I know that it sounded like both teams had their share of turnovers. Alot of Belfry fans are saying that turnovers killed their chances, but didn't Central have more turnovers than Belfry? Does anyone have the official stats that maybe could shed some light on this?

 

Belfry's turnovers were deal killers. They were at very big moments and critical moments.

Central had 5 turnovers, Belfry 2. That stat alone doesn't tell the tale. Central capitalized on Belfry's 2 TOs, and Belfry turned 1 into a score I think.

 

I don't think people are using the turnovers as an excuse or saying that turnovers as a whole doomed the Pirates because obviously Belfry won the turnover battle. But all turnovers are not equal, and those two specific TO's by Belfry were at critical times and both were backbreakers. Maybe I'm not explaining it well, but if you were there, watching the flow of the game, I think you'd agree.

 

Don't take it as an excuse because it isn't. Central deserves all the credit for the win and I echo some of the earlier comments by EKU and others. The turnovers by Belfry were forced by Central's D Line, they weren't just lazy errors. That doesn't make them any less critical to the outcome of the game.

Central had 5 turnovers, Belfry 2. That stat alone doesn't tell the tale. Central capitalized on Belfry's 2 TOs, and Belfry turned 1 into a score I think.

 

I don't think people are using the turnovers as an excuse or saying that turnovers as a whole doomed the Pirates because obviously Belfry won the turnover battle. But all turnovers are not equal, and those two specific TO's by Belfry were at critical times and both were backbreakers. Maybe I'm not explaining it well, but if you were there, watching the flow of the game, I think you'd agree.

 

Don't take it as an excuse because it isn't. Central deserves all the credit for the win and I echo some of the earlier comments by EKU and others. The turnovers by Belfry were forced by Central's D Line, they weren't just lazy errors. That doesn't make them any less critical to the outcome of the game.

 

Central might as well have had 6 turnovers. The botched snap on the punt resulting in a 14 yard loss, which led to our last scoring opportunity may not have been available if the punter gets that one off.

 

As it turned out we committed our 2nd turnover on that drive and that was pretty much the ballgame.

 

Congrats to Central on the win.

 

Hopefully, we'll get to redeem ourselves next year.

Central had 5 turnovers, Belfry 2. That stat alone doesn't tell the tale. Central capitalized on Belfry's 2 TOs, and Belfry turned 1 into a score I think.

 

I don't think people are using the turnovers as an excuse or saying that turnovers as a whole doomed the Pirates because obviously Belfry won the turnover battle. But all turnovers are not equal, and those two specific TO's by Belfry were at critical times and both were backbreakers. Maybe I'm not explaining it well, but if you were there, watching the flow of the game, I think you'd agree.

 

Don't take it as an excuse because it isn't. Central deserves all the credit for the win and I echo some of the earlier comments by EKU and others. The turnovers by Belfry were forced by Central's D Line, they weren't just lazy errors. That doesn't make them any less critical to the outcome of the game.

 

Didn't Central turn the ball over deep in its own territory once or twice, and throw an interception in Belfry's endzone, or on the one or two yard line?

Didn't Central turn the ball over deep in its own territory once or twice, and throw an interception in Belfry's endzone, or on the one or two yard line?

They fumbled the ball deep once and Belfry scored, then the fumbled the kick off return on like the 40. Then Belfry got a field goal out of that. The one interception that Belfry intercepted deep if Im not mistaken Central was on about the 40 still yet but was a deep pass.

Belfry two TO were so costly though as the one at the end of the half Central scored on the return which completely changed all of the momentum, and gave Central the lead. Which by the way that was a good call, he just got hit when he threw it.

The second one Belfry was about to score and take the lead so that one was huge, Central drove ball back down and scored to seal the deal. I believe if Belfry would have not had but just one of those they would have one.

Here is the thing though, neither team really had any unforced turnover, seven turnovers, and could have been more, all because of GREAT defenses.

