Belfry 35

SC 13

I have the utmost respect for Coach Haywood, the Belfry players and fans. They are the class act of High School football in Eastern Kentucky for a number of reasons...not least of which is the outstanding character of their program.

 

As for this week's game, I believe that Sheldon Clark has a good chance to win if they...

 

1) Play ball control time consuming offense

2) Limit their turnovers and penalities to NONE

3) Don't give up the big play

4) Take care of things with their special teams

5) Hang around til halftime

 

If the Cards do these things they will win tomorrow night!

I have the utmost respect for Coach Haywood, the Belfry players and fans. They are the class act of High School football in Eastern Kentucky for a number of reasons...not least of which is the outstanding character of their program.

 

As for this week's game, I believe that Sheldon Clark has a good chance to win if they...

 

1) Play ball control time consuming offense

2) Limit their turnovers and penalities to NONE

3) Don't give up the big play

4) Take care of things with their special teams

5) Hang around til halftime

 

If the Cards do these things they will win tomorrow night!

 

Nice post.

I have the utmost respect for Coach Haywood, the Belfry players and fans. They are the class act of High School football in Eastern Kentucky for a number of reasons...not least of which is the outstanding character of their program.

 

As for this week's game, I believe that Sheldon Clark has a good chance to win if they...

 

1) Play ball control time consuming offense

2) Limit their turnovers and penalities to NONE

3) Don't give up the big play

4) Take care of things with their special teams

5) Hang around til halftime

 

If the Cards do these things they will win tomorrow night!

 

It sounds to me like you think SC has to play a perfect game to beat the Pirates? Im not sure thats the case. I believe if they can accomplish only the first two on your list they have an outstanding chance in this game.

Why did SC have so much trouble with P-burg??

Why did SC have so much trouble with P-burg??

 

A few reasons:

 

1. The officials choked both offenses with lots of offsides and procedure penalties. This may have been more harmful for SC due to their ground-based long drive oriented attack, despite the fact P-burg was called for more net penalty yardage.

 

2. The sloppy field conditions limited traction of the RB's. Once again, this was relatively more harmful to SC because Dials is more vital to SC's offense than any P-burg back is to their's. In hindsight, perhaps the Cards should have passed a little more.

 

3. Prestonsburg's defense matched up fairly well vs. SC's offense. The Cardinal offense uses much less misdirection in a more straight-forward power game and isn't as good at pulling blockers to the outside run. P-burg's defensive front is pretty strong, but being young and inexperienced, has looked much worse vs. teams that run a lot of traps and counters (Pikeville, Ashland, and Belfry).

 

4. The Sheldon Clark offensive line looked like they tired in the 2nd half. They're strong, but there might be a little excess body mass on them as a group.

 

5. With the tragedy that happened during the week before the game (look in the General Forum for info on that) the Cardinal team's focus might not have fully been there. That would certainly be understandable. There are more important things than football.

 

:bunny:

I was going to offer that SC missed a day of school and practice that week because of the tragedy unfolding. That can kill your preparation.

 

But then I noticed they were coming off their open week, so they had 2 weeks to prepare for Prestonsburg. So I'm not sure that is all that relevant.

Why did SC have so much trouble with P-burg??

 

Also...

 

You could be making a mistake to characterize Prestonsburg based on their performance at Cam last Friday.

 

Some have said Prestonsburg "sold out" to stop the inside power game. This isn't really true. This was the same base defense P-burg used vs. the Pirates since the '03 playoffs. If Belfry runs 3 backs and 0 or 1 wideout, P-burg has always placed 9 or 10 in the box.

 

Two things made it look bad Friday:

 

1. Belfry had a pretty good quick passing game that they actually used! There was no time to rush the QB. This was a real shocker that NO ONE from P-burg expected. The Blackcats would definately have dropped a safety or two, if so.

 

2. Belfry ran an excellent counter off the belly. The defensive front for P-burg was wayyy out of position. They still haven't learned to stay home on the play's weak side.

Sold out was not a derogatory remark, but thanks for noticing, at least somebody reads what I write.

 

That was my way of describing what I thought was an effort to not let Mr May beat them inside. It seemed to me that they were determined to stop the fullback asap, even it meant a couple of guys committing early to the effort. Maybe it was just a lack of discipline on the backside, but that counter was there, and it was beautiful. So was the option, especially to the short side where the numbers were better.

Belfry comes out strong and wins big

Putting 10 in the box simply has not worked against Belfry in recent years. Prestonsburg isn't the only team to try it, Middlesboro has done the same and been burned.

 

The teams that have played Belfry the toughest have played straight up, stay at home defense.

Belfry should come into the game focused and not over looking the Sheldon Clark Cardinals, especially at THE ROCK. The Prestonsburg game is over and I am sure that Coach Haywood has let his guys know that. I look for this game to be close in the first quarter and maybe even up to halftime, but with a big offensive line like the Cardinals have, in my opinion the Pirates will pull away in the second half and roll their way to home field advantage in the playoffs. Belfry is too quick and will wear this Cardinal team down heading into their off week at 8-1. Good luck to both teams tomorrow night and I hope to see a great ballgame and another Pirate victory at THE ROCK.

 

GO BIG RED!!!!!:ylsuper:

Sheldon Clark's lineman were gassed late in the 3rd and 4th quarters last season. Are they better conditioned this season?

I've seen em both and Belfry will roll---this game won't be that close....4 td's or more.

 

I agree....

Belfry should come away with the win. They are executing very well right now and finding ways to come up with some big plays.

 

Let's go Pirates!!!