This thread is all kinds of interesting. I had zero desire to care about this game until I read this thread. I'll be following closely now. :lol2:

I'm not sure where everyone is getting all these blowout ideas. There's only 4 Pirate fans who have posted and it didn't come from them. I think its going to be a heck of a ball game

I'm not sure where everyone is getting all these blowout ideas. There's only 4 Pirate fans who have posted and it didn't come from them. I think its going to be a heck of a ball game

 

Me either. This game is the hardest one to pick IMO.

I think when you look at the common opponent results its somewhat clear that Belfry is the favorite and LexCath is the underdog.

 

The Knight defense is much improved since the JC game. The biggest question will be how much.

I think when you look at the common opponent results its somewhat clear that Belfry is the favorite and LexCath is the underdog.

 

The Knight defense is much improved since the JC game. The biggest question will be how much.

I don't think it's clear at all. LexCath played JC September 4th, a full 3 months ago. I wouldn't put much stock in any game played that long ago in high school football. Plus, LexCath played with a much different personnel than they are currently. You can watch the current Knights team and compare it with the team that took the field against JC and there is an obvious difference.

 

Belfry played JC a month ago and Belfry was full strength while JC was playing without several starters, especially their QB who stirs the drink for them.

 

Playing the comparison game is useless in this situation IMO.

Lexington Catholic has survived the gauntlet of the western bracket. The knocked Boyle County out of the #1 spot in the regular season, then in the playoffs they beat Bardstown and Garrard County and then went on the road and beat Central and Elizabethtown consecutively. This team is battle tested against very good competition.

 

Belfry has not been tested and have won with relative ease throughout the playoffs. They haven't punted in the playoffs. They haven't had to come from behind in the 4th quarter. They haven't had a game come down to the last possession. We don't know how they will respond to the challenge of being in those types of situations.

 

We all said whoever came out of that west bracket would be the favorite for those exact reasons and I haven't seen anything to change my mind. All of this is why Lexington Catholic is the favorite in this game, IMO.

I don't think it's clear at all. LexCath played JC September 4th, a full 3 months ago. I wouldn't put much stock in any game played that long ago in high school football. Plus, LexCath played with a much different personnel than they are currently. You can watch the current Knights team and compare it with the team that took the field against JC and there is an obvious difference.

 

Belfry played JC a month ago and Belfry was full strength while JC was playing without several starters, especially their QB who stirs the drink for them.

 

Playing the comparison game is useless in this situation IMO.

Man you beat me to the punch. That's exactly what I was going to say. You're on point with hat post.

With the exception of the Lawrence County Fumble Fest the Pirates haven't been in a game that was in jeopardy in the 4th Quarter with all their key pieces since Week 1 against Tates Creek.

 

That worries me.

 

Say what you want about LexCath, but they have gotten where they are by finding out what they have when the game is on the line. Early in the year they lost those games. Covington Catholic was the turning point, and now they win in the clutch.

With the exception of the Lawrence County Fumble Fest the Pirates haven't been in a game that was in jeopardy in the 4th Quarter with all their key pieces since Week 1 against Tates Creek.

 

That worries me.

 

Say what you want about LexCath, but they have gotten where they are by finding out what they have when the game is on the line. Early in the year they lost those games. Covington Catholic was the turning point, and now they win in the clutch.

Agreed. The silver lining on that Lawrence County game was Belfry came from behind with under 2 minutes to play to put together a scoring drive and win the game.

I also want to also dispel some misconceptions about Belfry I have seen hanging around.

 

Some people are trying to play this game off as Speed vs. Size.... and I do think it is easy and somewhat fair to make that comparison from a surface level, but at the same time I would strongly caution people.

 

For as big as Belfry is across the board, those suckers can move!

 

I watched the LexCath vs. Garrard County game and was actually very surprised how huge Garrard was. The Golden Lions might be the only team in 3A that can match Belfry's size. With that said, it was also stunning to see the lack of team speed and just general fundamentals from Garrard in comparison to Belfry. It really made me appreciate the Pirate staff to be honest to compare how Belfry's line comes off the ball and carries blocks to the second level, and how "quick and explosive" Belfry's big boys on the D-Line play.

 

If this were a track meet or a cross country meet LexCath would win going away, but I think some people are going to be surprised how fast and athletic Belfry really is despite their massive size.

LexCath has benefited from the 'wear-down' factor the last two games. The Knights play really no one both ways. Does Belfry have any thta go both ways?

I don't think it's clear at all. LexCath played JC September 4th, a full 3 months ago. I wouldn't put much stock in any game played that long ago in high school football. Plus, LexCath played with a much different personnel than they are currently. You can watch the current Knights team and compare it with the team that took the field against JC and there is an obvious difference.

 

Belfry played JC a month ago and Belfry was full strength while JC was playing without several starters, especially their QB who stirs the drink for them.

 

Playing the comparison game is useless in this situation IMO.

 

Quit snatching that 'Underdog status' away, we need the chip on the soulder attitude...:lol2:

 

I do love the running clock predictions by some of the posters. But even the Knights are probably the only team since that rule came into play to close a running clock to within one score. Two years against Highlands in semis.

 

The quick strike offense has shown it can come close to over running that situation.

 

The power run game is the biggest challenge this season for the Knights. But, as most here have noted, the Knight defense has gotten stronger each week since the JC game.

Lexington Catholic's defensive linemen and linebackers should run into brick walls all week in practice. That's the only way to simulate what they're about to face.

LexCath has benefited from the 'wear-down' factor the last two games. The Knights play really no one both ways. Does Belfry have any thta go both ways?

 

Belfry is really good here

 

2.5 guys go both ways

 

Bentley- Plays pretty much the entire game at TE and DT

 

Catron- HB and Safety pretty much the entire game, but at HB he only averages maybe 7 or 8 carries per game

 

Woolum- SE and CB, Belfry rotates about 3 different SE's and sometimes goes double tight.. he plays from 75% of the snaps on Defense as Belfry rotates Corners.

 

I would not expect the wear down factor to play any role... Woolum will not be effected due to how Belfry rotates him, Catron is probably the most physically fit player for either team and doesn't get a lot of fatigue from Offense... Bentley is the only guy who generally is playing both ways and having to grind 90% of the game.

Lexington Catholic's defensive linemen and linebackers should run into brick walls all week in practice. That's the only way to simulate what they're about to face.

:laugh:

Lexington Catholic's defensive linemen and linebackers should run into brick walls all week in practice. That's the only way to simulate what they're about to face.

And with all do respect to you Sir and the team you follow/ homer to.. Are you not one of the ones that has been critical against Lex Cath all season? Every game, you always pick them to loose, get beat down or even placed a running clock on them? How is that going for you and your homer team?