Wow. What a game. It was cold and a long drive but it was worth it!! Another win closer to another state title!! :flame:

 

Also I wanted to comment on the sportsmanship and class of the Somerset fans. While we were waiting to get on the bus several fans stopped and congratulated us and wished us luck with the rest of our games.

Congrats Pirates and fans and good luck next week I will be pulling for you. JD:thumb:

On a positive note for Somerset, they were only the second team all year to rush for over 100 yards on Belfry.

Belfry controlled the game and were very physical in doing it. I don't think Somerset was ready for a team that physical. The starting quaterback left the game, I think it was early in the 3rd Qtr, when he got sandwiched by two defenders from Belfry. It was the 3rd or 4th hard lick he had taken. Cole came up a little bit lame a time or two and seemed to be favoring one leg.

 

Kudos to the offensive and defensive lines, these guys really did an outstanding job. We had a good push all night and it really paid off. Somerset's defense was quick to the football and it took a big effort on the part of the Belfry blockers to open up the holes and they came through, again.

 

I was most impressed with our secondary who provided really good downfield coverage on the receivers, especially Cole. It resulted in a couple of interceptions and also some coverage sacks. Cole was best used when they got him the ball on short routes and allwed him to use his speed to outrun everyone. He is very fast. I am not sure he has enough size or is physical enough to play in the SEC though, but I wish him the best and I hope I am wrong about that.

 

The running back, #30, was the best and most impressive Briar Jumper on the field IMO, at least for this night. He was a big timer, not especially fast, but very physical and an absolute load to bring down. I can see how he got his yards this year. They spread you out and then get him the ball where he can go one on one with defenders and it takes more than one to bring him down. I liked him.

 

Oh, and Belfry's fans deserve an atta boy too. They were out in droves and they were loud and proud. I know it pumps up the boys and it is great to be a part of. When you look across the field and you know you out number the home fans and you are 3.5 hours away from your home, you know you have great fans. Pirate fans are the best and I love them.

 

I also want to congratulate Somersets fans and their program. I noticed nothing but good sportsmanship from the players on the field. In the closing seconds, it was the Jumper players who first starting hugging the Pirates and congratulating them on the field. I met several fans on the way in and out, and they were the same both times. Even in a loss, they congratulated us and wished us well. In particular, the father of #28 came up to me at my car and took the time to wish us well. He was very very complimentary of our team, our fans and coaching staff. He used the words Class and Great and other accolades and you could tell he was being genuine. You have to admire that.

 

Watusi, I appreciate all that you have said about our program. We take pride in our field and the people that fill our stands every week. Although its always tough to take a loss. I wish Belfry good luck throughout the rest of their season.

Great Job Belfry, it was a tough night for the Jumpers right from the get go. I felt our D played very well at times (forced 3 straight punts at one point) but just could not contain the GREAT runners the Pirates had consistantly. I really hoped we would come out clicking but we were not very accurate throwing the ball (sometimes due to pressure sometimes not). I was very proud of our kids last night. Somerset has been beaten the last two years by the eventual state champ and I am betting that will be the case again this year. Belfry fans and players are to be commended on their sportsmanship as well. It's nice to see a true powerhouse program that still has class in the field and in the stands.

 

Good Luck Belfry.

 

PS how many do you graduate this year? 25-30 hopefully . Never too soon to start thinking about next year!

Not very many will be graduating. I think we have about 10 seniors.

Pirategurl is right, this team is loaded with talented JR and SO players but we only graduate about 10 or 12 seniors. And only maybe 6 or 7 of those are starters.

 

On offense I think we lose 1 starter in the backfield (#20, May), 1 starter on the line (#78, Stanley), 2 WR (#4, Preston and #19, Smith)

 

On defense, we lose Preston from the defensive backfield along with a safety (#87, Young), May from the linebacker spot, 1 DE (#22, Bowens), 1 DL (#8 Hickman)

 

Our kicker, #61, Earnest also graduates this year.

 

And that is about it as far as starters. If I forgot someone, I hope another Belfry fan will help me out and list them.

