ATLCat

For those not familiar with Belfry's 2024 edition: - They are still primarily what you associate with Belfry. They run the flexbone offense with a Belly basis. Their FB J.J. Austin stirs the drink and has turned into a very good runner. You won't see a ton of exotic looks out of Belfry's run game. They will mix going single tight and double tight. - Belfry blocks a little different than most flexbone based teams. They don't really cut block often. They pull guards, they tag team block, and try to get linemen to the second level to spring big plays. This is a pretty solid OLine with a god bit of experience as most of these guys have been starting since they were Freshmen and Sophomores. Bo Wolford is a very good offensive linemen. - With all that said, this isn't your normal Belfry offense in some ways. They coach to their personnel and the personnel is a little different than most of the teams you are familiar with seeing in the State Finals. There is no dominant Halfback like a Dixon, X Willis, etc. Caudill is very smallish in size but is quick as a housecat and runs harder than his stature. Woolum is going to be that feature back but is only a Sophomore. Much like his brother he is a big threat play in both the running and passing game. Belfry leans heavier into their passing game than year's past as the QB Chase Varney has a big arm and they have some weapons that can catch it. With that said, if Belfry is passing more than 12-13 times it means they are having to do so. An ideal situation is Belfry will pass less than 7 or 8 times and those times will be strategic. - Defensively, Belfry has been a work in progress. They don't have the size or depth of team's past and they are relatively young on defense. This core of players really struggled to get stops last year and that trend continued early in the season. The defense though has seemingly found their stride. Against Rockcastle and Russell they got some big stops, especially in the run game. Hunter Hylton is the unquestioned star of the defense. He is a machine on the field and plays with 110% effort every play and is always at the football. Most of Belfry's success with Johnson begins with Hylton's ability to create penetration or his ability to pursue the ball even to plays on the opposite side of the field. Keaton Deskins and Cayden Varney have both turned into consistently good defenders at their respective spots as well and both will have specific roles this week in being the guys on the 2nd and 3rd level of the defense to combat Johnson. The Belfry defense does have very good quickness and team speed and they have started to show an ability to dial up key big plays when they are most needed. With all that being said, this is an unit as a whole that has been less than stellar at tackling and sometimes their pursuit angles and ability to disengage blocks to get outside has been painfully bad. Even against Rockcastle County, the Pirate defense only allowed 13 points, but Rockcastle consistently was breaking tackles at the LOS or in the backfield. Belfry also has an opportunistic secondary that can create turnovers, but they have also really struggled against capable vertical passing attacks. For all the good Belfry did against limiting the Russell offense, the Devils hit probably four passes over 20+ yards and probably had two more where the receiver was open but the ball couldn't find them. -Special Teams wise there are things to like and things to dislike with Belfry. The PK Nick Savage has been pretty darn consistent all season. Belfry has made some big plays in the return game thanks to the Caudill boys and Woolum including an Eli Caudill return against both Pikeville and Rockcastle that proved huge in setting up scores. Belfry's kickoff and punting game leaves a lot to be desired. They have struggled to consistently pin teams back punting and the average field position on kickoffs is usually probably around the 35 yard line. -Long story short. This won't be a dominant Belfry team like we have seen at times. There have been times in 3A where the only chance teams had to beat Belfry was if Belfry beat themselves. This is certainly not the case and the talent level isn't littered with superstars. They are still relatively young and are improving. They have a little more versatility and are built a little better to overcome deficits. In other words, they are a team fully capable of winning Friday and maybe even the next week, but it will have to come from earning it with effort and good coaching. Union County will match up well. Belfry has seen some good players and athletes but Johnson is probably the best individual offensive player anyone on this roster has seen in game action and that includes Cortez Stone. If the bad tackling and bad angles reappear then it could be a long night for Belfry. Belfry may look similar to Hart County but they run their offense a good bit more differently than Hart. Some of the reasons Union shut Hart down will help them Friday, but the way Belfry uses their FB and the way Belfry blocks will make it a little tougher potentially for the Braves solely from a matchup standpoint.

After watching the video multiple times on Quadruple Coverage and slowing it down to .5 speed, my estimation: 1. The one thing I definitively rule out is he scored a TD. There is no circumstance I can say he had possession across the goalline while not being down. 2. I feel very confident saying both knees were down at the 1 without the ball being over the goal line when the knees touch. 3 I feel somewhat confident that he has possession of the ball when his knees are down. 4. I can only make these estimations slowing it down to .5 speed and even then the video quality is not the best and it is a decent distance away at an inconclusive angle not directly down the goalline. 5. At full speed, which represents what the official would have been observing, It is at best difficult to see and at worst totally inconclusive. 6. As such, do I think after watching it multiple times slowed down to .5 speed that the call the field was correct? No. 7. Do I feel given what the official saw in real time in person that they made a fair and good call? Absolutely. 8. Tough break for Boyle but this was a bang bang play that you have to make a call based off what you see. Seeing a ball that was clearly loose as the result of contact prior to the goal line.. I think the official’s initial decision is hard to question.