If you would have told any Belfry fan they would have won the TO battle, outgain them, and control Time of Possesion I would have put my house up we would have won.

They fumbled the ball deep once and Belfry scored, then the fumbled the kick off return on like the 40. Then Belfry got a field goal out of that. The one interception that Belfry intercepted deep if Im not mistaken Central was on about the 40 still yet but was a deep pass.

 

Are you counting the fumbled punt deep in Belfry's territory as well, or is that another one?

Congrats to Coach Scroggins and the Yellowjackets.

The rule is in place so the offensive team does not make this move at 4th and short to draw teams into the NZ (neutral zone). I would imagine that IF the team did not get into the NZ they would have passed up the foul.

 

I would like to see this rule changed more toward the college and NFL and allow the defense to get out of the NZ prior to the snap.

Congrats to Central, as expected they were big and fast. The defensive line was incredible and we had no match for their speed. We could hope to contain them and gang tackle, but they had a couple of guys that if they broke a tackle, we knew we had no one who could run them down. And they broke a couple of tackles. Central was able to do exactly what they needed to do to win it, control the LOS, limit us to 2nd and 3rd and long, and force us to throw more than we'd like.

 

Pirate fans, and many other fans grossly underestimated this Central team and it didn't take long to realize it.

 

I'm proud of this Belfry team, they played their hearts out all season and in the end, they just came up short against a team with more talent. The coaches did a good job and with 4 minutes to go we were in position to win the game, driving the ball inside the red zone. It didn't go our way, but it shows a lot of fortitude that you guys battled back and had that chance to win it. Good luck to those seniors and hopefully the rest of the team will get to work and prepare for next year.

 

The telling stats to me were that we punted 7 times and threw the ball 12 times. If you'd told me that going in we would have to do that, then I'd say we were in trouble.

 

And then the two turnovers. Not normally a bad thing to win the turnover battle, but both the turnovers Belfry had were absolute KILLERS. Can't second guess the pass at the end of the half because EVERYONE in the stadium expected them to take a knee. We knew that Central would get the ball to start the 2nd half. It was a great call, but just a bad pass and it landed in the hands of the one guy who you didn't want to catch it. Elkins had been throwing beautiful passes and if he hits one big one there, we go in at the half up 17-7. But one of those things that sometimes happen, happened, and we went in down 14-10. Huge momentum swing there and it set the tone for the rest of the game.

 

Nice post Toots. Based on the Highlands game, I knew you guys would have problems with Central's defensive line. They are very, very good. Fast, quick, strong and mobile. Good luck next year. I'm sure the Pirates will be remembering this game when they are in the weight room this winter. All in all, it was a pretty good year for Belfry, just not quite as good as they wanted which is why Belfry is so good each year. Anything less than a championship is a disappointment.

Does anyone know the connection between Central and Male? Central was running Redman's defense and there are very few people not connected to Redman that run it.

Are you counting the fumbled punt deep in Belfry's territory as well, or is that another one?

The one I was talking about was when Central fumbled in the first half and Belfry recovred at like the 10. I cant remember if that was on a punt or on third down. I know Belfry tackled the punter once on like the 30 or so, and then gave it back by fumble.

Neither team was getting good snaps to the punter in this game, I new something bad would happen on a punt for somebody.

Congrats to Central, as expected they were big and fast. The defensive line was incredible and we had no match for their speed. We could hope to contain them and gang tackle, but they had a couple of guys that if they broke a tackle, we knew we had no one who could run them down. And they broke a couple of tackles. Central was able to do exactly what they needed to do to win it, control the LOS, limit us to 2nd and 3rd and long, and force us to throw more than we'd like.

 

Pirate fans, and many other fans grossly underestimated this Central team and it didn't take long to realize it.

 

I'm proud of this Belfry team, they played their hearts out all season and in the end, they just came up short against a team with more talent. The coaches did a good job and with 4 minutes to go we were in position to win the game, driving the ball inside the red zone. It didn't go our way, but it shows a lot of fortitude that you guys battled back and had that chance to win it. Good luck to those seniors and hopefully the rest of the team will get to work and prepare for next year.

