TomLandry

This is exactly the sentiments that are being looked at this year with the new structure. There is strong support to take only the TOP TWO teams in each district and make the regular season mean something. There are several 0-10 and 1-9 teams in the playoffs because they are from districts with lesser number of teams. Yes, you did just have to play Bell and we did have to go a distance to play. Winning the district now only means that you will get to make a decision on when you play, and that's about it. Makes sense to take advantage of it. How in the world do basketball teams survive in KY with games on Tuesday nights!? Seems like there is travel and school the next day for those?

This is exactly what I was looking for on every kicker available. Thank you! Great year for Tommy, and best wishes in the playoffs!

You certainly misunderstood what I was saying. I was trying to pay a compliment to Tommy. I have seen him kick! What I was saying that in the earlier thread that many of us posted on in first part of the season....I believe that it was called "Best Kickers in the state"...all we did was discuss potential for the season. I was just trying to see where all of these kickers discussed ended up. I was trying to create a spot where teams could brag on their kicker and we could compile some stats to see how they all did at end of regular season. The stats from that one site for those three kickers.....well, most of us do not have anything like that. Unless the kicker is posted on Riherds.com....under point total...then they do not show up anywhere!

McCreary should be grateful that they are in the playoffs and playing someone in their own district. In the old days the fourth team would have to go to another district.....a lot farther than coming to Log Mountain. We all made the trip recently to McCreary and they were gracious hosts.....and all got home late. Would not be a problem if one were not in the playoffs. Playoffs have always been on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday due to the need for officials and the coaches choice. Part of the benefit of winning the regular season is to have some control over your destiny. Home game on Friday night would have pitted Bell/McCreary game against the home playoff games at Middlesboro and Knox Central. Fans in the area will get to see two games now if they choose. Also rain is predicted for Friday! Thursday will be cold, but dry!

Poppa Bear...we must be two of the oldest coaches around LOL.....and I heard a rumor that next year KY was going to have a "trial" period allowing returns from the endzone. Anyone heard anything from KHSAA?

Lexington Catholic's Pumphrey finished with 59 pts. according to Riherds/KHSAA site.

Tommy is a great kid and certainly this is true, but that was the spirit of the early thread....Best Kickers in the State.....but how did they do? Does anyone have his stats for FG's PAT's longest FG, etc for this year? It would be great to see how all the guys discussed earlier ended the regular season going into the playoffs.

Bell Co.'s kicker/punter Monte Merrick finished the regular season with 60 pts. Total of 4 FG's and 48 PAT's. He also had 55 touchbacks! Zero punt return yardage; 40 yd.+ punting average, with longest at 67 yds. Near misses on 58 yd. and 60 yd. FG attempts. Longest field goal in state (I believe) this year-56 yds. against Rockcastle.

According to the Rikerds KHSAA site, Bowling Green's Oldham has 67 pts. 1 FG and 64 PAT's; Bell's kicker Merrick has 60 pts. total of FG's and PAT's. Ryle's kicker Kaufman has 58, and Bathiany of Highlands has 56 at the end of regular season. Other good kickers may have more, but are not listed. With a ten game schedule....and 6 pts. per game average required for the posting....Oldham and Merrick qualify. Others are still posted if they are close. Several are way below the radar and don't show up. One could have ten FG's and 30 pts. and not appear. How many points have your kickers scored? How many FG's. No where else can one find out this info.

Early in the year there was a great post that indicated that the kicking game was becoming a much bigger part of KY high school football. Several kickers were listed and their value to the team. Playoff time has come and these kickers will prove invaluable to a championship run. How did your kicker do? What were the FG numbers? Distances? Punting averages, etc. There really is not a place to to find this out. KHSAA site lists some of the kickers if they scored enough points. Otherwise they could have 10 FG's and not be listed! Did your kicker have a good season?

:thumb:

Bell lost Corbin from their schedule....an annual affair. Corbin is having a great year. My understanding is that a Belfry game was in the works at one time....and a Cincinnatti team of high caliber. Both did not work out with conflicts. Bell scrambled to fill their schedule. District teams were set. Whitley should have had, if you listen to Whitley posters, a much better season. The Tennessee team and Tates Creek were added to have games. Dudley always tries to have tough opponents....that is one reason they are undefeated this season....and ususally have a couple of losses to bigger, stronger teams in non-district play. Hopefully, Bell is ready for the test. They have only trailed at two times in whole season. Opponents have 0 return yardage on punts for season! Bell's kicker has several field goals, one near a state record of 56 yards, and had 55 touchbacks on kickoffs for the regular season. Greer is getting stronger every game. Nelson has really be on with his passes with near perfect games in the last few outings. Bobcats defense has allowed only one TD per game average for season. I believe that this young team is maturing and ready for the playoffs. Let's see how they do against "tougher" competion.

