The Pirates and Redhounds do battle for the first time since 2007. Who punches their ticket to Bowling Green?

As long as Belfry isn't asleep they'll win. If Belfry is focused and takes care of the ball they should have a game that looks much like the one last week.

Belfry by 21.

Belfry seems to be peaking at just the right time. The defense is playing with a ton of confidence and making plays all over the field, especially Dotson, Catron and Varney. And, of course, Horton's just being Horton.

 

I don't think Corbin has the weapons on offense to hurt Belfry. Lawrence Co. had a very good QB in Grant Kiser and probably the best WR duo in EKY(Dalton brothers) and they still got their rear ends handed to them. Corbin's still a year or two away from being a real contender, I think.

Belfry rolls in this one and takes its next step towards the 3 peat. I'll take the Pirates by 4 TDs.

Belfry by 4 scores.

I reserve my official prediction until I watch more recent film on Corbin

 

What I saw from them very early in the season I would say Belfry is a matchup nightmare for them.

 

With that said Corbin has been a work in progress and if healthy will not resemble anything of the team I saw play back in short sleeve weather.

I reserve my official prediction until I watch more recent film on Corbin

 

What I saw from them very early in the season I would say Belfry is a matchup nightmare for them.

 

With that said Corbin has been a work in progress and if healthy will not resemble anything of the team I saw play back in short sleeve weather.

 

Belfry is still a matchup nightmare for the Hounds. I'm not sure what they do well enough offensively to be able to move the ball with any consistency against the Belfry defense and they don't have a lot of big play capability either.

 

As far as being healthy, they lost a couple of key seniors out of an already small Sr. class(they play 5 seniors)early in the year, so they have played without them for most of the year anyway, and they have a few banged up, but so does most everyone else this time of year as well.

 

This should be a good experience for this group because most of them have gotten their first real varsity action this year as only 4 current starters were starters last year. They will likely be over matched, but will play hard and will go in expecting to have a shot at winning.

First Impressions of Corbin...

 

General:

- Only team in 2A I have seen not named Central who explicitly plays 11 on Offense and a separate 11 on Defense. This has been a real benefit to them in some of their games, specifically against Bell County who had very few guys who didn't play both ways. not sure if it will be a big help Friday as belfry really limits their guys going both ways and the ones who do play iron man football are frequently subbed.

 

- Very, very young team. Between these two teams you may be see 36 starters return next year. Both are very Junior heavy and ar enot afraid to play Sophomores or even Freshmen.

 

 

OFFENSE:

- Corbin has nice size up front. Not quiet Belfry size, but I would say one of the better looking OL's in 3A. Probably average around 6'1 265 I say.

 

- Sizemore is the heartbeat of this team at QB. Big kid and his style is Tebow-esque. Most dangerous weapon is his feet... not real fast, but agile for his size and not afraid to lower his shoulder on smaller DB's. Adequate passer.. solid when he has time in the pocket. Not especially refined touch or accurate when rolling, but good enough to get the job done.

 

- Two undersized but tough nosed Half Backs. Jewell is tough as nails and runs much bigger than he is. Both are quick and do a good job squeezing through the holes the big line creates. Corbin is their most dangerous when Defenses fear Sizemore and they can create a seam for either back to get to the second level. Not especially fast in terms of top end speed, but both accelerate in a hurry. #15 Carter will also get some play and is more of their power back.

 

- Corbin will either use the inverted wishbone with Carter or go to the twin back set with their two quick backs. Two receivers are always out there regardless, #11 Mitchell and #85 Moore. Decent size, decent speed, good hands. Moore is Sizemore's "Go To". Posession receiver and by far the guy he looks at the most in the redzone. Better route runner of the two. Mitchell has a little more jump ball ability.

 

 

DEFENSE:

- Much like Offense... Corbin is one of your bigger 3A Defensive Fronts...but not Belfry big. Basically 4 DE's that most schools wish they had. Lambert #65 is the best of the bunch. Big kid, strong kid, rarely loses ground at the LOS. #42 Sevier has great size and footwork, not quite as strong as Lambert at point of attack. #17 is tall but young. Good foot speed, not exactly filled out yet. #9 and #8 brings lots of quickness and play well laterally, but not real big.

 

- Classic Corbin Linebackers. Will move them all around and they just play hard nosed. Brock #25 stands out the most. He can play inside or outside and has nice size. Sams #31 pursues well, Gibson #32 is only a Freshman and will be special. Plays like a Junior. Linebackers don't jump out at you, but they are solid. Speed of Willis is going to be an issue for them.

 

- Secondary... by and large what you expect from a 3A Semi-Finals team from EKY. Solid,,, not really elite athletes.. average size. Pretty well coached and solid in run support. Not overly physical , not overly fast...but more than serviceable. Murphy #28 is the best of the lot at coming up against the run and will need to play big.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

- Punter is #22 Moore... above average.

- Kicking game is pretty average.

- Big advantage Belfry in this one.

Belfry. Too good.

In the spirit of fairness...I will self scout Belfry

 

OFFENSE:

- Massive Oline. Biggest in 3A and one of the bigger lines left playing in the State regardless of class. With Bentley at TE you have 4 guys who are well above 6'2 275. Preece is undersized at Center but consistent. Hall and Dotson are surprisingly athletic for their size and move well, Whitt is not very athletic but holds his own. Bentley is basically a third tackle and is mammoth.