 

The telling stats to me were that we punted 7 times and threw the ball 12 times. If you'd told me that going in we would have to do that, then I'd say we were in trouble.

 

And then the two turnovers. Not normally a bad thing to win the turnover battle, but both the turnovers Belfry had were absolute KILLERS. Can't second guess the pass at the end of the half because EVERYONE in the stadium expected them to take a knee. We knew that Central would get the ball to start the 2nd half. It was a great call, but just a bad pass and it landed in the hands of the one guy who you didn't want to catch it. Elkins had been throwing beautiful passes and if he hits one big one there, we go in at the half up 17-7. But one of those things that sometimes happen, happened, and we went in down 14-10. Huge momentum swing there and it set the tone for the rest of the game.

 

 

 

On the first bold part, IMVHO too many parents of players on here and other boards saying we would win 40-12 or whatever......I honestly wish we could have shut down the boards......waaaaayyyyyy to cocky and I was wanting them to shutup....

 

 

On the second part - if some of you guys know me this might be a shock but that call along with the first pass play called showed me that Coach was flat out going to do whatever it took to win and I was loving the play calls. I heard people complaining and told a few of them to shut up, they whine and moan when he takes a knee and whine and moan when he goes for the kill.......he can't win for losing but he really doesn't care what anyone thinks....

 

 

Next year I honestly see Coach throwing 10 times a game.................

On the first bold part, IMVHO too many parents of players on here and other boards saying we would win 40-12 or whatever......I honestly wish we could have shut down the boards......waaaaayyyyyy to cocky and I was wanting them to shutup....

 

 

On the second part - if some of you guys know me this might be a shock but that call along with the first pass play called showed me that Coach was flat out going to do whatever it took to win and I was loving the play calls. I heard people complaining and told a few of them to shut up, they whine and moan when he takes a knee and whine and moan when he goes for the kill.......he can't win for losing but he really doesn't care what anyone thinks....

 

 

Next year I honestly see Coach throwing 10 times a game.................

I agree with you too many people were on here saying this was the BEST team BELFRY ever had talking JUNK when WE ALL know that Belfry has the talent to have the best team each year .That is what's so great about Belfry and that is why you have the FAN base that you have YOU keep getting those BEST teams ,BUT your past players really don't like hearing this and TRUTH be told the BEST teams Belfry has had would have to be their 2 STATE CHAMP teams We had a good team 2005, 2006 and we had a good team 2007 but for now the BEST would be2003 2004.NUF said

I agree with you too many people were on here saying this was the BEST team BELFRY ever had talking JUNK when WE ALL know that Belfry has the talent to have the best team each year .That is what's so great about Belfry and that is why you have the FAN base that you have YOU keep getting those BEST teams ,BUT your past players really don't like hearing this and TRUTH be told the BEST teams Belfry has had would have to be their 2 STATE CHAMP teams We had a good team 2005, 2006 and we had a good team 2007 but for now the BEST would be2003 2004.NUF said

 

 

The current is all that matters. After the banquets it will be on to next year.

 

Who the best? That is for the parents and former players to worry about. The only thing that matters is what is on the field today.

 

The past is very important as far as tradition goes, but tradition doesn't include crowning a best ever team.

The rule is in place so the offensive team does not make this move at 4th and short to draw teams into the NZ (neutral zone). I would imagine that IF the team did not get into the NZ they would have passed up the foul.

 

I would like to see this rule changed more toward the college and NFL and allow the defense to get out of the NZ prior to the snap.

 

With all due respect, the purpose behind the call is understood. I even agree with the rationale. It IS unfair for an offense to get a cheap 1st down after being defended well.

 

The problem is...officials, in the years I've watched football, have ALWAYS called the penalty on the DEFENSE when they're drawn off.

 

 

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