Who wins this epic clash between the top teams in 3 and 4A?

It will be interesting to see how each team approaches this game.

 

If both teams come and play to win, it could be a nailbitter.

 

I think the edge goes to Belfry right now though.

Doubtful either team goes full strength more than a quarter if that. I think Belfry is a little better, but Johnson Central is at home.

Doubtful either team goes full strength more than a quarter if that. I think Belfry is a little better, but Johnson Central is at home.

I don't know about coach Matney but Belfry will approach this game like any other. They will play everyone who is healthy and they will play to win. I do think they will rest anyone who has any sort of injury and isn't 100%, but everyone that takes the field will go all out, IMO.

There is a lot to be gained from this game for both teams heading into the playoffs. It is a great opportunity to test yourselves for 4 quarters. Each team will probably expose some things about their opponent, and that is the valuable thing, a chance to see some of your weaknesses and work on correcting them.

 

I've heard people talk about each team "resting" starters to save them for the playoffs, and I don't think that is the case at all. This isn't the NFL and I know Belfry won't rest anyone who is healthy and able to play. They might not play a kid who has an injury, but they won't be resting able bodied players.

 

I think this is set up to be a game for the ages in this series. Both teams are very good up front and both teams have many weapons in the backfield. Defense will be the key. The Eagles and Pirates both have been very tough on defense to date. Belfry has played the tougher schedule, but they also have the loss on their record.

 

I'll lean towards my Pirates, but will not be overly surprised if Johnson Central wins the game. I will be surprised if either team wins by more than 10 points.

I agree that neither team should rest players. This is high school football and both teams are likely headed to state championships. They can rest players the first few weeks of the playoffs because neither will be challenged until at least the state semis, maybe even not until the state finals. This game is a good opportunity for 2 great teams to really decide who is the best this year with no excuses.

For anyone considering attending this game, Johnson Central is a great place to watch high school football. The atmosphere will be great. As the kids say, its gonna be lit.

Most reports I am hearing is Belfry should be relatively back to normal this week after having 6+ starters out the better portion of October.

 

Belfry really needs this game, just to be honest, if for no other reason than to work on timing and re-acclimate themselves to actually having a team hit them back. Belfry has outscored their opponents 145-0 during this light three game stretch.

 

These are two pretty similar teams, in more than just their Offensive and Defensive philosophies. Both have convincing wins over a pair of West Virginia's best big schools. Both have overwhelmed their non-district foes. Both enter with "less than gaudy" stats for the majority of their starters due to lots of backfield balance and numerous running clocks.

 

Where I feel the game will swing this week will be in a couple specific aspects where these two squads do actually differ:

 

1. Tricky Matney- You are more apt to see Phillip Haywood punt on 3rd Down than run a trick play, but Jim Matney has mastered the art of throwing a wrinkle in the mix and usually has great success when he does it. In a game that should be an absolute war between the tackles, the risk and subsequent reward of one of these trick plays may swing the momentum either direction.

 

2. Fullback Effectiveness- The Fullback is absolutely vital to both teams' success. Gunnar Sloan looks like an Offensive Linemen for Johnson Central and effectively runs like one as well. Please don't take that in a negative way though and Sloan is an excellent athlete, what I am referring to is he is like putting a fully loaded box truck in neutral and watching it roll down hill and you have to try and slow it. Belfry has three Fullbacks they rotate with their own specific skill sets. Andrew Fletcher is "Steady Eddie". He always falls forward, always gets positive yards, but typically won't bust it for over 25 yards. Wellman is straight explosion. He hits the hole like a rocket and has open field skills to go the distance. With Wellman back expect Freshman Hensley's role to decrease, but he gives a third dimension as he has great speed but doesn't have the power as the rest. Whoever finds the right recipe at FB has the advantage.

 

3. Good Noah or Bad Noah?- Both teams have multi-purpose athletes with capable game breaking ability (Blanton, Woolum, Gamble, and Catron). Both teams have home run hitting HB's (Hunter and Jackson). Where Belfry checks a box that Johnson Central can't is at QB with Noah Corbett. Corbett walks a fine line between "WOW!!!" and "WHY?!?!" as he has the ability to make plays noone else can, but also the over confidence at times to make plays that he shouldn't even have tried.

 

In a game that big plays will come at a premium thanks to two stiff Defenses, Corbett will be the X-Factor. His patience and reads will be vital to Belfry's success when things will not work that they have became accustomed to working every time. At the same time, Corbett will need to be specific when he takes his chances at the explosion plays that could be the difference in the game.

 

4. The Special Teams Mystery Game- Last year Special Teams, in particular the kicking game, was perhaps the easiest thing to handicap entering the match-up. Both teams had elite kicking talent and a body of work that you knew exactly what to expect.

 

This year all bets are off. Belfry still has their elite kicker in Woolum but he has effectively only kicked in one game due to pre-caution with a leg injury. Grayson Cook has filled in and did a solid job as a Freshman, but his kicks have ranged from awful kicks out of bounds, returnable short kicks, well placed short kicks, perfectly placed short kicks, to deep touchbacks. He has been pretty consistent with XP's but lacks the range of Woolum. Neither team has been asked to punt much so it's not sure what will happen when the ball leaves the toe of the punter. Johnson Central's kickoffs have been comparable to Belfry... with moments of "that wasn't pretty" followed by moments like the Lexington Catholic game where the kicking game single handily opened the scoreboard up.

 

Will Woolum kick? Will Johnson Central try their on-side kicking success at the risk of short fields? What will happen when Punters actually have to take the field?

As for a prediction:

 

I am going to toss last year's game out... as well as the previous year's

 

I think this game marks a return to what best defines this rivalry. fast moving clocks, heavy hitting, and points coming at a premium.

 

I am going with Belfry 24-14. I think Corbett makes one of those game changing plays either with his arm or his feet, and Woolum gives Belfry three points they may not otherwise have had with a mid range Field Goal. Outside of that I see this being a dead even game for Three Quarters.

I think this game illustrates once again, the difference between a Paper Tiger and a real one.

I think this game illustrates once again, the difference between a Paper Tiger and a real one.

In what way, WE?

Let's just say Belfry is a good preview of what JC will look like against Franklin or SW.

 

Very similar to last year.

Let's just say Belfry is a good preview of what JC will look like against Franklin or SW.

 

Very similar to last year.

 

I think you are correct, but I'm also reminded of Williamsburg/Mayfield in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, Mayfield destroyed Williamsburg, 42-0. The next year, the same two teams met again at Mayfield won on a missed extra point in overtime.

 

I'm not saying it will be the same and I'm not saying Johnson Central will win a state title, but I think Johnson Central might give a better account of themselves if they make it back this season.

Johnson Central vs. Belfry in the Matney era (since 2004):

 

2007: Belfry 28-12

2008: Belfry 21-13

2009: Johnson Central 25-19

2010: Johnson Central 42-7

2011: Johnson Central 21-14

2012: Belfry 17-12

2013: Johnson Central 54-28 (Belfry won 3A state championship)

2014: Johnson Central 35-0 (Belfry won 3A state championship)

2015: Belfry 41-0 (Belfry won 3A state championship / JC 4A State runner-up)

For anyone considering attending this game, Johnson Central is a great place to watch high school football. The atmosphere will be great. As the kids say, its gonna be lit.

 

I'm making the 3 hour drive to watch the game. I'm expecting a great one.