Much discussion has been held around the western bracket in Class 3A. Teams like Boyle, Central, Lexington Catholic, Tilghman, Caldwell, Elizabethtown, and others will battle for a trip to Bowling Green.

 

However, it has been widely assumed that Belfry will walk to the championship. While some of their early performances haven't been vintage, they've also been without some key players. The other eastern powers (Bell, Corbin, Russell, Lawrence) have had good and bad moments so far. Can anyone realistically challenge Belfry and keep the Pirates from playing in another state championship game?

Edited September 14, 201511 yr by gchs_uk9

Nah

I'll say no. IMHO, I think Belfry will be in the State Championship game.

Isnt Boyle and Lex Cath in the eastern half of the bracket?

Isnt Boyle and Lex Cath in the eastern half of the bracket?

 

No. They are in Region II with Central, western Kentucky.

No one in the eastern side, but Boyle Co. or Lou Central will handle them in the championship game. Why? Cause Boyle Co has Robbins ( KY Mr. Football ) in my opinion and Lou Central has the athletes/ speed and size to match up well with Belfry.

No one in the eastern side, but Boyle Co. or Lou Central will handle them in the championship game. Why? Cause Boyle Co has Robbins ( KY Mr. Football ) in my opinion and Lou Central has the athletes/ speed and size to match up well with Belfry.

 

But that wasn't the question! :lol2:

But that wasn't the question! :lol2:

Last time I checked, the question was " Can any eastern team challenge Belfry " RIGHT? And my answer.... NO ONE IN THE EASTERN SIDE!!!!!

Last time I checked, the question was " Can any eastern team challenge Belfry " RIGHT? And my answer.... NO ONE IN THE EASTERN SIDE!!!!!

 

I'm just joking with you, my man. You did answer it. You just also extrapolated!

I'm just joking with you, my man. You did answer it. You just also extrapolated!

That's what I do brother. I just don't get on here and predict a winner or score or non of that. I form my opinion and EVERYTHING I post, I write up constructive reason. Which I think everyone on here should, instead of just mouthing off scores and who will win. Nothing against brother, just saying

I am going to straddle the fence a little here

 

As of 9/14 do I see a team that if they played Belfry Friday that could beat them? No.

 

I do think 4 teams have the ability to challenge them in November.. and much like Graves County and Bowling Green... if they catch them on the right night who knows.

 

Russell- To me.. Russell is clearly the 2nd best team when healthy. They are the only team with the size AND (key word) the depth to be able to help neutralize Belfry's biggest advantage. They have two playmakers on offense and a ton of experience. They also have the familiarity of seeing Belfry last year and knowing where they are their strongest.

 

What Russell lacks is overall team speed and Defensive Playmakers.

 

 

Lawrence County- I am not sure Lawrence County could beat any of the three others head to head, but as for Belfry I think they are the second best matchup. The Bulldogs actually have the talent at the skill spots to give Belfry matchup problems. Kizer is a 3 year starter at QB an very mobile. Dalton is probably the best skill player in 3A-East. Kizer also has secondary weapons to help maintain balance. Lawrence is by far the most familiar with Belfry.

 

The issue with Lawrence is Depth and Defense. Belfry simply exhausted them last year in both meetings. It also doesn't help that the dawgs play the softest schedule of the lot.

 

Bell County- The Bobcats have a huge and skilled Oline... the only Oline worth comparing to Belfry in the East and maybe in the entire Class 3A. Bell has a solid backfield and Humfleet is much improved. With that said, Bell's overall lack of fast twitch fibers would be a rough go against a very quick Belfry defense.

 

Defensively the Bobcats aren't close right now. Bell also is not very deep and are not very well equipped for quick change scoring. In Bell's defense... I think they may be able to match up with any of the other teams... but they will have to see night and day improvement on Defense to stop Belfry's death by a thousand cuts offense.

