in November?

 

Must be when it is Belfry vs. Bell County & Trinity vs. Saint X in the playoffs!

 

Yes, Virginia, there is a !

 

Podcast Games of the Week:

The Coaches Office: Behind the Scenes of HS w/ Chuck Smith & David Buchanan

 

TH, 11/9 7:30 pm!

 

Pirates Try To Put The Bell-Cow Out To Pasture

Records: Bell County (10-1) | Belfry (8-3)

BGP 3A Rankings: Bell County (#9) | Belfry (#5)

Round 1 Results: Bell County beat Magoffin County | Belfry beat Clay County 

Series History: Tied at 5-5

Teaser Preview: With almost a century of head coaching between them, Philip Haywood and Dudley Hilton have seen it all. They've peered at one another across the field fifteen times, with the venerable Belfry boss holding a 9-6 advantage. He also comes out on top of the state's all-time wins list, with Hilton at #2.

The last time they met (2021), the Pirates featured an unstoppable force at running back and rode him to victory that night. Isaac Dixon would eventually claim the state's top individual award.

The shoe is on the other foot this time, with Bell County boasting the Mr. Football hopeful. Daniel Thomas has put together one of the most productive seasons by a running back in state history. The Bobcats go as he does, and Thomas is seemingly always on the go.

The Pirates offer a three pronged ground attack, with Caden Woolum and Ace Caudill offering big play ability and Dre Young providing muscle from his fullback position. Woolum's speed poses problems as a runner, receiver, and kick returner.

Hilton is looking to win on Pond Creek for the first time since 1996. 

If you're like me, and you appreciate the men, the myths, and the legends who's backs the sport is built upon, savor this occasion. The two winningest coaches in the history of Kentucky will match wits. Once they're gone, we may never be able to say that again.

Belfry has the advantage here with talent and coaching staff, Belfry by two touchdowns.

I’ll take Belfry by two scores. 

I'm curious on which route is the best to take from Bell to Belfry. Do you go through Big Stone Gap (the least curvy and 156 miles), Cumberland (the most direct but curvy through the mountains at 136 miles) or Hazard (very curvy to begin with then fairly straight at 141 miles)? Each path looks nauseating. 

Will this game be streamed? 

Great game for any real high school football fan.  Good luck to both teams.

Thomas is a very good running back but the Pirates will prevail in this matchup. Better Defensively. 

Belfry will struggle to keep Thomas from getting his.

Pikeville's Brenden Anthony gave Belfry fits and I think Thomas is a better back right now. The argument is Belfry respected Pikeville's passing game an ancillary threats probably a bit more, but nonetheless, I think it will be hard for Belfry to keep Thomas from getting 200 yards and a handful of scores.

On the flip side, Bell's defense has struggled mightily against teams who can distribute the wealth with multiple big play threats. Rockcastle, Boyd County, Whitley County, perry Central, etc.. 

As long as Belfry holds on to the football and keeps themselves ahead of the chains, Belfry should sustain success in all capacities.

Turnovers will be the game changer, but otherwise if all things are equal I think I like Belfry's collection of offensive threats and a defense that has shown at least a resemblance of a team able to get a few stops over a Bell County team who rides their mule until his legs give out and a defense that has only been able to survive at times thanks to their offense.

I'll take Belfry by a score in a back and forth and relatively high scoring game. I just think Belfry's overall skill and team speed may be a bit more heavy than Bell having a bonafide Mr. Football candidate.

On 11/6/2023 at 8:20 PM, DRKARK said:

Will this game be streamed? 

You can listen to the game through 96.5 WXCC via the Simple Radio app. Hoping Bobby Norman is back calling the game as he was sick last week. If you have never listened to a Pirate game: Belfry has a top notch radio broadcast team with Norman as play by play, Steve Mickey doing color, and Nee Jackson adding stats. They will have some bias as any hometown radio crew does, but they legitimately try to check their baggage as much as possible and give credit and honesty where it is due. Bobby is a pro and they go out of the way to make sure they update score, time, and down/distance as much as possible.

To my knowledge noone is doing live video although you might be able to find it on Facebook potentially of someone doing it from the crowd from the Bell County side. 

 

Bell in probably the second-best game of the week. 

Daniel Thomas isn't the only Bobcat leading the state in something. Blake Burnett has pilfered a state best nine passes this year. He's also Bell County's quarterback and hasn't been picked off himself, with a 10/0 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions. Pretty impressive body of work, especially for a sophomore. 

Sheesh what a matchup!

One thing to look for tonight:

This will be the first time Bell County is seeing the "new look" Philip Haywood offense.

The Pirates ran almost exclusively out of the pistol last week against Clay County. 

Sophomore QB Chase Varney is a special talent that Belfry is not used to having. He is a very capable and accurate passer and had he not missed time with an injury, the Pirates could very well be sitting 9-1 right now. He missed both the Pikeville and Southwestern games which in turn meant Belfry's most dynamic offensive threat Caden Woolum had to run the QB position in those games.

Belfry has adapted a new look which utilizes jet action, short passes, and the deep threat of Woolum and Ace Caudill in addition to a lot of the same triple option most people associate with a Philip Haywood team.

 

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