Pirategurl is right, this team is loaded with talented JR and SO players but we only graduate about 10 or 12 seniors. And only maybe 6 or 7 of those are starters.

 

On offense I think we lose 1 starter in the backfield (#20, May), 1 starter on the line (#78, Stanley), 2 WR (#4, Preston and #19, Smith)

 

On defense, we lose Preston from the defensive backfield along with a safety (#87, Young), May from the linebacker spot, 1 DE (#22, Bowens), 1 DL (#8 Hickman)

 

Our kicker, #61, Earnest also graduates this year.

 

And that is about it as far as starters. If I forgot someone, I hope another Belfry fan will help me out and list them.

 

 

Belfry has potential to better next year because of 3 GREAT classes in a row......but we will worry about that then..............

WOW, what a weekend of football, don't get me started on the UK game, I'd rather focus on the positive which was the Belfry game last night!

 

Here we go (Watusi hit alot of my points, but I will reinterrate and add my two cents on a few things)

 

First and foremost, our gracious hosts!

Anyone associated with the Somerset program can be proud of not only their kids, but their entire program in general, including fans. Somerste proved to be a very formidable opponent, and they did so by playing with alot of intensity and laying their hearts on the line. All to often against this particular Belfry team you see squads who get down 3-4 TD's and they just pack it up emotionally, not the Briarjumpers. As 'Tusi said, I don't know if Cole ahs the size and strength to be a force at the SEC level, but it was truly a treat watching the young man play. He plays witha true passion for the game, has possibly the best body control of any HS player I think I have ever seen, and anytime a ball is in the air he makes it a personal challenge to catch it, no matter where it is. Case in point, two of Cole's catches came from apparent interceptions where Ryan Preston had PERFECT coverage, but as Preston fell to the ground Cole earned the football and the rule that any play where both players have posession goes to the offense. Somerset only completed 7 passes the entire night, but all 7 were caught by Cole.

 

The Hughes kid was a great back, he never quit running and was truly a throwback. After reading his eprsonal story on ehre earlier this year, it really made me feel good to see the kid be successful against a defense as good as Belfry. He is the second back this season to run for over 100 yards on Belfry, but he is the first to be able to sustain success in the first and second half. There was alot of beef running the football around last night!

Now for the Pirates:

- AWESOME effort all-around. What most impressed me though was Belfry's mental toughness in the first half, when ti seemed that they couldn't catch a break with penalties negating huge plays. Instead of folding up, they took it as a personal challenge to put the ball into the endzone.

 

- Pass coverage really surprised me. As I said, only 7 completions (all of which to Cole) and the majority of those yards came in the 4th Quarter once the game had been pretty much signed, sealed, and delivered. The Pirates constantly dialed up the pressure when they needed it, and I felt bad for poor Chase Hall, as he took some monster hits (I also hope he is alright from the vicous hit he sustained on the sideline). Charlie Dotson, Phillip Hickman, and Cory Coleman wreaked havoc on the Jumper passing game.

 

- Last night we were fortunate to witness the three best football players in 3A football this year, John Cole, Dustin May, and Ivan Lee. Although Cole definately deserves the Mr. Football talk he receives, BAR NONE, the best player on that gridiron was wearing Red and White and had #20 on the back of his jersey.. Dustin May is the eptiomy of what Belfry football represents, the kid ran for 400 yards last night, but only 200 or so counted do to penalties negating some AMAZING runs where he broke 5+ tackles per attempt.

 

- The O-line was awesome.

 

-To the 1500 or so Belfry fans who amde the trip and braved the cold, BRAVO! What showing of fans, and the energy they generated reminded me of those 2003 road trips that propelled that team to the state title. Just imagine if the normal 3500 or so that attend home games could all be as loud as that group last night, think how special that last homegame for these heralded Seniors will be come Friday?

 

- The only cause for concern, and it was a minor one, that I saw was the fact that we took the pedal off the gas a bit in the 4th Quarter. The difference between Belfry when they are focused and when they are not is vast, our tackling changes drastically and our offensive execution also severely declines. But, as I said this is a minor thing.

