Belfry is a work in progress, Graybeard. They have a lot of talent, but a lot of it is young talent. They need experience more than anything, and playing teams like Ashland will certainly give them that. If you have ever followed a Philip Haywood team, you know they typically start out slow and improve over the course of the season, hopefully peaking at the right time. They don't look very polished early in the season, and that is magnified when you have a lot of youth. There were a lot of freshmen and sophomores who played considerably in their first two games, and they have been running the backfield by committee so far. It is fun to watch them as they improve, because you can literally see it from week to week, but I don't know if they are ready for a team like the Tomcats just yet. They will play hard, and they will hit you. It should be a fun night.

Tomcats 42

Pirates 20

Belfry is a work in progress, Graybeard. They have a lot of talent, but a lot of it is young talent. They need experience more than anything, and playing teams like Ashland will certainly give them that. If you have ever followed a Philip Haywood team, you know they typically start out slow and improve over the course of the season, hopefully peaking at the right time. They don't look very polished early in the season, and that is magnified when you have a lot of youth. There were a lot of freshmen and sophomores who played considerably in their first two games, and they have been running the backfield by committee so far. It is fun to watch them as they improve, because you can literally see it from week to week, but I don't know if they are ready for a team like the Tomcats just yet. They will play hard, and they will hit you. It should be a fun night.

 

 

Watusi: I just don't think Belfry is getting enough credit in this thread. I understand the "work in progress" concept. But, I also know that coach Haywood's teams are always successful. I do agree that it should be a fun night.

Maybe, maybe not on the credit, I don't think they've earned it...yet. Coach Haywood's teams are generally successful because they are good when it counts, but sometimes they aren't that good early on. I do think this team will be pretty good eventually, but they are green right now. Over the years I've heard a lot of coaches say if you are going to beat them, get them early, and thats a fair statement. One thing to add, this is the year to knock them off, if you can, because the next 2 or 3 years following they will be very good.

Let me preface this by saying I know nothing about Belfry this year, but based on the type of team they usually have...I think this should be an interesting matchup because I think Belfry should test the Ashland defense in a similar way as Greenup did. Ashland is very good, though, so I look for them to pass the test. I can't see any team having enough athletes to stop the Ashland offense until they play Ironton (maybe), Johnson Central (perhaps), and the northern Kentucky teams.

I think Belfry may expose Ashland's run defense but Ashland has too many weapons.

I think Belfry may expose Ashland's run defense but Ashland has too many weapons.

 

Actually Loyal…..Greenup Co already obliged Ashland with that critique….Adjustments were made during the GC game and then tested against Raceland. Run-happy Belfry, however, will be a valid test to see how much the Tomcat D has improved.

TCB!!!