 

Corbin- Corbin is what I would call "lukewarm". I look at Corbin and see a team who checks all the boxes of a "good" team. The issue is I do not see a single facet of Corbin's team that I would consider a neutral against Belfry, let alone a positive. Belfry is bigger, deeper, faster, more skilled, more experienced, and more explosive. Corbin is a team I would not want to see on a cold, muddy November night with a light rain... but with the Semi's at Belfry even that isn't an issue.

That's what I do brother. I just don't get on here and predict a winner or score or non of that. I form my opinion and EVERYTHING I post, I write up constructive reason. Which I think everyone on here should, instead of just mouthing off scores and who will win. Nothing against brother, just saying

 

Honestly, you do bring up a good point in your previous post. With the challenge of the western bracket where teams may well play three consecutive top ten teams just to get to the finals, will they be more battle tested than Belfry? Will they be so beat up Belfry will have the advantage?

Russell- To me.. Russell is clearly the 2nd best team when healthy. They are the only team with the size AND (key word) the depth to be able to help neutralize Belfry's biggest advantage. They have two playmakers on offense and a ton of experience. They also have the familiarity of seeing Belfry last year and knowing where they are their strongest.

 

What Russell lacks is overall team speed and Defensive Playmakers.

 

... but with the Semi's at Belfry even that isn't an issue.

 

I'm manipulating your point just a bit here, but as you mentioned, the semifinals would be at Belfry and I can't see Bell or Corbin going there and winning. But Belfry would have to win a regional final at Russell. Could that be an issue?

I am going to straddle the fence a little here

 

As of 9/14 do I see a team that if they played Belfry Friday that could beat them? No.

 

I do think 4 teams have the ability to challenge them in November.. and much like Graves County and Bowling Green... if they catch them on the right night who knows.

 

Russell- To me.. Russell is clearly the 2nd best team when healthy. They are the only team with the size AND (key word) the depth to be able to help neutralize Belfry's biggest advantage. They have two playmakers on offense and a ton of experience. They also have the familiarity of seeing Belfry last year and knowing where they are their strongest.

 

What Russell lacks is overall team speed and Defensive Playmakers.

 

 

Lawrence County- I am not sure Lawrence County could beat any of the three others head to head, but as for Belfry I think they are the second best matchup. The Bulldogs actually have the talent at the skill spots to give Belfry matchup problems. Kizer is a 3 year starter at QB an very mobile. Dalton is probably the best skill player in 3A-East. Kizer also has secondary weapons to help maintain balance. Lawrence is by far the most familiar with Belfry.

 

The issue with Lawrence is Depth and Defense. Belfry simply exhausted them last year in both meetings. It also doesn't help that the dawgs play the softest schedule of the lot.

 

Bell County- The Bobcats have a huge and skilled Oline... the only Oline worth comparing to Belfry in the East and maybe in the entire Class 3A. Bell has a solid backfield and Humfleet is much improved. With that said, Bell's overall lack of fast twitch fibers would be a rough go against a very quick Belfry defense.

 

Defensively the Bobcats aren't close right now. Bell also is not very deep and are not very well equipped for quick change scoring. In Bell's defense... I think they may be able to match up with any of the other teams... but they will have to see night and day improvement on Defense to stop Belfry's death by a thousand cuts offense.

 

Corbin- Corbin is what I would call "lukewarm". I look at Corbin and see a team who checks all the boxes of a "good" team. The issue is I do not see a single facet of Corbin's team that I would consider a neutral against Belfry, let alone a positive. Belfry is bigger, deeper, faster, more skilled, more experienced, and more explosive. Corbin is a team I would not want to see on a cold, muddy November night with a light rain... but with the Semi's at Belfry even that isn't an issue.

 

Russell's next six games will be a vacation. They can get younger kids reps and develop some depth.

I'm manipulating your point just a bit here, but as you mentioned, the semifinals would be at Belfry and I can't see Bell or Corbin going there and winning. But Belfry would have to win a regional final at Russell. Could that be an issue?

 

It's never easy winning at Russell.

 

If this happened Russell would be riding sky high and wanting revenge. With that said, there are a lot of Belfry kids who started or played a key role when Belfry went to Bourbon County in 2013 and won in a very hostile environment.