'3 245 Jr

TE # 7 Andrew McNamee 6'1 190 Jr

 

H-Back/FB # 33 Cody Charles 5'11 215 Sr

 

RB # 45 Daric Pugh 6'0 210 Sr

 

WR # 1 Chatlin Jarrell 5'7 140 Sr

WR # 15 AJ Vanderbeck 6'0 175 Sr

 

QB # 12 Cody Dials 6'1 180 Jr

 

 

 

PIKEVILLE DEFENSE

 

DE # 45 Daric Pugh 6'0 210 Sr

DT # 59 Logan Coleman 5'10 225 Sr

NG # 58 Gunner Edmonds 5'11 250 Jr

DT # 55 Dalton Meade 6'2 245 Sr

DE # 33 Cody Charles 5'11 215 Sr

 

LB # 56 Austin Salyer 5'10 230 Jr

LB # 52 Isaac Lucas 5'9195 Sr

 

CB # 1 Chatlin Jarrell 5'7 140 Sr

S # 14 Kory Stevens 6'0 175 Sr

S # 10 Wyatt Battaile 6'3 160 Soph

CB # 11 Clay Slone 5'11 180 Jr

 

Might as well take #14 Corey Stevens out of the equation. Blew a knee in practice before the season started. Out for the year. Each starter is taking their turn wearing #14 for each game of the season dedicated to Corey.