On one last note… remember Belfry’s loss to GRC early in the year when Belfry had a three score lead late. If Belfry wins that game that they threw away then it is Union making this trip to Pond Creek instead. Those early season games matter folks.

Union easily can exploit some of Belfry’s biggest weaknesses. The Pirates have struggled tackling and taking good pursuit angles outside the hash marks on defense. On offense the Belfry triple option has been brutal of late. The spacing has been awful, the timing off, and the blocking outside has left a lot to be desired. As a result Belfry has basically been relying on the Fullback and making plays with either the passing game or jet sweeps to generate their offense. The Union team I watched abuse Hart County and their offense can definitely win this game. If the option pitch is not in the Belfry arsenal the Braves have the speed and aggressiveness to limit Belfry on offense and Johnson can bust enough big plays to get Union enough points. Throw in this will be a full day’s journey for Belfry. With all that said, I have to roll with the Pirates. If any staff can remedy their weaknesses enough to give themselves a chance it is this Belfry staff. Haywood knows how to win on Black Friday and they have done it on the road as well. Union can easily win this game and most likely will, but for me I will take Belfry by the slimmest of margins while Johnson continues to make believers of his game despite the loss. Belfry 28-26

Very impressive showing by Union! They left zero doubt and set the tone from the start. Johnson is nasty. Belfry has their work cut out next week. Union will be tough enough to stop but this will be the equivalent of Belfry travelling to Atlanta or Washington DC to play a game.

When was the last time Union reached the Semi's? 2008?

Hats off to Sayre! Olympus has fallen. Very impressive showing.

That is why you play the games! Hats off to CovCath. Streaks are meant to be broken.. tonight a proud program from Park Hills did their community proud!

This was a good and well contested game most of the night. Belfry got a key 3 and out to open the 2nd Half and then JB Woolum made a highlight catch on a jumpball to extend the lead and reclaim all momentum. After another defensive stop, Russell opted to punt but Belfry put a long time consuming drive to put it away. If the score holds up Belfry will make the longest trek in school history and sojourn to Union County. Belfry will have their hands very full. With that said, Haywood knows how to win on the road and knows how to win on Black Friday. Much respect to a very young Russell team that never quite and played their butts off. Russell will be a very tough out in 3A next year.

Load up the yellow buses! Belfry outlasts a game Russell team that never quit. Belfry 40 carries, 227 rushing Varney 6/8 199 yards, 2 Passing TD, 1 Rushing TD 426 Total Yards JJ Austin 26 carries, 189 yards, TD JB Woolum 4 rec, 110 yards, TD Russell 30 carries, 71 yards Hankins 9/11 Passing, 163, TD/INT 234 Total Yards Benge 11 carries, 42 yards, TD

Belfry will make the 7 hour bus trip if this holds up like it should and will most likely do it riding on yellow buses the entire time! Very impressive showing for Union and Belfry will have their hands full and then some.

Streaks are meant to be broken.

FINAL Belfry 35 Russell 17 Pirates about to earn some Delta Sky Miles next week LOL

Interception by Muncy as he makes his second big play of the night. Belfry takes over after the first turnover of the night.

No shame in Russell's game tonight.. just a little too much for the Young Devils. let's see if Russell can finish this off representative of what they have exemplified and put a final nice drive together.

Belfry puts the nail in the coffin. Chase Varney on the 1 yard sneak. Belfry 35 Russell 17 3:29 left in 4th

Pirates 1st and 10 at the 11 With LexCath putting Bell on the ropes, looking likely that Belfry will make the longest trip in school history next week to Union County.

Russell uses their 2nd Timeout. 7:14 Left Belfry 1st and 10 just outside the redzone. Do or die for Russell.. Belfry a TD away from punching their ticket to the Semi's.

7:45 on a moving clock. Belfry driving into Russell territory in typical Belfry fashion.

Sayre about to take the head of the King in 1A! Well played by Sayre!

Russell facing 4th and Long backed up in their territory. Maynard will punt and look for a stop.

Wow! Impressive showing by Union.

JB Woolum makes the play of the game. Varney throws it up and Woolum wins the jump ball at the 6 and then waltzes into the end zone. Belfry 28 Russell 17 11:51 in 3rd

Big time play coming up, 3rd and 6 Belfry. END OF 3RD Belfry 21 Russell 17