Brewsky

Freakin awesome.

Go Pirates! I love this stuff. God I wish I could be there.

It was a good year IMO. Ashland return Mahon and Thomas do they not? If they are solid in the trenches, they will be good next year.

Ok... I am done. I have said my peace. I wish the Panther faithful a productive offseason. I only route against Pikeville one time a year. Good luck Hazard. Do the mountains proud!

I want this game bad. I know Haywood does too. I believe a "business as usual" approach has done Belfry well. Haywood has always kept his boys even keel and its paid off. But IMO, this week we need the leadership that coach showed in 03. I am just one man. But I want Coach to "preach" a little bit and call upon these kids to reach beyond what they think they ever could. If Belfry does that, they win this game.

Windex Man I hope the fans see it on Friday. I know it looked cheesy, but there was just something about the mindset of that 03 team that last year's and even the 04 team did not have. I know Haywood loves this stuff. I want to see him as intense as possible come Friday. I won't be able to attend, but I know that if he brings that fire, the kids and ultimately the fans will respond. This Belfry team is good, but they need that little bit of magic IMO.

Comon guys, as an outsider, I have NO IDEA what this thread is about. Is Boone changing coaches? Offensive scheme? Etc?

Watusi, If my posts are out of line, I apoligize. I feel for the Pikeville fans. First of all. I haven't said it so congrats Hazard. Be proud of the victory and best of luck. I have no agenda. I REALLY do like and respect coach Jackson, but I just have to scratch my head over this game and wonder if it really is the offensive scheme. If the topic is more appropriate for a new thread, perhaps we should create one.

If nothing else I think Belfry has an edge in coaching. Haywood was the underdog in 03', went to Middlesboro (then ranked #1) and blanked the Jackets. Middlesboro outgained Belfry in that game. Middlesboro won the "look" test in pregame. But Haywood has his kids believe in assignment football. That 03' team was truly something to watch. IMO that was the year Haywood really came into his own. He had a couple great tailbacks, but more importantly, that team just had that belief. Will we see Belfry join hands, really feel the brotherhood, and sprint together to midfield this Friday night?

BRJB, As a close/but still outside observer, I just don't know what to think of the current direction of Pikeville football. My father and I left Hillard Howard Field and drove back to Pond Creek earlier this year. Luckily it was one of the games I got to see. I saw a lot of good things out of the Panthers and frankly a fair share that I considered bad. I believe going into the game that Pikeville just wasn't big enough on the line or tuff enough to play good hardnosed ball with a team like Belfry. I was proven wrong. Thus the dilema. I think CoachJ really made his team believe and got them AS prepared as humanly possible for that game. That IMO was awesome. I saw an intensity that bordered on rage from the coach, and I liked that too. Earlier in the year, when Jackson was under criticism for his offense, I asked the coach if he would consider changing his offensive scheme. He basically laughed it off. I have to respect him for standing up for his principle beliefs, but I think Pikeville fans deserve a coach who puts the team first.

It does seem like Lawrence Co loses a couple of their best players every year to transfer. That signals that something may be fundamentally wrong IMO.

I'll just ask it. How many Pikeville fans would have honestly rather seen their boy running a Haywood/Howard style offense this season? If they did my guess is, they are still playing come friday and IF discliplined enough would march on to the semi's.

I think Belfry needs a superior effort from its front 5 to win this game. Sutherland, Burton, Hickman, Steele, Lee, Bowens, etc need to come like they have never come before or IMO Belfry will lose. The front 5 has to win the LOS because Belfry's back 6 is not quite as athletic as Middlesboro's skill guys.

LOL... funny enough, I seem to remember Mayo running the wishbone. I HONESTLY think Pikeville would have been a VERY good wishbone team this year. With Honaker at Qb, the other Honaker and Harmon at TB, and some other kid at fullback, Pikeville would have been tough to stop.

Chapman? Really? I would have thought Panther fans were happy to see him go after the fiasco that went on while he was there. Didn't he degrade a kid so severely it cost him his job?

I am very worried about Middlesboro's athleticism. Last season the same kids looked pretty good on offense, but the Jackets just had no answer for the big play on behalf of Belfry. I assume Middlesboro's skill guys have gotten even better and arguable Belfry is a step slower than last season. We will see how it all plays out Friday. In the spirit of the recent elections, this one is "too close to call!"

In response to the underdog issue. I think this game is basically a push. Middlesboro is ranked ahead of Belfry but both teams are highly ranked. The home field advantage for the Pirates make it a dead heat IMO.

Just wanted to clarify my earlier post. I REALLY did think X or T would pull for one another simply because of the common bond the two institutions share, Catholicism. :confused:

Royce Mayo?

I hear the word great being used to describe Belfry's Qb. I wouldn't go nearly that far, but he has done a nice job this season.

I would think good Catholics would pull for other good Catholics.

Meade Co. could be a feel good story advancing to the semi's.

I agree that is that is tough to play in Flatwoods, but the matchups make me believe it will be a competitive game, and NOT a blowout. If Russell blows Corbin away, then Mercer Co. IMO is not the favorite!

Look for Danville to roll.

I don't get out west, but I think Trigg could slow down the beast that is Mercer Co. on the ground better. Trigg kinda has a reputation as being a choaking team. 2 of my best friends are from Trigg, so I will route for them. Trigg 21 O-Cath 14