3A: Breathitt County Bobcats (11-2) at Belfry Pirates (13-0)

[Birdsfan]

Who wins this game and why? What will be the keys to victory for both teams?

[TheDeuce]

Belfry.

[MtnHSFootballFan]

Belfry wins.

[Pirate Pride]

Belfry

 

The keys to the game for Belfry are to control both LOS; tackle well on defense; and execute on offense, meaning few penalties/turnovers.

 

If Belfry plays a clean (execution wise) game and wins the LOS, they win.

[Einstein70]

I don't know much about ether team but my dad was a Bobcat so I am going with them to win this game.

[Watusi]

The keys to the game for Belfry are to control both LOS; tackle well on defense; and execute on offense, meaning few penalties/turnovers.

 

You better get back closer to the tree before that limb breaks.

[JC Alumni 76]

This is a very intriging game for me. I may make the small drive to Pond Creek for this one. I think Belfry will have the upper hand, but I expect a very close game between this two. Should be interesting.

[Skunk]

Belfry

[tenaciousD]

Belfry, much like last year, in a big way

[Pirate Pride]

Ha.

 

Liked my Keys to the game huh Watusi? Well, pretty much straight from Coach Haywood's mind, and true.

 

Belfry wins games up front.

[Commander 25]

Belfry wins this one and they get the rematch against Central for the state title.

[Watusi]

I think a lot of people are thinking about last year where Belfry manhandled Breathitt enroute to a 62-28 beating. It seems a lot of fans are thinking we are looking at more of the same and that would be a mistake, imo.

 

That game last season turned out that way, but we caught some breaks along the way. If those two teams played again, it would have been closer.

 

This Breathitt team is not the same team they were last year. I think the Bobcats are a lot better and more balanced. Fugatte is a monster and will be a big time challenge for Belfry. Nobody lse has been able to stop him all year, especially the last half of the season. The best you can hope for it seems is to slow him down.

 

This should be a great game, as most of the games in this series have been.

All the other playoff matchups between these two over the last 10 years have been nail biters. Every game was decided by a TD or less, with the exception of 2002. In that game Breathitt led 7-0 with about a minute and a half left to play in the infamous mud bowl. Belfry's last two desperation passes were intercepted and returned for touchdowns for the final margin.

 

99 - Breathitt 47 Belfry 42 Round 2

00 - Breathitt 28 Belfry 20 Round 2

01 - Belfry 27 Breathitt 26 Round 2

02 - Breathitt 21 Belfry 00 Round 3

[Pirate Pride]

Certainly agree with that post.

 

I do think it will be a MUCH better ballgame this time around. That said, I think Belfry's quick and smaller defense is better suited to stop a "Shotgun style" running game than the more traditional power running game.

 

Just my .02

[5wide]

Belfry doesn't seem to be as dominant this season, so I'd be surprised if they won in the same fashion as last year.

 

But, I'm not convinced this Breathitt team is as good as last year's either...I still expect Belfry's offense to be a very difficult matchup for the Bobcats. The way they played against Estill County last night is reason for optimism, but Belfry is a whole different animal.

 

Keys to the game...

 

Breathitt's defense has to be able to get some stops against Belfry's rushing attack. If it's like last year when the Pirates were 3-5 yards past the LOS before first contact, there's no chance. Breathitt can't allow that again and let Belfry chew up clock and wear them down.

 

Get stops. Move the ball and get it in the end zone. Breathitt really needs to play this game with a lead. If they could get Belfry into some passing situations, they could pull it out.

 

I definitely think Breathitt has a chance. But, it's a tall order and they've got their work cut out for them. Anything less than their best and it could get ugly.

[Pirate Pride]

Has Breathitt been vunerable on run defense this year? Holding Estill would seem to suggest they are pretty stout in that area.