Belfry comes into this game off of a big win against Rockcastle along with a 10-2 record. While their running game is powered behind Jeremiah Austin, JB Wollum, and Ace Caudill who combine for over 2,500 yards and 40 rushing touchdowns, this Belfry team is quite balanced as they are also dangerous through their air with QB Chase Varney completing 59% of his passes and throwing for 12 touchdowns while running for another 7. Cayden Varney averages 27.94 yards per reception and JB Woolum and Ace Caudil combine for 43 receptions and 4 touchdowns receiving.

Russell comes into this game off of a come from behind 21-20 win against Lloyd Memorial and reaches the regional finals for the first time in six years. It's hard not to admire the resilience of this senior class at Russell. This is a group that only picked up a couple of wins in their middle school years and with the loss of several key players, Russell was expected to struggle this year. After a 2-3 start, they came around and played some great football. In my opinion, T.J. Maynard is a fantastic football coach and I think this is one of the best jobs he has ever done. One part of that is trusting in QB Elijah Hankins. After only completing 19 of 55 passes in his first five games, he has since completed 55 of 80 from the field for nearly 69%. Freshman Kaiden Benge has stepped it up lately with 11 touchdowns on the season, running for over 100 yards in the district championship against East Carter and 77 yards against Lloyd Memorial. Cayden Pennington is the main receiving threat with 645 yards on 27 receptions, averaging 23.8 yards per reception with 9 touchdowns.

I, for one, am highly excited for this one. Not just the two teams now that are both great and fun to watch, but I'm going to throw in some notable games in what has been a series with a great history.

• 1973: Russell defeats Belfry 26-6 at Belfry in the first ever meeting between the two programs in the regular season.
• 1974: Russell defeats Belfry 14-12 in a tight regular season game.
• 1976: Belfry defeats Russell 8-0. This one is notable because it's the first time Ivan McGlone competed against Belfry during his time at Russell.
• 1978: Russell defeats Belfry 7-6 in the regular season at home. 
• 1984: Russell defeats Belfry 20-0 at Russell. This is the first meeting between coaches Philip Haywood and Ivan McGlone.
• 1985: Belfry avenges the prior year's loss with a 14-6 win against Russell at home. 
• The two teams would play in the regular season through 1990 but would not meet against until the playoffs in 2004.
• 2004: Belfry defeats Russell 39-17 in the state semifinals, eventually winning the state championship. Belfry was led by superstar backs Doug Howard and David Jones, while Russell had Josh Gross and Kasey Clark leading the way. Game was closer than the final score indicated.
• 2005: I was at this state semifinal game. Both teams lost their fair share of talent from the prior year, the only superstar returning from 2004 in the group of backs I mentioned being Kasey Clark of Russell. Belfry defensive back Matt Maynard strips Russell QB Tommy Brown of the football and gains possession when Tommy had a wide, wide open 75 yard run as he is running into the end zone off of a quarterback counter. Belfry also had a goal line stand when Russell had it 1st and goal from the 1 before halftime. Why do I say this? Because Russell led 20-0 at halftime and that prevented it from being an overwhelming blowout. Belfry came back in the second half, nearly shutting Russell down as Russell did Belfry in the first half. Belfry had the ball something like 2nd and 47 late in the game after multiple holding penalties, and Russell would hang on to win 20-14 and advance to the state finals where they would emerge victorious against Owensboro Catholic. 
• 2006: Again meeting in the state semifinals, Russell would emerge with a 19-0 victory at Belfry. It was a close game much of the way. Belfry had a couple of key turnovers, with Russell's first score coming off of a touchdown pass after Russell recovered a Belfry fumble when they had the ball in their own territory. This would be the last time, to this date, Russell would defeat Belfry but would lose 15-12 to Mercer County in the state finals.
• 2014: Again meeting in the state finals, Belfry would win 33-0. This is the first meeting the two schools had after the retirement of legendary Russell coach Ivan McGlone.

Hopefully another classic between two great programs coming up! What are your thoughts on this game?

Russell's a heavy underdog, no two ways about it. But it's about more than just the two teams on the field this Friday. The recent history between the two hangs heavy around the neck of the Devils.

Since the 2006 game mentioned above, Belfry has dominated Russell. The on again, off again series has been non-competitive.

TJ Maynard is 0-4 versus Philip Haywood. Every time he stands across the field from the eight time state champion and winningest coach in state history, it's the biggest game of his career.

