QB #6 Noah Corbett, 5'10 171: He may not try a throw Saturday and has only attempted 25 all season, but when grading what his role is as a QB there are few as efficient as Corbett. An explosive runner and a beautiful ball handler.

 

This. So much of this. It's a pleasure to watch him run that offense.

Could be a blowout for Belfry, but I would not bet on it. The 2 linebackers at Central are very good and are surrounded by solid role players (with nice speed). I expect a knock-down-drag-out-hard-hitting-sit-back-and-enjoy low scoring game. (Like it is usually when these 2 get together)

Could be a blowout for Belfry, but I would not bet on it. The 2 linebackers at Central are very good and are surrounded by solid role players (with nice speed). I expect a knock-down-drag-out-hard-hitting-sit-back-and-enjoy low scoring game. (Like it is usually when these 2 get together)

 

I was beyond pleasantly surprised when I saw video on the Central LB's

 

Both are prototype size, around 6'1 200, and both can FLY!

 

Watching video and it took very little time for me to realize:

1) Central has great LB's and they are going to cause problems

2) Belfry's DLine should have a significant advantage over Central's Oline

3) Central is loaded with speed... even moreso than normal..maybe not as physically big or as heavy hitters as they are accustomed to, but fast, fast, fast

ttt

For Belfry a couple guys who will have to step up:

 

- CB Devin Varney, I expect Varney to draw Central's top vertical threat Ukari Baker. Baker is fast and is a massive home run hitter. I do not think Baker is going to show Varney anything he hasn't seen already, but Belfry has to avoid letting Baker get behind them. Even after Corbin, the one constant where the Belfry defense has struggled this year and allowed points has been the deep passing game.

 

- LB Austin Fields, I will freely admit the Sophomore LB was my biggest concern at the start of the season and he has far exceeded my expectations and turned into a darn fine football player. Fields will be tested one last time by a Central backfield that can turn a missed tackle into 6 points, and there will be numerous times he will be asked to make a solo tackle on the outside that if it is missed could have potential for big yards.

 

- OG Jordan Scott, This is Scott's last game and he has battled valiantly through a lingering injury to get himself in position to go out with a Title. Belfry's success in the interior running game will have a large part to do with how Scott plays. The match-up between Scott and Central's LB's will be the difference between a no gain play and a five yard surge. Scott has got to successfully keep blitzing backers free from the power holes, and in cases when Belfry is trying to run down hill his ability to get to the LB at the second level will be vital.

Fields has definitely been the biggest surprise and improvement on this team. He hits hard and has learned to run side to side very well. He is as tough as they come up the middle.

I'm pulling for the Fighting 2C's and the rest of the Pond Creek Nation!!!

Central has two excellent LB's, and an aggressive DL that doesn't let blockers out on the LB's. One LB blitzes every play, the other stays home. Corey Johnson is a good RB that does not fumble, reads the hole well, and is satisfied if he gets his 5 yds. The trouble defending their offense is the number of playmakers, you cannot focus on any one player. Simpson is a game manager who has a tendency to throw high. Central is very aggressive.

 

I voted for Central, and haven't seen Belfry, but if they truly have 4 OL with DI potential, then they should handle Central. While Central is good, this is in the lower eschelon of their state final teams over the years.

Belfry has 3 D1 OL and 1 D1 DL. One of those OL also plays on the DL. They are very good in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Listened to a Ty Scroggins interview about the game last night on the Sports Guys show on EKBTV.

 

Every time I hear that man speak I like him more and more.

 

Without a doubt one of the most grounded coaches in the State and very classy. I just cannot help but think that if he was given the keys to an elite program with elite facilities and support what he could do with it.

 

A few interesting things he said:

- He felt like the 2007 Belfry team was probably the best team Haywood had brought to play against him.

- He compared this Central team more to the 2014 squad than his others, but said the talent was different. Said this is the youngest team he has brought to the Finals.

- Spoke about how Belfry may be their biggest rivalry. That they don't have a true rivalry in Louisville and with the stakes of when they play Belfry it makes it a great rivalry.

- Talked about how he and Coach Haywood talk a lot off the field. Says that when they talk it isn't even always about football either.

- When asked what the biggest key to victory this week would be he laughed and said "To keep them big boys off of us". Spoke about that 2007 game more and said they would probably be showing his team that film this week.

- Said that QB James Simpson has been on the field for every State Championship game. His dad is a Coach and he served as a ballboy for the earlier titles.

The Sports Guys | EKBTV

 

You can listen to Coach Haywood at the 27:45 mark

 

Scroggins interview comes at the 40:34 mark

Two really good interviews, both those guys are so good at what they do. Love it.

I think the Rudyard Kipling poem Coach Haywood refers to in the interview was titled "If" and is about developing the inner qualities that make you a man, the intestinal fortitude to keep your wits when the world is burning down around you.

 

IF

 

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

 

 

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

 

 

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

 

 

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools:

 

 

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

 

 

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

 

 

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

 

 

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

- Spoke about how Belfry may be their biggest rivalry. That they don't have a true rivalry in Louisville and with the stakes of when they play Belfry it makes it a great rivalry.

 

I wrote a little about this in the 3A Notebook this week. Every meeting has been for a championship and they've met so many times that it becomes a rivalry. I know @Watusi has told me numerous times that Belfry's first few losses to Central was the impetus to improve their program. Everything they did was to get better and better and eventually beat Central. I'm really looking forward to this matchup.

Old Foes. I talked with Coach Scroggins for a while at the championships a few years ago. He said then that Belfry was their biggest rivalry. He's a class act IMO.