Load up the yellow buses!

Belfry outlasts a game Russell team that never quit.

 

Belfry
40 carries, 227 rushing
Varney 6/8 199 yards, 2 Passing TD, 1 Rushing TD
426 Total Yards

JJ Austin 26 carries, 189 yards, TD
JB Woolum 4 rec, 110 yards, TD

Russell

30 carries, 71 yards
Hankins 9/11 Passing, 163, TD/INT

234 Total Yards
Benge 11 carries, 42 yards, TD

This was a good and well contested game most of the night. Belfry got a key 3 and out to open the 2nd Half and then JB Woolum made a highlight catch on a jumpball to extend the lead and reclaim all momentum.

After another defensive stop, Russell opted to punt but Belfry put a long time consuming drive to put it away.

If the score holds up Belfry will make the longest trek in school history and sojourn to Union County. Belfry will have their hands very full. With that said, Haywood knows how to win on the road and knows how to win on Black Friday.

Much respect to a very young Russell team that never quite and played their butts off. Russell will be a very tough out in 3A next year.

1 hour ago, ATLCat said:

Varney 6/8 199 yards, 2 Passing TD

As someone who's watched a fair amount of Belfry football over the years, I could see that line coming tonight from Varney. They've perfected the art of drawing a defense in and taking the top off with a deep ball. With the personnel they have this year, they don't need quite as much assistance from the running game as year's past.

Russell gave great effort tonight. The numbers won't make much of an impression, but Hankins played his tail off. He's come a country mile from where he began the season. 

I was concerned about the big plays tonight from Belfry because I've seen it happen to Russell so often before. They're unfairly labeled a ground and pound offense, but a lot of teams have been broken by their quick strike capabilities. 

There are some good young kids in Russell's program, many of which filled starting roles or saw significant reps this year. Looking ahead, the biggest question mark will be the line of scrimmage. That's where the Devils were senior heavy. If the younger linemen put in the work, Russell may be primed to take a big step next year. 

After this game I believe the Russell turnaround was real and just not the expected result of a weak schedule. I was impressed and the future is definitely bright.  Welcome back, there are good things ahead.

On 11/22/2024 at 11:45 PM, DevilMayCare said:

I was concerned about the big plays tonight from Belfry because I've seen it happen to Russell so often before. They're unfairly labeled a ground and pound offense, but a lot of teams have been broken by their quick strike capabilities. 

Great observation! Even though this team has thrown the ball more than prior teams under Coach Haywood, they have utilized the pass at times to catch teams off guard and strike quickly. I think back to the regional final in 2019 against Ashland. Brett Coleman had 393 passing yards for the entire state championship season with 84 of that coming against Ashland - including a greatly thrown ball to Isaac Dixon on something like 3rd and 17 when they led 7-0 in the game. It made it a two score game, putting the momentum heavily on Belfry's side as they would go on to win 41-7. Brett Coleman completed 15 passes all season in 2019. Although Belfry didn't throw the ball a lot, they still could when they wanted to.

On a historical note and a fun fact, Philip Haywood actually switched to running more of a shotgun oriented system in the 1990's before many schools adopted the offense that is used all over in today's time. It would be later on in the early 2000's when he went back to a more power-running style offense.

Great win for Belfry. As usual, they seem to be clicking nicely and at the right time. This is a balanced Belfry team that can defeat their opponents in a number of ways. Russell was clicking on all cylinders coming in and I am one who strongly believes that T.J. Maynard is a great, underrated football coach and this may be one of the best jobs he has done in his storied career. Elijah Hankins made one of the biggest improvements over the course of the season when you factor in his performances in the first five weeks compared to the last eight. This senior class at Russell has so much to be proud of and they kept training despite struggling many times in their young careers in grade school and middle school, sometimes losing and losing big. This is a tough group that was able to walk out with a district championship and get Russell to the final 8.