TomLandry

Monte Merrick of Bell Co 15-0 4-a state champ team. Kicked a fifty-two yard punt against Bullitt East to eight yd line. Bell defense scored a safety two plays later. Margin if victory in title game. 2 pts !!!

Anyone who was at the game will tell you that Boyle was very lucky to leave with a victory. Bell County shot themselves in the foot several times. They served this one up to Boyle on silver platter. That is what makes it such a touch loss for these Seniors. Instead of stepping up and making key plays....several times kicks were muffed.....passes dropped wide-open in endzone.....self-inflicted turnovers. Yes, Boyle played a great game and put some pressure on the QB.....but any other night he makes those throws when he has that kind of time...and does not put the ball on the ground like he did tonight. Those were drops and not due to strips or hits. Great, close game, but Bell kept digging out of the holes they dug for themselves...just ran out of time. Had Bell thrown the ball in the first half like they did in the second half.....outcome probably would have been different as well Congratulations to the Rebels. They should bring home the title, but need to beware of the AllenCounty-Scottsville passing game!!

This group of Bobcats are on a mission. One more notch on the belt tonight. Destination Western Kentucky University to finish the quest next week. Bell 28-Boyle 6.

We tried it 2 years ago for 60 yard field goal with Monte Merrick as the kicker.

I looked it up and Merrick's attempt was from 63 yards. He used the kickoff tee which is legal for this kick. It was long enough, but just wide left. Part of the problem as I remember there was the prolonged delay as the officials tried to figure out if they were going to let him do it. Coach Hilton had been made aware of this rule by Merrick's Dad and they were looking for opportunity to use it. Finally after several minutes they let him set up for kick and unfortunately the PA announcer said...."now if he makes this kick it will be a new state record....." probably did not help! LOL! Sure caused some excitement anyway!

Saw in a nice half-page color spread in the Pineville Sun that Al Merrick, younger brother of our kicker Monte from Bell and WKU, had signed with U of Cumberlands. Congratulations!!

Good for Highlands.

 

If they think they are in the right and have the law on their side, pursue it all the way to the end.

 

I always felt the compromise solution with allowing Highlands to play in the finals w/o Mitchell was a cop out. Either he was eligible all along and should have played in the championship game or he was inelgible and Highlands should have forfeited the semi-final game to Bell and Bobcats should have played in the finals.

It was my understanding after an email response to me by the Commissioner that the Appellate Court ruled....on Monday following the Bell game and prior to the weekend championship game....Mitchell ineligible and could not play. The timing was always suspect by the Bobcat faithful....it secured a win at the semi level and putting Highlands in the Championship game....which they could probably...and would win...without Mitchell. I know there are those on here who have said that someone would have stepped up in his place...but he was a special player as his NFL credentials note. His theft from the Bell running back at the end of the game....ran back for a touchdown was an unbelievable play for a high school player. Followed by his last minute score to pull out the victory. Mitchell does not play...Bell wins on the field. Too bad this whole situation happened. I have since watched as several Southeastern Kentucky kids have tried to move in much the same manner....but were denied eligibility.

That really wasn't the case. Considering the RB's you had and the field conditions the coaches should have made adjustments to accommodate that. The Tennessee coaches saw what was going to work by the second quarter and made adjustments. The Kentucky coaches didn't. Raglin runs the opening kickoff back to the 35 and sets up the first Ky td and then you hardly see him on the field again.

 

The kids got to meet and make new friends and it was fun to see some of these kids in action that I had been hearing about all year. The Army Reserves did a tremendous job. It is a great event to promote football. I'm not a football rocket scientist, but even I was frustrated at the play calling. The kids deserved to have every opportunity to win this game and I don't think they were given that. Then again, I was told I'm spoiled from being close to a program that has great coaching.

For those who said we should have run the ball more.....Dudley Hilton of Bell County (Hilton and Greer coached defense, I believe this year) will be the head coach next year. Should solve the run problem!

It isn't mentioned until the prospective player gets their letter in the mail detailing the confirmation process which includes receipt of the $300 fee. I understand defraying the cost but $300 is a little pricey. Perhaps $75 would be easier to swallow. It is an honor but if you don't have the money . . . you just don't have the money. Anyway, maybe they need more sponsors so the fee can be lowered. Otherwise, a lot of players will have to decline the invitation no matter how big of an honor it appears to be. :(

I believe there are restrictions put on by the NCAA as to what recruits can receive, etc. This also applies to All-Star games. There are limits as to how much they can receive. I think that paying for the warmups, rings, etc. let's the Border Bowl provide a classy environment for the players, but stay within guidelines. Perhaps someone can clarify who has firsthand knowledge.

Maybe true except that isn't "my side", that isn't a point I was commenting on or even something I care about one way or another. Hence the reason I stated that Katfish was missing the point when he quoted me and when off on the subject tagent rant.

 

The credibility of the AP team was my point.

 

Park1221 stated:

 

Bell County High School(neither a champion or runner up) places 6 kids as All-Staters while ALL of Jefferson County(24 high schools, including the 6A champion, 6A runner up and 2A runnner up) placed a grand total of 7.

 

Does anyone really believe that there are almost as many kids worthy of all-state in Bell County as there are in Jefferson County? You have to believe that to believe that the AP poll has any credibility.

I honestly think that some of the Bell players were overlooked last year, especially the OL and DL line. Perhaps that body of work, including a championship and another great year made them more noticed this year.

To whomever is interested...Alcoa just won their 6th state title in a row beating Milan 21-0.