 

- Split ends are after thought and Belfry rotates several guys. Woolum is the most dangerous in the passing game, all do an excellent job blocking downfield. Do not create plays..but good enough to hurt you if you break down or take a chance.

 

- Rotate two guys at FB who are vastly different. Fletcher gets the majority of the reps. Bigger back,more of a grinder, you know what you are going to get. Not a lot of top end speed but can gash you for 20-30 any given play and always falls forward. Wellman is the change of pace at FB. Runs violent, big play potential, explodes into hole. Sometimes too agressive and causes mesh point problems.

 

- Belfry has a stable of options they can use at HB but have essentially settled on Willis and Catron. Catron is a pitbull. Undersized but relentless. Great short burst quickness and sneaky feet, not a ton of top end speed and sometimes "over runs" the play. Willis is playing at a very high level. Possibly the best Runningback in 3A the last half of the season. Ton of top end speed and home run ability. If he gets a crease he's gone. Not as physical as the other backs, but his cuts and first step have been dangerous.Both he and Catron can catch out of the backfield and are probably Belfry's two top receiving threats.

 

Corbett the QB is the X-factor. Belfry's title hopes go as he goes. Dangerous skill set as a runner and shows signs of danger as a passer. When he runs the Offense and plays within himself Belfry is tough to defend because they have big play ability in 4 different options. When Belfry has played bad Corbett has played bad and made careless decisions with the football or tried to force things. When he sets his feet he is a very solid passer.Think of a hybrid between the past two Belfry QB's. Not as smooth ball handling or passing as Warren, but a better rushing threat. Not the the rushing threat as Taylor, but a better passer.

 

 

DEFENSE:

- D-Line is nasty good. One of the best in KY. DE's Hall and TJ Dotson are solid and can make plays dropping back...ton of starting experience. NG will rotate between Runyon and Dove. Dove is very undersized and quick... Runyon is traditional style nose designed to occupy space so Belfry's two DT's can do their thing. Bentley plays both ways..he is the lane clogger. Big, strong, steady... almost always occupies two guys. Horton is special. One of the State's best defenders. When he is locked in watch out. Horton gets after anything...run or pass..within the tackle box and can take the game over.

 

- Hall and Dotson are essentially a DE/LB hybrid..against Corbin they will both stand up. Both are very fast, both have good height but neither are guys who are going to shove linemen out of the way. Sanger sets the middle. Played as a NG last year and has that mentality and is very good mixing it up in the muck. Wellman (the spell FB) is going to be a special talent at LB. Just like FB he plays fast and hard... only critique is sometimes too fast and hard.

 

- Secondary is where Belfry is most vulnerable. Flashes of brilliance surrounded by flashes of braindead. CB Varney and S Adkins are both Sophomores and will frustrate you one play and amaze you the next. Varney has shown flashes of being a dominant corner... he also has been torched for big scores. Catron plays both ways at Safety. He's a headhunter. Biggest strength of the Pirate secondary is they will stick you and they do make big plays.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS:

- Punter is Devin Wellman... the older and softer spoken Wellman brother. IMHO, the best Punter East of I-75 and one of the best in the State (better Punter than Pack of JC). Doesnt get used a ton due to Belfry's proficient offense but he does it all. Can boom punts, can also directional kick.

- PK is Woolum and he also is a weapon. Puts 65-70% of kickoffs in the endzone. FG range to 45 yards and possibly stretching to 50-52.

- Return game: Not Belfry's strong suit... but above average. Willis and Hunter are solid at KR, but usually most teams kick away from Willis. Catron is an adventure at PR. Sometimes too aggressive, sometimes that aggressive nature leads to exceptional field position.

Having researched:

 

I think people are short selling Corbin a little bit as I have seen a lot of running clock and blowout predictions around the message boards.

 

Belfry usually has two huge advantages over everyone they face that has led to their 3A dominance. 1) They are much bigger and stronger than you 2)They are deeper than you. Corbin actually holds their own here very well.

 

The difference here simply comes down to playmaking ability and who simply has more talent. Belfry has big play ability every where.. Offense and Defense. Corbin will hold their own 4 plays out of 5,, but that 5th play is where things can change in a hurry.

 

For Belfry to beat Corbin the blueprint is simple. Execute your offense, protect the ball, make Corbin beat you by driving the length of the field.

 

For Corbin to win it is not so simple. They need turnovers, they need a couple explosive plays on Offense where Belfry blows a coverage or an assignment, and they need to play better than they have all year.

 

Belfry 31

Corbin 14

 

Belfry just simply gets more key plays.

Belfry 35

 

Corbin 14

Belfry 48 Corbin 7

First impressions of Corbin:

 

- Very, very young team. Between these two teams you may be see 36 starters return next year. Both are very Junior heavy and ar enot afraid to play Sophomores or even Freshmen.

 

Corbin starts 5 seniors, 10 juniors, 5 sophomores and 2 freshman.

 

- Two undersized but tough nosed Half Backs. Jewell is tough as nails and runs much bigger than he is. Both are quick and do a good job squeezing through the holes the big line creates.

 

Jewell is very strong, weighs 165 or so and squats 500 lbs.