If successful coaching is your thing, then this is the game for you. Phillip Haywood and Chuck Smith, two legendary coaches. Between the two 624 wins, 12 state Championships, and a lifetime 78.2 win percentage. Each will try to have their team ready to advance.

 

Belfry is 10-2. Their losses have been to WV Large Division power Huntington High and 4A #1 Johnson Central. Scouting Belfry is not really necessary as their schema has not changed in years. Their plan is basic and their execution is near perfect. Belfry likes to score. They have been held to less than 40 points only 4 times this season. Their biggest concern headed into this week would have to be their defense fresh off Lexington Catholic strong offensive performance by land and by air. They will have to step up their defensive game to be able to move on to the semi-finals.

 

Boyle County is a perfect 12-0 coming into this contest. Boyle County likes to score and also likes to make sure you don't. They have scored at least 40 points in all but 3 games this season. They also have only allowed their opponents to score more than 14 points 3 times. Boyle hasn't had a close game since a 21-14 victory on Sept 21. Boyle County will certainly get points. The key factor of this game will be if Boyle keeps Belfry out of the endzone.

 

Who wins and why?

Belfry's Offense was plenty good enough to score enough points that they would normally have a puncher's chance of pulling the upset.

 

The Defense, unfortunately, just does not have the talent to give the Offense a chance to win this game in normal circumstances. Belfry was already a very average Defensive unit with known deficiencies on the DLine and experienced cover guys. When you throw in key injuries to the strength of the Defense (the LB's) and an injury to their best Defensive Back (Ben Bentley), suddenly I don't see a scenario where Boyle doesn't score over 42 points.

 

Any chance Belfry has in this game will center around forcing turnovers and hoping for an Offensive shootout.

 

Lexington Catholic's defense could not match up with Belfry and subsequently could not stop them. Boyle is a different story.

 

I dont expect Boyle to stonewall a Belfry team who should have a decided advantage at the L.O.S against Boyle's Defense, but I do expect Chuck Smith to gameplan enough that they can get a handful of stops.

 

There will be a lot of great individual talents on the field between Reese Smith, Landon Bartleson, Tanner Crawford, EZ Roller, Dagen Rash (Army Commit), Ethan Wolford (I predict will play on Saturdays), and Belfry superb Sophomore Isaac Dixon.

 

In the end, Boyle is simply the more complete team.

 

Boyle 48

Belfry 26

Belfry's Offense was plenty good enough to score enough points that they would normally have a puncher's chance of pulling the upset.

 

The Defense, unfortunately, just does not have the talent to give the Offense a chance to win this game in normal circumstances. Belfry was already a very average Defensive unit with known deficiencies on the DLine and experienced cover guys. When you throw in key injuries to the strength of the Defense (the LB's) and an injury to their best Defensive Back (Ben Bentley), suddenly I don't see a scenario where Boyle doesn't score over 42 points.

 

Any chance Belfry has in this game will center around forcing turnovers and hoping for an Offensive shootout.

 

Lexington Catholic's defense could not match up with Belfry and subsequently could not stop them. Boyle is a different story.

 

I dont expect Boyle to stonewall a Belfry team who should have a decided advantage at the L.O.S against Boyle's Defense, but I do expect Chuck Smith to gameplan enough that they can get a handful of stops.

 

There will be a lot of great individual talents on the field between Reese Smith, Landon Bartleson, Tanner Crawford, EZ Roller, Dagen Rash (Army Commit), Ethan Wolford (I predict will play on Saturdays), and Belfry superb Sophomore Isaac Dixon.

 

In the end, Boyle is simply the more complete team.

 

Boyle 48

Belfry 26

 

Boyle’s D-line isn’t small, and their extremely athletic, arguably one of the best secondary’s In the state linebackers have good size and are really athletic.

Listening to that Belfry/Lexington Catholic game I was having mixed emotions. I kept saying to myself, "No I want Lexington Catholic to win so the Rebels can stay at home", then I would say, "No I want Belfry to win because I have never been to the CAM". Well ask and you shall receive.