Losing Kyle Nelson to a concussion was the factor. Yes, Zachary did a good job in replacement, but remember what this scenario really brings. Not only do you lose your QB, but Zachary is the go-to guy as WR. Nelson was on his game in first half. Also Kyle is one of the hardest hitters on the Bobcat defense. I believe that a defensive hit in first-half on the hard turf started the problem....only went down on hit later in game. Also...someone said don't cry about officiating....TC got bad calls too? How many TD's did they have called back with flags thrown AFTER the play was well on its way or over for TD! Bell had TWO!! Officials had to have several "hen-parties" to try and figure out the calls. Spencer Greer's TD run after a near dead-ball punt was superb. I believe they finally called him for a personal foul for pushing the guy so he could pick up the LIVE ball! Someone said that they flagged the bench for coming on to the field....problem was there was no whistle blown...so ball was in play and Greer made a great move that caught everybody off guard. Either way officials let the whole thing play out....since there was not whistle....should have been no call....and a TD. Don't remember the Bell Co. fans ever getting as verbal and upset as they were over that TD being called back! Point is that this game could have easily have been the similar score of Lex Catholic that one "hypothetically" predicts. TC played well for first half. Senior night sometimes brings that out. But, had Nelson played rest of game, I believe that Bell would have gone to air more and Bell would have scored a lot more points. Instead, with Kyle down, Dudley played it close to the vest....and ground out the clock for the win. Remember its the final score....not the margin...that makes the W. Thats why he has over 300 wins!

One must not forget that in that game, which Bell should have won, Bell was winning with about four minutes to go. This that a much stronger Henry Clay team and a very young sophomore driven Bobcat bunch. Bell got a horrible 4th down spot...and official refused to measure....which is my understanding that a coach can call for one anytime.....and gave HC the ball. Give Dudley that lead with that time left...and handing off seems real appropriate. Get that first down and Bell would have run out the clock and Minnefield would not have had the opportunity to line up for direct snap and single-handedly rescue the HC win. Tremendous athlete!

Bell County fans have been great this year. Bell Co. fan numbers have rivaled the home teams attendance in our last two outings at McCreary Central and Leslie Co. where they are having tough years. Pretty good for the distance they have to travel. Look for a great caravan heading north to Lexington tomorrow night to see the Bobcats take on Tates Creek. Let's cheer the Bobcats on to victory and a perfect 10-0 regular season finish!

I believe I saw a special insert in the Middlesboro Daily News recently that the Yellowjackets had achieved their 600th win. I believe that Coach Roark has been their for their 500th and 600th victories. Can someone verify this? Did I see it correctly?

Bell County went to Sheldon Clark and held the number one rusher in state Dials to a little over 100 yards. He was averaging over 250 yards per game. The varsity held him to around 80 yards. One long run and the rest of his yardage was against JV and eventually Freshman teams. Bell's defense has held their opponents to 61 points in 9 games...just about one TD per game! In special teams play.....Bell's kicker has fifty touchbacks in the nine games! And even though Bell rarely punts...I think he is averaging well over forty yards per punt...with one 57 and one 66 against #3 in state Rockcastle at the time. I believe that opponents have 0 return yardage on punts this season. He also hit a 56-yard field goal against Rock. Bell features a QB in his fourth year as a starter. Bell has added a strong passing game to their power running game. One recent game had nine different ball carriers with rushing yardage! Bell may not have played as strong a schedule that they have in recent years, but due to realignment, this was about as good as they could get. They beat a really good Lincoln Co. team. Sheldon Clark is a good team. Bell has not really been tested. This should be a good barometer of Bell's playoff potential.

My understanding from post on another thread is that it was the backup kicker who hit the field goal. Did their starter get injured?

Someone on another thread said to watch "for LTC to beat Bell Co." The Bobcats leave Log Mountain and head to the "big city" on Friday to take on Tates Creek. Bell Co. comes in undefeated at 9-0. How will the 4-A Bobcats match up with 6-A Tates Creek? Can Bell's defense shut down the running game of Tates Creek and their all-star running back? How is TC's defense? How are their special teams? Bell's kicking game has led to great field position all season. How does TC match up? Who wins?

What's the deal with the points....don't hear anyother district talking about this? Is this a tie-breaker or what?

Bell could have scored 100 points tonight. The second half was JV and mostly Freshman. Coach Hilton expressed his gratitude that Leslie would schedule Bell in their region...when others such as Middlesboro and Corbin would no longer play Bell. He pulled starters early on. Coach Hilton only gave the kicker a shot at the state record. He had hit several from 58 in warmups which would tie record. Ball was punted to Bell....it was downed at the spot for a 60 yd. kick. Merrick hit a 56 yarder against Rockcastle.....but he had had numerous pat's and 8 kickoffs. ..looked like caught some turf on his swing (sounds like my driver!)..the kick gave the ball right back to Leslie on the twenty for their guys to have another opportunity to score. Dustin Wynn set the record after a couple of delay of game penalties to back him up in 1997, I believe it has been said. At least this was a real game situation, not contrived. This was called on first down to give the kid a shot and to give ball right back to Leslie if he missed. He did not hit it well and it fell short for a touchback. This was not about showing up Leslie...or scoring. Bell has passed up numerous field goal opportunities in second half of several of these type of games this year. If it appeared classless.....then I'm certain that was never the intent.

I certainly agree! They are really good pics! Spencer Greer is becoming one of the top runners in the state. Bell's kicker, Monte Merrik is certainly getting some notice and recognition around the country. Wide Receiver, Chase Ely is getter better every week. All three are JUNIORS! Bell is on a roll and hopefully on a mission one game at a time to the first 4-A championship.

Bell Co. goes North to Lexington to take on Tates Creek. Bell could be 9-0 after a victory tonight over Leslie Co.

Bell County sends prayers and thoughts.