Congratulations to Alcoa. Wow, only 21-0 there goes Bell's strength of schedule!!:deadhorse:

Why would you go for two down by 11?

That was my point. Had they not tried the fake and go for two....and kicked the two pat's where they went for two....this game is over in regulation.

I knew that fake PAT would kill them at the end.

The two failed 2-pt. attempts would have had BC kicker ending the game with a win for the second straight week. Got a good kicker. Kick the PAT's!

I don't know about the helmet situation but as far as the pressbox goes. I don't know what you are talking about huge pressbox at Bell have you been in it. The Bell Coaches are standing on a hazard. Most people at Bell would agree that they would love to have a great pressbox.

Good point. I noticed that Boyle's pressbox was four sections...absolutely double the size of the Bell County pressbox. Bell's administration needs to fix this! But Bell has bleachers nearly the same size as the home and just as nice on the visitor's side. Boyle's was equivalent of a lot of 1-A schools in our area.

LOne Oak will have to start making mistakes. They usually don't. Looper has thrown but one interception all year, and they rarely fumble. They have no less than five competent receivers on the field on offense, and Matt Starks is nearly unstoppable running the ball. Defensively, they adjust well, and will wear you down. Good luck if they ever get a 2 TD lead on you. Boyle will have to play an error-free game to win this one. Marion County had virtually no passing attack. Hard to play catch up when all you've got is run, and you're playing against a great run defense. If Boyle has a balanced attack, I think the game's a toss up. All I can say to Boyle, is, don't get overconfident. Lone Oak is MUCH better than what you think.

Bell played a nearly error free game...no turnovers...one penalty....and still lost to this Boyle team. Lone Oak better have a bigger, tougher, defense than Bell's if they are going to stop McShara. Bell could not.

Field goal as time expires and it's good. What a CRAZY game. Only one thing I didn't like about this game and that was the "Bobcat Country" sign hanging on the gate over on the away side. :lol:

 

That said, I've got tons of respect for Bell County. What a tough team. I'm just estatic right now. Enjoy this win Rebs! Can't wait til Bowling Green. :thumb:

WYMT pregame show tonight mentioned that Boyle County has not lost a home playoff game since the late nineties!?? Is that right!?? They also noted that the loss was to Bourbon County.....head Coach Dudley Hilton! Interesting!

OMG already called Dudley and he is calling all the assistants and then they are calling all the boosters to see who did this without authorization.....cancelled the rally and bonfire to deal with it!!! What a distraction at a time like this! This is NOT Bell Co. football.......:ohbrother:

:banana:GOTCHA BACK!!!:banana:

It was a joke on the coaches, nevermind.

OMG already called Dudley and he is calling all the assistants and then they are calling all the boosters to see who did this without authorization.....cancelled the rally and bonfire to deal with it!!! What a distraction at a time like this! This is NOT Bell Co. football.......:ohbrother:

How far was the field goal?

Field goal attempt was 37 yds. and wind was blowing hard. Had plenty of distance, but hooked left. The major factor was the snap was behind the holder..he brought it in , but threw off timing. Add to that the fact that Merrick was out of school nearly all week with flu and just barely cleared to even play; the first string long snapper was hauled off the field by ambulance last week..and did not play. That was a lot of pressure to put on a player snapping for a game the first time ever! As Middlesboro paper said, "just wasn't meant to be. Tough one.....the Senior kicker would probably trade all of his seven field goals this season for that one Senior Night kick!! every kicker's dream or nightmare.....depending on the outcome to hit/miss a game winning field goal. Hope he gets another chance next week.

Who knows..............

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEY!! That's OUR "rural myth" at the Bobcat Hilton on Log Mountain!!! :sssh::ohbrother::deadhorse:

That is great love to see him do well congrats younger Merrick good luck the rest of the season.

Hopefully the field does not take the kickers out of the game. Merrick had only one attempt at Harlan in the mud last year. Harlan won 7-0, but a controversial penalty thrown clear across the field.....brought back the lone Pineville touchdown. Merrick missed his only attempt in terrible field conditions. Pineville's field is hurting with the rain still coming down.

Hard to tell but it appeared the kid recovered the ball with his knee down at which point the play should have been dead. Again, not 100% sure if his knee was down.

 

Interestingly enough the rule would have allowed the kicker to step back and kick it again but the holder would not have been allowed to put his knee down.

The holder can come off the ground and run the ball. He is not considered down until he comes up and goes back down. It looks like he was on the ground picks up the ball....and then advances it. Nothing wrong with that. He is exempt for the first contact with the ground because he is already down when play starts....."fire drill" happens when a bad snap occurs and holder can get up and run! You see that all the time!

I will have to see this to believe it. Wolfe has done an excellent job for us. Is he Merrick's younger brother?

#1 Al Merrick, Senior. Younger brother of our Bobcat All-State Kicker Monte Merrick, now at WKU. 9/9 PAT's and 10/10 kickoff touchbacks against Jenkins... according to today's Pineville Sun....last Friday night in the mud!! All in the first half! 6/8 FG's on the year. Also was named by the paper as the Defensive Player of the Week for forcing Jenkins to start every drive on the twenty.

Bell 70-0

My biggest suprise is not the final score of the Boyle/Johnson Central game, but that their coach is considering not playing us next year at their place.

JC fans have maligned the Bobcat faithful for two years using scrimmages as their basis for comparison to Bell County. Dudley approaches scrimmages differently than JC and their fans. Looks like they have to play Bell and their opponents on the field this season. I wonder if they will have to buy out of a second contract if they lose to Bell this year?