 

Belfry has the offense to put points on almost any defense in the state. We obviously know this. But can they score consistently enough throughout the game as well as keep a very outstanding balanced Boyle County offense out of the endzone? My answer is no they cannot.

 

This Boyle County defense will stop Belfry just enough times to win the game while the offense does it's thing. I wish everyone safe travels to the game and I look forward to what I hear is one of the best atmosphere's in all of Kentucky High School football.

Boyle by 7 in a tough one.

I think Boyle is an all-around better football team than Belfry this season, but having to travel 4 hours into the middle of nowhere is going to balance things out.

 

I think the Rebels get the win, but it won't be easy.

Boyle teams in the past have traveled long distances without showing any carryover effect. To Paducah Tilghman and Hopkinsville a couple of times for example. They will break the trip up with a pregame meal. Chuck has this figured out.It is just time to play football and get the negatives out of the kids mind.

This is an epic clash of 2 of Kentucky's finest football programs.

 

Flip a coin. Should be an incredible atmosphere.

 

Anyone have an injury report from either camp? I know Bentley went down Friday night for Belfry and Bartleson for Boyle has not played in a couple of weeks.

Boyle Co. 27-19

This is an epic clash of 2 of Kentucky's finest football programs.

 

Flip a coin. Should be an incredible atmosphere.

 

Anyone have an injury report from either camp? I know Bentley went down Friday night for Belfry and Bartleson for Boyle has not played in a couple of weeks.

 

I’m being told Bartleson will play Friday.

This is an epic clash of 2 of Kentucky's finest football programs.

 

Flip a coin. Should be an incredible atmosphere.

 

Anyone have an injury report from either camp? I know Bentley went down Friday night for Belfry and Bartleson for Boyle has not played in a couple of weeks.

 

Bentley's X-Ray came back negative, the question now will be how bad the sprain was and how the swelling and mobility is by Friday. He would be a massive loss for Belfry on each side of the ball. Judging by how he could not put any weight on his leg it certainly does not bode well, but at the same time those Bentley boys are some tough hombres. Historically if they can play through an injury they will.

 

Not sure the status of Mounts, Fields, and Hensley for Belfry.

 

Hensley has been out essentially the entire season. I wouldn't expect to see him.

 

Mounts did not play Friday and to my knowledge neither did Fields. Those are both big pieces to be missing Friday. I honestly can not say one way or another whether I expect them to play. The fact Mounts did not play against Lexington Catholic worries me.

Is this the first ever meeting between these two?

 

It's a dream matchup. Two legendary coaches, two contrasting offensive philosophies. If only both teams were at 100%, health wise. Should be a tremendous atmosphere on Pond Creek.

Mounts did not play Friday and to my knowledge neither did Fields. Those are both big pieces to be missing Friday. I honestly can not say one way or another whether I expect them to play. The fact Mounts did not play against Lexington Catholic worries me.

 

Seeing how Mounts reacted to his injury against Garrard County made me think he was hurt pretty bad. He was uncomfortable on the field and also the sidelines. Here's hoping he can get back.

Bentley's X-Ray came back negative, the question now will be how bad the sprain was and how the swelling and mobility is by Friday. He would be a massive loss for Belfry on each side of the ball. Judging by how he could not put any weight on his leg it certainly does not bode well, but at the same time those Bentley boys are some tough hombres. Historically if they can play through an injury they will.

 

Not sure the status of Mounts, Fields, and Hensley for Belfry.

 

Hensley has been out essentially the entire season. I wouldn't expect to see him.

 

Mounts did not play Friday and to my knowledge neither did Fields. Those are both big pieces to be missing Friday. I honestly can not say one way or another whether I expect them to play. The fact Mounts did not play against Lexington Catholic worries me.

 

Even at full strength, Belfry's defense was going to have its hands full. They might have to score 60 to win this thing.

Is this the first ever meeting between these two?

 

It's a dream matchup. Two legendary coaches, two contrasting offensive philosophies. If only both teams were at 100%, health wise. Should be a tremendous atmosphere on Pond Creek.

 

Boyle and Belfry have never played before. First time match up between the two schools. :thumb: