Would love to see this game. Great match up!

Breathitt may be the hardest place to play in the mtns. The Home team will win.

Breathitt wins 28-21

I think talentwise this is a tossup. Belfry has played the tougher schedule but I think the homefield advantage will be too much. Bobcats 34-28.

Where was the 1989 playoff game played? I think it was in Jackson but I might be thinking of the regular season game.

Where was the 1989 playoff game played? I think it was in Jackson but I might be thinking of the regular season game.

 

It was in Jackson.

 

Breathitt got its first ever victory, I believe, against Belfry that year on the road. They won 13-6 on a 90-something yard interception return for TD I think. I believe Belfry won the rematch in Jackson by a score of 24-13.

 

Breathitt had a stout defense that season, but they didn't play as well in the playoffs. They beat Russell pretty bad during the regular season, but just squeaked by them in the playoffs the week before the Belfry game.

 

I don't think the location of the game matters much at all. These teams have won at each other's place on multiple occasions, and they've won big games at other tough venues. Winning breeds confidence and these two programs are used to winning. I believe they are prepared to play anywhere.

 

It will come down to whoever plays better Friday night, because I see this matchup as a toss-up.

Past Playoff Meetings

1989 - Belfry 24 Breathitt County 13 (Jackson)

1999 - Breathitt County 47 Belfry 42 (Belfry)

2000 - Breathitt County 28 Belfry 20 (Jackson)

2001 - Belfry 27 Breathitt County 26 (Jackson)

2002 - Breathitt County 21 Belfry 0 (Belfry)

2007 - Belfry 62 Breathitt County 28 (Belfry)

2008 - Breathitt County 14 Belfry 12 (Belfry)

 

Just looking at the playoff games, the road teams have fared alright. Breathitt is 3-1 at Belfry and 1-2 at home.

This should be a dandy as it usually is. I think these 2 teams are pretty darn close from what I can see. Breathitt really has not been tested except for the Hazard game and they really made that game closer than what it should have been by shooting themselves in the foot over and over. I think this game as on the west side with Bell/Central may very well decide who goes to the final. I would love to see an all mountain final with Bell and Breathitt or Belfry. I can't pick against my team in this one and I really feel like they pull it out 28 to 21 or somewhere in that range.

 

Somerset pushed them. They got the ball deep in Bobcat territory several times but came away empty. And, they held Breathitt to its lowest point total, I believe, with 20.

Somerset pushed them. They got the ball deep in Bobcat territory several times but came away empty. And, they held Breathitt to its lowest point total, I believe, with 20.

 

Agreed. That was a closer game than the final score indicated. Somerset had the ball 4th and goal from inside the one yard line late in the 3rd quarter trailing only 14-0. A fumbled snap ended that drive and Breathitt drove the ball down the field for a clinching score.

Agreed. That was a closer game than the final score indicated. Somerset had the ball 4th and goal from inside the one yard line late in the 3rd quarter trailing only 14-0. A fumbled snap ended that drive and Breathitt drove the ball down the field for a clinching score.

 

Absolutely. Hazard was the closest call, but Somerset, IMO, was every bit as tough if not more. Breathitt shot themselves in the foot with TO's, and Hazard to their credit capitalized, and fell behind 27-13 in the first quarter. Hazard's offense did pretty much nothing from that point with their only score after that coming on a kick return.

 

IMO, Somerset went toe-to-toe with Breathitt but just couldn't finish their drives.

Past Playoff Meetings

1989 - Belfry 24 Breathitt County 13 (Jackson)

1999 - Breathitt County 47 Belfry 42 (Belfry)

2000 - Breathitt County 28 Belfry 20 (Jackson)

2001 - Belfry 27 Breathitt County 26 (Jackson)

2002 - Breathitt County 21 Belfry 0 (Belfry)

2007 - Belfry 62 Breathitt County 28 (Belfry)

2008 - Breathitt County 14 Belfry 12 (Belfry)

 

Just looking at the playoff games, the road teams have fared alright. Breathitt is 3-1 at Belfry and 1-2 at home.

That is what I thought and the reason I asked the question. Seems like it is better to play on the road in this series.

Absolutely. Hazard was the closest call, but Somerset, IMO, was every bit as tough if not more. Breathitt shot themselves in the foot with TO's, and Hazard to their credit capitalized, and fell behind 27-13 in the first quarter. Hazard's offense did pretty much nothing from that point with their only score after that coming on a kick return.

 

IMO, Somerset went toe-to-toe with Breathitt but just couldn't finish their drives.

 

I agree completely. I somehow forgot about the Somerset game. This should be a great game.

Past Playoff Meetings

1989 - Belfry 24 Breathitt County 13 (Jackson)

1999 - Breathitt County 47 Belfry 42 (Belfry)

2000 - Breathitt County 28 Belfry 20 (Jackson)

2001 - Belfry 27 Breathitt County 26 (Jackson)

2002 - Breathitt County 21 Belfry 0 (Belfry)

2007 - Belfry 62 Breathitt County 28 (Belfry)

2008 - Breathitt County 14 Belfry 12 (Belfry)

 

Just looking at the playoff games, the road teams have fared alright. Breathitt is 3-1 at Belfry and 1-2 at home.

