TomLandry

Coach Hilton and the Bobcats will head north for this one! Coach Hilton will have to get the V on the road. Bell has its only three home games in the next three games. All others until playoffs will be away!

Pineville is 2-0. Coach Elam has them heading in right direction, possibly toward a winning season. Lots of hard work in offseason. Winning attitude among players. New kicker is 7-7 PAT's and had 2 FG's Friday night.

A side note: Bell's kicker's little brother is kicking for Pineville. My understanding from another thread is that he went there for the band. Coach Elam recruited him out of band last spring. Al Merrick had two field goals Friday night in victory over Berea. He is 7-7 on PAT's as well, I believe. Pineville is 2-0!! Someone said that he broke Pineville record for longest field goal...don't know how long, but forty something, I think.

Coach Hilton has attempted five field goals with Bell's kicker in the first two games! That nearly equals the totals for the past two years (6). Second winningest coach, but changing with the times to give Bell the best chance at a run at the state title! Merrick also has been allowed to kick away on kickoffs. He hooked the first kick of season out of bounds near goal line. Every kick since has landed near back of endzone or beyond. Touchback ratio is 12-13. Exciting football this year in Bobcat country.

I don't believe so. He moved into Bell Co. from out of state in middleschool. I think he came from Kansas? Soccer player. However, I understand that there are Merrick brothers kicking in Bell Co. His younger brother is now kicking for Pineville and was 4-4 PAT's in his first game as Mt. Lions defeated Estill Co. last week! Go figure!

Bell's all-state kicker, Monte Merrick (Class of 2009) had a FG; 4-4 PAT's. He had 5-6 kickoffs sail out of endzone for touchbacks. His only punt pinned Lincoln inside the ten yard line. Most interesting stat: Lincoln had 0 return yardage...in fact, Lincoln never touched the ball on six kickoffs and one punt.

Bell County's all-state kicker, Monte Merrick (Class of 2009) had great opening game against Lincoln County. 4-4 on PAT's; 5-6 touchbacks on kickoffs; 1-3 FG's (misses were from 54 and 58 yards.) Hit several this week from 60 yards in practice. Right opportunity, and Pettrey's record could fall this season. He also had one punt....which pinned Lincoln inside the ten yard line. Best stat....0 return yards all night for Lincoln. They never touched the ball on special teams!

Last week vs. Lincoln Co., The Bobcats running game was in full stride. How will Whitley defend the run? Kyle Nelson can throw the ball effectively. How is Whitley's pass defense. Special Teams came up big for Bell as well. How does the Whitley special teams match up against Bell's kicking and return game?

:banana:

Interesting comment. Surely that is not the mindset of the teams around this region. Schedule a team that will not beat you? Bell schedules teams every year that they believe might beat them, but better prepare them for the playoffs. Rockcastle and other strong programs do the same. It is a shame that teams won't play Bell for those reasons. In recent years the middleschool program has had games cancelled right and left only hours before scheduled, due to fact that Bell was winning by too much over teams the week before! Most times it was after parents and fans had travelled to their place and spent money for their concessions and to support their program. They would not return the favor and Bell's boosters were left without revenue for those games. Not a real good way to approach kids sports. What are we teaching them? Shall we take our ball and go home if we don't get our way. I guarantee you that those programs would NOT have cancelled those games if Bell had been beaten badly the first game!

Agreed! Only Johnson Central is ranked above. Bell gave them everything they wanted and Bell's defense held their running game in check in late season scrimmage game. Granted it was only a scrimmage..BUT...intensity was there...both teams were scoreless in regular series exchanges. Both teams scored a td in the goal line situation staged. And Bell won the kicking game with two field goals. Bell outscored JC 10-7 if you had been keeping a running score. Wish we could play them in regular season.

Last year Bell was young, early in season, and played poorly overall against Whitley. Bell miscues kept Whitley in that game. This year Bell is bigger, stronger, more mature, returning all skill positions. Add to that mix several key freshman and sophomore starters with strength and size. Lincoln Co. found out the 2007 Bobcats are for real. Whitley stands next in the crosshairs on their quest...one game at a time....to another ring for Dudley's Boys.

Film shows that it was from 58 yards and would have tied Aaron Petrey's of Raceland (now Ohio State) state record. Film also reveals a low snap and a hold that never happened! The ball was kicked while flat on the ground! :lol: First game of his junior year.

Bell 27 Lincoln 7

You'e certainly right, I did miss it. Bell's defense held Johnson Central in check in the scrimmage. Two well matched teams. Too bad they don't play this year! I wish both of the Mountain's Top Two teams all the best!

Looks like we will have more than ten! Looking forward to it! Bobcats play an exciting brand of football. See you there! By the way that's our kicker, Merrick on the opening BGP screen pics. Could be a factor in close game.

This should be a great way to start the season. Bell only lost six seniors last year. Every skill player returns. QB is in fourth season as varsity starter. Special teams play is exceptional. The Bobcats have a strong defense. The running game is getting fined tuned. Lots of new talent and size join the Bobcats from the sophomore and freshman groups. Several will see a lot of play time. Bell is still a young team with only about six seniors again this year. Last year's team was sophomore driven in many areas.

Them 'ole Bobcats will find their way....perhaps Lincoln would wish the above...LOL! Should be a great matchup and a terrific start to this year's season for both teams. Look forward to it!

Could be even better! Much 'blides!:thumb:

Thank You!

Can someone tell me how to get to the Death Valley Bowl coming up from Bell County?

Bell Co.-27 Lincoln Co.-7

I agree! Bell will surprise a lot of people this year. They return all their skill players. They have a Sr. QB in his fourth year as varsity starter. Strong, experienced backfield; great special teams. They have added a lot of size and strength in young players that will be tested by playoff time. Lex Cath has to beat Boyle Co. in their district and then play the winner of Rockcastle/Bell district. Winner of this region will be hard pressed not to be favorite for state.

The Bell kicker is only a JUNIOR this year. Ray Guy's ProKicker.com camp ratings for this summer have been finalized for all thirty-two cities. Merrick is ranked 20th in nation for all kicker/punters attending their camps. Their national ranking for the recruiting class (Seniors) of 2008 and the Junior Class of 2008 were posted this week. Merrick is ranked for all juniors: #2 kicker/punter; #2 punter/kickoff specialist; #4 punter; #8 kicker. On another thread someone said that McNutt of Mayfield was best in state and that he attended a Chris Boniol kicking camp in Delaware for a week. Bell's kicker was also at that camp. There were 10 high school kickers and 9 current college kickers at the camp. Merrick won the final day competition hitting 10/11 field goals from thirty-50+ yds.. He then was put up against the college division winner. It is my understanding that the sudden death competiton went several rounds before the college kicker edged Bell's kicker out at 53 yards. Both McNutt and Merrick represented Kentucky well. Other HS kickers were from all over U.S. The kicking game can provide a real edge.

Where are you Log Mountain Boy? Would like to hear your read on last night's scrimmage.