If Maynard is going to restore the luster to Russell football, he needs to win one of these at some point. It's not just Belfry, the Devils don't have a signature win during TJ's decade long tenure. Not a single one. Zero.

If that's going to change this week, they can't spot Belfry three scores.

This team showed last week that they have the goods to dig deep when backed into a corner, but Lloyd Memorial at home and Belfry on Pond Creek are not the same. Belfry anywhere is not the same. They're a different animal. The grip on 3A has loosened, but the Pirates are still the measuring stick in the east. And Russell hasn't measured up in going on two decades.

I expect this to be closer than some seem to think.

Russell has a nice little passing game going and exemplify a level of patience on offense. I think this is a recipe to move the ball and move the clock. 
 

Belfry will have an advantage at the line of scrimmage and has more explosive playmakers, but if Russell can keep constant pressure on Belfry and DJ ish their drives, all it will take is limiting the big play to slow the game down and give themselves a chance.

I like Belfry to advance but think this will be a competitive game throughout.

35-21 Belfry.

I hope this game is competitive but I'm still on the edge with Russell. I have a lot of close Russell friends and after the loss to Greenup they were saying as bad as we are the only game we expect to lose the rest of the season is against Ashland, and that includes the first couple rounds of the playoffs. They were exactly right. Belfry is legit with some good wins and an impressive loss against a next level Johnson Central team. I don't think there is a scenario in which Russell wins this game but the margin of defeat will tell us a lot about their gains this year. TJ is a fine man and a great coach and I hope Russel has arrived. We shall see. 

Bump.

Will this game be streamed?

8 hours ago, DRKARK said:

Will this game be streamed?

Cannot say with 100% certainty.

Belfry has a youtube page Pirates Sports Network that has been pretty consistently streaming their home games when they aren't being carried by another streaming provider. They have carried the last the consecutive weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/@bhspiratesportsnetwork

WXCC 96.5 will definitely have the Belfry radio call.

 

I appreciate what they are doing on the youtube feed but what I will tell you is the Belfry radio crew are seasoned veterans, professional, and very good at what they do. If you can find a way to utilize the radio audio along with the video I would advise it.

 

3 hours ago, ATLCat said:

I appreciate what they are doing on the youtube feed but what I will tell you is the Belfry radio crew are seasoned veterans, professional, and very good at what they do. If you can find a way to utilize the radio audio along with the video I would advise it.

Anytime I check in on Belfry's radio broadcasts, I find myself staying with it longer than I intended to. They're among the very best in the business. 

11 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

Anytime I check in on Belfry's radio broadcasts, I find myself staying with it longer than I intended to. They're among the very best in the business. 

Yes they are. Bobby Norman is passionate about play by play and does a great job. You will be hard pressed to find a more insightful color man at the HS level than Steve Mickey.

Nee Jackson stays on the spot with stat updates and spotting.

Anytime you get a hometown broadcast there will be a noticeable slant to the home team but the Belfry crew is some of the best you will find at trying to avoid being cheerleaders and giving praise to the opponent any chance they can.

 

9 hours ago, ATLCat said:

Yes they are. Bobby Norman is passionate about play by play and does a great job. You will be hard pressed to find a more insightful color man at the HS level than Steve Mickey.

I've got to know Bobby a bit over the years and he is a great guy. I don't know Steve Mickey but I have Belfry friends that think the world of him. I recently watched the 100 Years of Belfry Football documentary and just from his time on screen I can understand why!

How Russell's linebackers read and react to the nuances of Belfry's offense will likely go a long way toward dictating the outcome tonight. That unit is mostly wet behind the ears, with a freshman and sophomore being the two best they've got. I'm sure getting those kids acclimated has been a point of emphasis this week.

Stating the obvious here, but Russell needs to play mistake free football tonight. They can't afford to give away possessions, especially if it means short fields for Belfy. For that matter, it wouldn't hurt if the Pirates put the ball on the turf themselves.

I'd love nothing more than to see the Devils pull this off, but they're up against it. Belfy has been a playoff roadblock for years. I favor the Pirates by three scores at home. I think Russell can move the ball, I'm just not sure if they can get enough stops.

Live Stream

Russell's on the move in Belfry territory at the 25.

5:41 1Q

Ben Totten connects on a field goal. 

3-0 Russell 

3:23 1Q

Great start for the Devils as they turn Belfry over on downs for the second time.

End of 1Q

Russell 3

Belfry 0