East Carter opens up 2025 hosting Belfry in a game between two teams that don't have a long history, but have played a few times in the past.  

Coach Tim Champlin has done a fantastic job in Grayson developing the Raiders into a tough, hard nosed program over the past several seasons.  They lost their QB1, Quentin Johnson from last season and they also will have to replace the production of their top running back Landon York.  The raiders do return their leading tackler Dzsawn Beason from last season.  You have to expect they will be ready for the Pirates and will play hard for 4 quarters, as has been their identity of late.

On the opposite sideline, Belfry returns the bulk of their team, with about 18 of their 22 starters from last season back again for the 2025 season. The Pirates are Senior laden and have a lot of guys with experience suiting up.  Notably, their 4 year starting QB Chase Varney.  Varney is one of the very very few to start for 4 years at QB for the Pirates.  The rest of the starting backfield also returns along with key backups.  

Even with all that returning, the Pirates have a cloud of uncertainty around them because of the loss of Head Coach Philip Haywood.  Emotions are high in Pond Creek, although new Head Coach Matt Varney has all the support in the world from the Pond Creek faithful and very high confidence and expectations.  

Head to Head: Belfry has a 3-0 record vs East Carter.  A couple of big wins in 2007 and 2008 but a very hotly contested game in 2021 in the semifinals that the Pirates finally pulled out 48-26 victory on their way to the State Title.  

2024 Records: East Carter 7-5, lost to Lex Cath 42-7 in 2nd round of the playoffs.  Belfry 11-3, lost to Union County 43-21 in the semifinals

Last 4-Year Records: East Carter 33-17, Belfry 34-19

It is great having Belfry in 2A! Really looking forward to the added competition.

3 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

It is great having Belfry in 2A! Really looking forward to the added competition.

I agree on Belfry and what they bring to 2A.

Champ has brought a level of consistency previously unseen in Grayson. The Raiders should be in for another winning season, but they'll have to do it from an 0-1 start. I think Belfry will be too much, even factoring in Week 1 rust.

I anticipate Grayson showing up in force to support the Raiders. It was a big deal to have the Pirates in town a few years ago. It should be a big deal once again.

Slight correction @Watusi.... Landon Yoak is a senior this season, so Belfry will probably see a healthy dose of him next Friday. He's a load to bring down.

1 hour ago, DevilMayCare said:

 

Slight correction @Watusi.... Landon Yoak is a senior this season, so Belfry will probably see a healthy dose of him next Friday. He's a load to bring down.

Thanks Run DMC.  I will have to take this up with my research staff. ?

1 hour ago, Voice of Reason said:

It is great having Belfry in 2A! Really looking forward to the added competition.

It is a fun proposition to be sure.  Yet one more new thing for the Pirates this season. 

Belfry has been in 3A basically their entire existence since the 4 class system came into effect.  The exception being the 8 years from 1999-2006 they were in 2A before bumping back to 3A in 2007.  

For much of the past few alignments, they were hovering near the bubble of 2A/3A and a few of those they elected to play up.  Sometimes change is good.

I would love to see my Raiders get the win but I'm not seeing it.

Belfry may have the edge in this one with all the experience they have coming back, but like another poster mentioned East Carter will have a big crowd and I am sure they will give Belfry a tough game! This one will come down to whichever team establishes their brand of football.

Starting with East Carter. It's hard to believe Coach Champlin will be entering his 11th season. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 were the number of wins in each of Coach Champlin's first five seasons, the program going 19-33 as a whole but making improvements. The program was committed to a process and now those seeds that were planted early on have become trees, with East Carter having gone 36-19 the past five seasons with a state semifinals appearance in one season and just two seasons ago were an overtime away from going back to the semis again. The real turning point for East in that stretch, in my opinion, was the 2020 season. Losing a lot from the 2019 year in which they went 7-4, they would still get back to the playoffs the following season and earn the opportunity to play in the state semis in the following season. It will be interesting to see how East lines up against Belfry but with a 1,500 yard rusher returning in the backfield in Landon Yoak, I anticipate they will get it to him early and often. Caleb Hall is a capable receiver and I am sure East will be providing a threat in the passing game.

Matt Varney has done an excellent job during his time on staff at Belfry. He is an excellent mentor that has strong ability to relate to his players and a great, in-depth knowledge of the game. To step it up in a time like this, to be a light in the community, that alone says a lot about him. Based on the scrimmages it seems as if little, if any will change and I am sure Belfry will be a tough out. I anticipate we will try to see them get their signature run game going early on against East. The most dangerous part of Belfry's backfield, I feel like, is their versatility. In addition to their running, carrying out play fakes, etc. they are also capable receivers, especially Woolum who actually led the team in receiving last season. 

Should be an exciting one between two great programs.

 

18 hours ago, 16thBBall Fan said:

I would love to see my Raiders get the win but I'm not seeing it.

You never know, especially this early in the season.  I am a fan of the Raiders program and would love to see them succeed. Granted, not at my Pirates expense, but if that happened there would be a part of me that would be happy for them. 
 

Both head coaches are Pike County guys who know each other well too which adds to the interest for me at least 

New helmet stickers going on today.  This is perfect for Coach Haywood.  Understated, classic, simple.  
 

Belfry 14-0 in the 1st.

Belfry offense looking lethal early on. 
three scores on like maybe 7 plays.

21-0 Belfry

Easy Carter with a good drive for a score, Belfry returns the kickoff 80 yards for a TD.

Belfry 28-7 in 2nd.

35-14 Belfry 

:48 in 2nd

 

 

Wildness ensuing. Belfry’s defense is exhausted because they have only ran maybe ten plays on offense. EC had a huge return on the kickoff and then Woolum intercepts a pass for a pick 6 of 90 yards, a flag behind the play negates the TD though.