2A Belfry and 1A Pikeville have seemingly always played each other in football.  There are years here or there where they did not match up, but starting in 1928 they have played 81 times in 97 years.  This is one of the oldest, most historic and hotly contested series in Kentucky.  Both teams have build ultra winning traditions in their respective programs.  Pikeville and Belfry have each won 8 state championships.  

Belfry leads the all time record 40-39-2.

Pikeville comes into the game with a 2-2 record against very good competition.  They lost to 3A CAL, who probably beats 99% of the teams in KY in all classes, and to 4A Johnson Central by 3 scores.  Their signature win was one of the best in the Commonwealth this season.  They rallied against Raceland to win 35-27 after being down 27-0 with about 16 minutes left in the game.  So they can score in bunches.

Belfry is 3-1 on the season with the lone loss coming 2 weeks ago to the same Johnson Central team 46-21.  Belfry has played well in their 3 wins and have put up good numbers, albeit against a lower level of competition than the Panthers.  They have thrown the ball more than one might expect from a Pirate team, but the completion % has been fairly low.  The Pirates have lost a couple of key players to injury.  Last year's leading rusher JJ Austin tore an ACL and OL/DL Kaden Bogar is out with a lower leg fracture.  Starting tailback Ace Caudill has also been nursing injury and did not play against Southwestern.  

Wins and Losses between the two have been strange this decade.  Belfry won 17 out of 18 from 2001-2018 then Pikeville won 5 in a row.   The Pirates finally got back in the win column in 2024.  Who will prevail in this one?  Can't wait to find out.

As a very old Pirate fan, there is nothing quite like Pikeville week.

Should be a dandy. Going into the season and before injuries I think I would have liked Belfry by 2 TD's... now I think it is a toss-up if not Pikeville having a slight edge. I will take Belfry by a TD playing at home.

11 hours ago, ATLCat said:

Should be a dandy. Going into the season and before injuries I think I would have liked Belfry by 2 TD's... now I think it is a toss-up if not Pikeville having a slight edge. I will take Belfry by a TD playing at home.

I agree. The missing pieces for Belfry are big ones.  Bogar’s injury hurts a lot on both sides of the ball in the trenches.   Davis has filled in very well at FB for Austin but it forces him to play both ways.  In small school football even a couple injuries can have a huge impact on depth.  But it is part of the game and it’s “next man up” time.  If there’s a silver lining it is still early in the season and there is lots of time to gain experience for a playoff run.  

@Carlito what is the word in Panther Land this week?   

Belfry 21-7.

I'm shaking my head at the disrespect for Pikeville in the poll (18-1 for Belfry). I also voted for the Pirates.

This is a hard game to read. Both teams have flaws, injuries, and comparable margins of defeat against Johnson Central.

I have a feeling Belfry's athletes are going to run wild and Pikeville's ground game has been non-existent. I like Reynolds and Hager to keep Pikeville close, but I'll take the Pirates in a four quarter war.

1 minute ago, DevilMayCare said:

I'm shaking my head at the disrespect for Pikeville in the poll (18-1 for Belfry). I also votes for the Pirates.

This is a hard game to read. Both teams have flaws, injuries, and comparable margins of defeat against Johnson Central.

I have a feeling Belfry's athletes are going to run wild and Pikeville's ground game has been non-existent. I like Reynolds and Hager to keep Pikeville close, but I'll take the Pirates in a four quarter war.

I though the same thing on the poll. 

I will say this.. Belfry leads the All-Time series by one game. They need this win this year because I have a feeling they are about to lose three or four in a row.

11 minutes ago, ATLCat said:

I will say this.. Belfry leads the All-Time series by one game. They need this win this year because I have a feeling they are about to lose three or four in a row.

Does that prediction have more to say about where Belfry's going, or where Pikeville's going?

47 minutes ago, DevilMayCare said:

Does that prediction have more to say about where Belfry's going, or where Pikeville's going?

More positive toward Pikeville than negative toward Belfry, but there is a little of both.

Pikeville is absolutely loaded with talent in their Sophomore, Freshman, and 8th Grade classes with some of those Freshman & Sophomores already contributing in big ways at the Varsity level. Belfry is a Senior and Junior heavy team, but specifically Senior heavy.  Both teams have similar Junior talent but once again Pikeville has maybe a little more getting reps this season.

Though Belfry has been competitive with Pikeville at the Middle School level and continue to produce good success, over the past three or four years Pikeville has been a clear step above. Pikeville is going to be an absolute handful once again in 1A for about a 3-4 years window.. they are currently #1 in the State in what was expected to be a bridge year.

 

19 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

I'm shaking my head at the disrespect for Pikeville in the poll (18-1 for Belfry). I

I guess it’s not just me… everybody hates Pikeville ?

On 9/15/2025 at 8:11 AM, ATLCat said:

Should be a dandy. Going into the season and before injuries I think I would have liked Belfry by 2 TD's... now I think it is a toss-up if not Pikeville having a slight edge. I will take Belfry by a TD playing at home.

Given both team's body of work thus far, I too think it is a very even matchup.  A 7-10 point game in favor of either team would not surprise me at all.  But I have been surprised often in the past in this series, lol. 

As much as I want to see the Panthers lose every week, I respect the heck out of their program and what they have done, consistently.  Coach Mac is a class act and I really like him.  His teams are always in the hunt and he does a great job there.  

Will there be video of this game?

22 minutes ago, theguru said:

Will there be video of this game?

It’s at Belfry who generally has always not liked tv or video coverage. Mountain Top Sports will have live radio coverage though.