Pirates rack up yardage as Midland could never stop their Offense, but Pirates finish out a very ho-hum 2nd Half

 

Pirates gave Haywood a lot to be mad about after leading 28-7 at Half. Two drives stall deep in Midland territory due to penalties and bad execution, one with a fumble at the 1. Midland adds a long TD run on a pathetic tackling job by Belfry and then score a TD with their Varsity in trash time.

 

Really good game by Taveon Hunter. Fletcher carries the load tonight as wellman gets banged up.

 

Good to see Austin Woolum back kicking.

52 carries, 394 yards for Belfry

Over 400 Total Yards

 

Fletcher 27 carries, 139 yards

Congrats to Belfry, the "fighting Watusi's" on the win. Another KY. win over an out of state opponent !

I'm really happy with this win. Belfry played well against a very fundamentally sound Knights team. CM looks a lot like Belfry, IMO. Midland did some things as the game wore on that will help the Pirates on the OL and DL to improve. They moved the ball at times very well, but they had to work at it. I'd like to know how many 3rd down conversions they made.

 

Hunter looked really explosive again tonight and is really coming into his own and Fletcher was a workhorse. Catron also stood out and went 100 mph as usual.

 

I thought the Pirates looked a bit winded late in this one. They really needed a 4 quarter game and they have gotten two in a row. That has to help them moving forward.

 

There were two really bad calls that stood out in the game.

 

On Midland's first TD, the RB was brought down, and he rolled over on a Belfry player, but used his elbow on his off hand, and the back of his forearm on his ball hand as a brace against the turf then got up and sprinted the final 10 yds for the score. Should have been down, but that play was on 1st and 10 and they were moving the ball and would have likely scored anyway.

 

The second one was more costly, Belfry's Catron had a long run and got tripped up inside the 5. He tried to stretch it out for a TD and when he hit the ground the ball popped out. It was ruled a fumble at the 1 that Midland recovered. Replay shows his knee was down, and I think the ball also crossed the plane. The ball is obscured by players on the replay angle, so it is possible he lost control, but it doesn't look like it and it didn't look like it live either. That was a tough turn of events, and it led to the "long drive for a TD with poor tackling" display that ATLCat described.

A few highlights here HIGHLIGHTS: No. 1 Belfry vs. Cabell Midland (W. Va.)

First let me say I am happy with this win, but still a little bit disappointed.

 

I was not feeling good about this game and new big plays for Belfry would be few and far between and that Midland was going to make them earn it. They did just that! Though Midland is 2-4 they are a very stout team and their three other losses were all to Top 5 teams in WV's highest classification.

 

The comparison I used for Midland, and I stand by it 100%, they are Simon Kenton on Defense and on the Oline. They have the skill players of a Campbell County. The Vaughn kid is a heck of a Sophomore back and is going to be a special player, but otherwise they don't have the "wow" players that they had on each side of the ball last year. The 2015 Midland team is one of the best teams Belfry has ever played (better TEAM than 2016 KnoxCath even), this is a very, very good win.. although the margin and the way Belfry finished disappoints me.

 

Belfry led 28-7 at the Half and turned Midland away on their first posession on the 3rd Quarter. Belfry put an excellent drive together but then it seemed like they started to take their foot off the gas. A few missed assignments, a procedure penalty, and suddenly they were staring at 4th and Long and a missed 48 yard FG. Belfry got the ball back again and once again drove it very workman-like into the redzone. Once again they started to piddle around before Catron broke free for what appeared to be a TD or a run inside the 2 when the "fumble" happened.

 

Midland turned that into 7 and cut the lead to 28-14. Belfry got a short field after the kickoff and once again tried shooting themselves in the foot in the redzone but this time Catron finished the run to make it 35-14. The Coaches then went a little too nice to a team that had no issue stepping on their throat last year. Belfry pulled every Defensive Starter except the secondary and Midland drove it down with their 2:00 Offense before a blown coverage led to a TD pass with a handful of seconds left.

 

Though Belfry won a game I was not feeling good about, I did kind of selfishly want to flip the script and put a 42-7 or 49-7 beating on Midland to return the favor of the domination Belfry had on them last year. It also would have been Midland's most lopsided defeat. To be honest that is about where this score should have ended up, but instead it finishes with a messily 2 TD margin mainly because of self-inflicted wounds by Belfry from gearing down a little too soon.

 

At the end of the day I take away a lot of positives, more so than negatives. Outside of finishing drives Belfry showed great patience and thoroughly whipped a pretty solid team. Midland is a massive team and plays very good assignment football, so to put a clinic on a Defense that actually matches up well with Belfry is a big take away.

 

Midland did some things Offensively that you just have to give them the credit for. They know their identity and are an excellent Power Team. By and large Belfry did a good job of getting stops and keeping them bottled up (save the 79 yard disaster of a tackling performance). Ray Horton showed up and made numerous key stops and even without Wellman nearly the entire night the LB's, specifically Fields, showed some positive signs. Part of Midland's game plan is to take home run shots with their passing game and the Pirates defended this beautifully.

 

In the end, with what should be three pretty easy games coming up, this performance may be Belfry's best medicine. This gives Haywood something to get on them about and ma have enough lessons to last a couple weeks. Belfry needs to get healthy. Adkins should be back soon, Woolum is nearing full health (kicked tonight but not himself yet), and from what I gather Wellman isnt expected to be a significant injury and was more of a precaution.

 

If Belfry can stay healthy these next three weeks and can get all hands on deck that should set up an interesting season ender against a LEGIT Johnson Central team.

Roll on Pirates.

I'm with you ATL.

 

If you had asked me yesterday if I would be happy with a 35-21 win, I would have said yes without hesitation. And that is still true, I am happy with the win, I just feel like it wasn't our best effort. We left some points on the table and let up a little, and even though that disappoints me a little as a fan, I know that dealing with it will help us to get better. I give CM credit for their effort, they are a fine team, and I know the staff will address what needs attention.

Big win Pirates! Way to go!

CB drops to 2-4 this season, so it appears they are truly rebuilding this season.

 

I am happy that the Pirates posted the win over them.

 

Still wanting to see a Belfry/Poca match up.(In the Pike County Bowl)