 

Those scores speak volumes about the matchup. The 2002 game finished 21-0, but was 7-0 with less than 2:00 to go and Belfry had the ball. Back to back Pick 6's set the Final Margin. I will concede Breathitt dominated that game though more than what a 7-0 Final would have suggested...

 

 

5 of the 7 games have been a one possession game at the 2:00 mark of the 4th Quarter. Nearly all of those games came down to either the Final Play of the game or a turnover on the opposition's final drive.

Those scores speak volumes about the matchup. The 2002 game finished 21-0, but was 7-0 with less than 2:00 to go and Belfry had the ball. Back to back Pick 6's set the Final Margin. I will concede Breathitt dominated that game though more than what a 7-0 Final would have suggested...

 

 

5 of the 7 games have been a one possession game at the 2:00 mark of the 4th Quarter. Nearly all of those games came down to either the Final Play of the game or a turnover on the opposition's final drive.

 

My thoughts on the games, if my memory doesn't fail me...

 

1989 - Can't remember a whole lot about it. It wasn't a blowout, but Belfry was the better team and they had control in this game. A disappointing end to what was, I believe, Breathitt's first undefeated season.

 

1999 - This one was a shootout. Belfry had the big kid, Wright I believe, at QB and they opened their offense up. Breathitt had Sperry. I believe he had 573 passing yards, and if I'm not mistaken, something like 7 TD's and 5 or 6 interceptions. This one was a crazy, back and forth game with both teams throwing it all over the field. I seem to recall Sperry throwing a TD pass that was called back due to penalty, then another that was also called back, and then he threw a TD for the third time that finally stood. This one might have been the most entertaining game they've ever played.

 

2000 - I believe this was the phantom TD catch game where Breathitt won on a horrible call by the official.

 

2001 - Belfry rallied from a 26-7 deficit in the second half to win this one.

 

2002 - Worst field I've ever seen. Breathitt got an early score and then completely shut down Belfry's offense to the tune of 61 total yards. Then when Belfry was forced to pass late in the game, the Bobcats tacked on a couple of pick six's. The score was close, but IMO, Breathitt dominated this game on the field. This matchup and the '07 game were the only two times they've met in the playoffs where I would consider one of the two significantly better than the other.

 

2007 - I seem to recall Breathitt bouncing back from an early deficit to make it a close game with just a minute or so to go in the second quarter and then the wheels fell off. Belfry scored 2 or 3 times in a very short time (a couple of minutes) to essentially put this game away.

 

2008 - Belfry spent much of the game in Bobcat territory but could not get the ball in the end zone. Conversely, I believe Breathitt scored TD's on the only two possessions that they crossed into Belfry territory. This one was an upset, IMO. It was one of the gutsiest efforts I've ever seen by Breathitt's defense.

I think your memory is working just fine...exactly how I remember those games.

 

1999 was an absolutely crazy game. Sperry was flinging the ball all around the field...Wright didn't put up the eye popping numbers of Sperry, but Belfry had around 500 yards of offense between the run and the pass. That was one of those games that made you sick to lose, but at the same time made you feel honored to watch it be played.

 

2000's final score confuses me and my memory. This was definitely the controversial TD game, but the 8 point margin has me thrown off. I seem to remember the pass being caught on the last play of the game, but that would mean Breathitt got a 2 point conversion as well? I just remember the replays on Sports OT where the WR blatantly was bobbling the ball a good 4 feet out of bounds. It was a fantastic football game that literally came down to the wire and deserved a better fate than a blown call. I think that was the most evenly matched game aside from this upcoming gem (at least on paper).

 

2001 was all about Daniel Wright. Breathitt jumped on Breathitt early and it looked like a blowout was coming. Wright then made several clutch passes and runs while taking massive shots that got Belfry back in the game. He also had a pair of clutch INT's including the one to ice it at the end. I felt Breathitt was the better team, they just did not execute. 2008 was the karma payback for the 2001 game.

 

2002- You are dead on. As I mentioned, Bretahitt physically manhandled Belfry in the mud and it was a small miracle Belfry had the ball with a chance to win the game. That wasn't a half bad Belfry team either as they had Doug Howard (Soph at the time) and Jonah Caudill in the backfield, but Breathitt was a cut above.

 

2007- If someone was to do an instructional video on Haywood's offense, this game would be the focal point. Belfry was superior in the trenches and early on you could sense Breathitt was hanging on by a thread. Soon Haywood set them up for the outside run, once Breathitt adjusted the FB went crazy, then a young Bobcat team seemingly sensed they were overmatched and then the turnovers came. Breathitt had a very talented team (Fugate brothers and Jade Haddix), but you could tell the Belfry offense simply was a machine that night. That was a very good Belfry team though who I still contend should have won the State Title that season.

 

2008- The opposite of 2001. Belfry, IMO, was about 2 TD's better than Breathitt and could have given Central a run for their money that season. Breathitt out-schemed, out executed, and came up with the big play when they needed it. Belfry had the ball in the redzone and was driving at the end of the game when the normally very consistent QB Andrew Elkins inexplicably "dropped the ball". He literally dropped to pass and just lost the football without any contact. Breathitt earned that win though.

 

 

 

This year I truly see these as polar opposite style teams (Spread vs. Belly, Agrresive D vs. Conservative D), but I think they match up perfectly. Tackling and execution are paramount and will determine this one.