Congrats Pirates and all those fans that came from "Pond Nation". It is always tough to lose but what a class group to lose to. Your coaches, team and fans are just top notch. I was very proud of our Jumpers tonight. The best team won the game but I do feel that the pass that was ruled incomplete that John caught inside our 35 was a momentum killer for us. WYMT had replays that their announcers felt showed it to be a catch. However that one play in no way affected the outcome.

Clark Field has plenty of seating for the visitors with a capacity of about 2,000 and those bleachers were solid red and white Friday night. Only when we have our local county rivalry games does the visitors or home side get that much attention. It is no wonder that your young men play so hard!!

Good luck Belfry Pirates you have won over some Purple and Gold supporters.

Watusi, I didn't know that was you when I spoke to you at your car of course but however briefly we got to speak it was nice meeting you.

 

P.S. on a side note: How many touchdowns were actually called back on the one series 2 or 3, most coaches would have blown up over that but Coach Haywood handled that very professionaly!!

As 'Tusi said, I don't know if Cole ahs the size and strength to be a force at the SEC level, but it was truly a treat watching the young man play. He plays witha true passion for the game, has possibly the best body control of any HS player I think I have ever seen, and anytime a ball is in the air he makes it a personal challenge to catch it, no matter where it is. Case in point, two of Cole's catches came from apparent interceptions where Ryan Preston had PERFECT coverage, but as Preston fell to the ground Cole earned the football and the rule that any play where both players have posession goes to the offense.

 

Here is a link to a picture of that catch

The best team won the game but I do feel that the pass that was ruled incomplete that John caught inside our 35 was a momentum killer for us. WYMT had replays that their announcers felt showed it to be a catch. However that one play in no way affected the outcome.

 

 

P.S. on a side note: How many touchdowns were actually called back on the one series 2 or 3, most coaches would have blown up over that but Coach Haywood handled that very professionaly!!

Very well spoken and I am sure I speak on behalf of most Belfry supporters when I say thank you.

 

That Cole catch early in the game was definately a "bang-bang" play, from my vantage point I definately saw something "bounce" as he hit the ground, but from the distance I was sitting could not tell if it was the football or a shoe, it was a remarkable effort nonetheless. The two receptions he made that I mentioned were also similar bang-bang plays that went in the Jumper's favor, one was clearly a joint posession occasion (which goes to the receiver) the other apparently was the same situation although the ball ended up squirting out and onto the ground in the struggle. I can honestly say that all three plays though would either have been interceptions or incompletions with 99.9% of the other receivers in the state.

 

On the posession you are referring to May broke one of the most unbelievable runs I have seen at the HS level, literally breaking 6 or 7 tackles before being tackled short of the goalline but the play was brought back for illegal motion, he then made a run nearly as impressive that he took to the house before it was negated on what was considered a block in the back, then Elkins finally took the keeper around left end and sprinted for the long score. On the keeper Somerset actually had either a CB or Safety who was in perfect position to make the play, but he apparently thought Elkins had handed the ball off and literally ran right past Elkins. May later had another TD called back as well from a shorter distance. The poor kid ran for over 300 yards and 4 TD's but only got credit for 206 and 2 TD's thanks to penalties HAHA

Watusi, I didn't know that was you when I spoke to you at your car of course but however briefly we got to speak it was nice meeting you.

 

I wish I had known at the time too. It was my pleasure and I wish we had had more time to talk. It was nice to put a face with the name, and I guess you can say that too.

 

Again, it was a positive experience, thanks to your fans and your team. Classy bunch all around. You should be proud.

Somerset just did not have the defense to keep up with the powerful offense of of Belfry. As always I loved watching John go out and play, he has been an amazing high school player and I hope to see him and some of the other seniors to do well on Saturdays.

 

I do have a question.. Did anyone hear the radio show after the game? They had a special where Coach Cobb went through and had a run down of each player that was graduating. On one of the particular players he said that one young man had the potential to become a great D-1 player, but just did not have the grades. Does anyone else believe that something like that should not be said on the radio?? Regardless if it is true or not.