I'll go with Belfry 28-21. Should be a great game between two quality teams. As long as it's played injury free it should help both out come playoff time.

Belfry 34-26.

Is Dustin May going to play and if so what % will he be? I want to know before I make a prediction. Belfry is notoriously secretive though, so I doubt anyone will know how healthy he is before Friday, if then...

 

My only prediction as of now is Pikeville WILL move the chains...

Is Dustin May going to play and if so what % will he be? I want to know before I make a prediction. Belfry is notoriously secretive though, so I doubt anyone will know how healthy he is before Friday, if then...

 

My only prediction as of now is Pikeville WILL move the chains...

 

I can't get a straight answer, billyray. I've asked about Dustin 3 different times and here is what I got.

 

1. Signs point to yes.

2. Try again later.

3. You may rely on it.

 

I can't get a straight answer, billyray. I've asked about Dustin 3 different times and here is what I got.

 

1. Signs point to yes.

2. Try again later.

3. You may rely on it.

 

 

:banana::thumb:

 

I didn't know anything, but heard some people talking about him. They didn't really know a lot either, and they were Belfry fans, lol...They were basically saying he wasn't 100%, but didn't know what % he was...

 

I'm sure everyone in Pikeville is expecting him to be on the field for every play Friday...

I think Belfry wins by 10 or more

:banana::thumb:

 

I didn't know anything, but heard some people talking about him. They didn't really know a lot either, and they were Belfry fans, lol...They were basically saying he wasn't 100%, but didn't know what % he was...

 

I'm sure everyone in Pikeville is expecting him to be on the field for every play Friday...

 

Seriously, I think they told you the truth, he probably isn't 100%, but knowing Dustin, he probably won't leave the field much. If he is less than full strength, then I would look for them to rest him some on offense when they can and play him on defense primarily. But that is just my speculation.

 

 

Its a given that both teams have good offenses and I think both are capable of moving the football on the other. To me, I think the pressure will be on the defenses to step it up, particularly the linebackers and defensive ends. React and contain, try to limit the big plays, play your position and be disciplined. The team that does the best job at those two positions forces the hand of the other and hopefully puts them into throwing situations.

Seriously, I think they told you the truth, he probably isn't 100%, but knowing Dustin, he probably won't leave the field much. If he is less than full strength, then I would look for them to rest him some on offense when they can and play him on defense primarily. But that is just my speculation.

 

 

Its a given that both teams have good offenses and I think both are capable of moving the football on the other. To me, I think the pressure will be on the defenses to step it up, particularly the linebackers and defensive ends. React and contain, try to limit the big plays, play your position and be disciplined. The team that does the best job at those two positions forces the hand of the other and hopefully puts them into throwing situations.

 

:thumb:

Of course, when I said "hopefully" I was talking about the Pirates doing the forcing. :lol:

Of course, when I said "hopefully" I was talking about the Pirates doing the forcing. :lol:

 

I think Belfry is so confident, they don't think they have to force Pikeville into passing situations. :eek:

What exactly is Dustin's injury and how severe is it?

I think Belfry is so confident, they don't think they have to force Pikeville into passing situations. :eek:

 

I think that if you are counting on Belfry being overconfident and overlooking the Panthers this year, then you may be barking up the wrong team. The Panthers should be the toughest test to date, and unlike some of the past years the anticipation of this game is where it should be

 

To answer your Dustin May question, expect to see him on the field all night...he definately isn't 100% going in the game, but when the adrenaline starts to flow I have a feeling he will be feeling pretty good. As far as I know, aside from May and Southerland (out for the season), the Pirates are pretty healthy going into the game.

For any Belfry fan thinking this game will be a blowout, then you better wake up. Pikeville is a legit team with a ton of athleticism and enough speed on defense to cause Belfry some major problems with penetrating the backfield and disrupting plays. Additionally, Pikeville posesses something Belfry hasn't seen all year, and that is an experienced backfield with big play ability.

 

I know alot of people are assuming this will be a fairly high scoring game, but I don't think it will be. Belfry is far too disciplined and experienced on defense this year to allow Pikeville to bust those looong plays which they have killed teams with this season, conversely, Pikeville's defense is definately underrated. The Panther's are not very adept in pass coverage, but they will wreak havoc on running games with their quickness and athleticism (much like Belfry, except I think Pikeville's defense is faster).

 

It's very cliche' to say that what will determine this game will be turnvers, penalties, and lineplay... but in this game it will be the truth. But, to get away from the ordinaru, here are my alternative keys to victory for both teams:

 

BELFRY

- Keep 'em honest.... Tim Honaker is a very good, athletic QB, but he comes nowhere close to Elkins when it comes to passing the ball. The Panthers have had a pension for missing tackles, and to be honest it is almost impossible to beat this Belfry team without putting 9-10 in the box. Therefore, Belfry's anbility to hit short passes and force the panther's to honor the passing game will be huge.

 

- Keep yourself honest...... Pikeville's bread and butter is misdirection and Honaker's reads on the handoff. With the size/strength (Sorry for the Pikeville poster who said Pikeville is stronger up front, that is definately false) disparity in the trenches the Panther's will be unable to beat Belfry with a power game, but the Pirates are vulnerable to misdirection. Belfry has very good DE's, but if they give up the corner or get sucked in then it is 10+ yards a pop for Pikeville.

 

- Lay on em.... Belfry's best chance of winning this game is to play vintage Phillip Haywood football and just drive the ball 3 yards at a time down the field and use those long time consuming drives to put points on the board. The Pirate's biggest strength up front is actually their depth, if they can wear down Pikeville's two way linemen, then this will pay huge dividends come the 4th Quarter (See last year's GW drive).

 

 

 

PIKEVILLE

- Don't eliminate yourselves early.... Belfry is not the team you want to try to come back from behind on, especially when you are as run oriented as Pikeville. I will have to mention those penalties and turnovers here, because to be honest, it is definately Pikeville's biggest bugaboo. If Pikeville commits early turnovers, or kill crucial drives with unwarranted personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conducts, then they will find themselves in a big hole.

 

-Don't eliminate yourself late..... Touching on one fo Belfry's keys to victory, I cannot stress enough the importance for Pikeville to not only be in a position to win late on the scoreboard, put in a position to win late in a physical standpoint. Thus, it means playing smart, but aggressive defense, throughout the game. The Panther's need multiple posessions where they hold the Pirate offense to 8 plays or less, additionally they need to force the issue on Belfry and create problems they haven't had to address yet this season by disrupting their plays in the backfield.

 

- Don't eliminate youself in between... meaning Special Teams in between posessions. The panther's kicking game has been, well, hideous at times... but their return game has looked 3 X better than Belfry. The Panthers have got to be sound kicking off, punting, and above all else, don't allow Belfry to balance their advantage with kick returns. Field position is going to be critical in this one, and aside from kickoffs and Field Goals, the Panthers should have a decisive advantage here.

I think Belfry is so confident, they don't think they have to force Pikeville into passing situations. :eek:

 

LOL, you talking about fans, or the team?

LOL, you talking about fans, or the team?

 

Yes.