TomLandry

In recent years Bell and Rockcastle have played for the title...both out of District 7. This year, under new format with them meeting in round two, one of them should emerge and take on Johnson Central. It will be interesting to see how that District champ fairs against Rock or Bell.

We will take it though!!

Lurking in the shadows are Dudley's Boys. If Bell Co. plays well Friday against Knox it will set up a rematch at Rockcastle. Bell came within one play of upsetting Rock on their field losing 18-14. Last year Rock beat Bell for Regional title in their second match of season having lost to Bell in the first. Will this year be in reverse? Could Bell pull the upset at Mt. Vernon and take on Johnson Central. Few play these teams as hard come playoff time than Hilton's teams in the past. If Bell could pull these two upsets....AND if the North plays out accordingly would set up the rematch of the "decade!!" Bell Co. vs. Highlands on Log Mountain. A rematch of the "controversial" ineligible player game of two years ago. Some would say this is a longshot....BUT????

Perhaps I inadvertently started this when I mentioned Hilton as the winningest public coach. He is second only to the NCC coach. My understanding is that his son is really the head coach, and he is the "figurehead, so to speak." Coach Emeritus??? Is that true? If so he can keep coaching and winning indefinitely and Hilton, and others will never catch him. You would be hardpressed to do such a thing in a public high school. Correct?

Middlesboro paper yesterday listed Lewis as 16-30 for 139 yds, with Nelson 7-12 for 138 yds. Bell ran for 316 yds on 41 carries. Bragg ran 22 times for 88 yds, Lewis 8 times for 1 yd. for Clay.

Bell is playing well. Two weeks ago Bell shutdown Knox on Senior Night at their house. This week the Panthers come to Log Mountain for the first-round "rematch" in the playoffs. Bell is playing well. Bell's defense is getting better every week. Knox was held to around sixty-five yards of total offense in first game. Bell went back to complete dominant ground-controlled running game at Knox. Will Bell open it up this week and score more? Will Knox Co. be up for the game? What are your predictions?

You cannot exclude Dudley Hilton of Bell Co. He is now the winningest public school coach in Kentucky history, second only to NCC coach. He has averaged nearly ten wins per year for thirty years! He has two state championships.

Bobcats roll into playoffs. Field conditions were muddy. Bell played a "bend don't break pass defense." Lewis never really got on track. The one good drive Clay had would not have happened except for a Nelson throw into crowd that should have been thrown away. INT was near goal line, with Bell ready to score. Clay drove all the way down field and scored, a fourteen point swing. Hard hitting, good coverage. Bell came out a little sluggish in the first half (Senior Night activities, and rain effecting warmups, etc.), but really got on track in second half. Spencer Greer had a big night with nearly 200 yards rushing in the mud! Bell hosts Knox Central in first round of playoffs next week. This will be a rematch of the 22-0 victory last week at KC.

Final.

I received an email from the lady director of KHSAA at that time when I protested the timing. She stated that they (KHSAA) had no control when the court of appeals ruled (the Monday following the semi-finals game). Yet this allowed the player to play until Highlands was assured the finals, and eliminate the possibility of having to forfeit championship game and trophy later by setting him for last game! All season it was pending and ruled on 48 hours after the semi victory. Timing sure seemed suspicious, and is why some Bell. Co. folks tried to get the courts to intervene to not allow Highlands to advance. The ineligible player scored all points against Bell in Highland comeback win on Log Mountain. In this case the coaches, adminstration, etc. knew all season that he was playing under an injuction of court pending KHSAA appeal. Why have an organization as the KHSAA if every time they rule, someone goes to court to overturn their ruling! Ultimately they won their (KHSAA) appeal, but the finals were secured, and all Ft. Thomas had to do was win one game to take home another championship.

A side note FYI: According to Chris Boniol, (former kicker for Dallas Cowboys, Eagles, and Bears) a field goal or PAT is missed if kick is awry, or if blocked. If the holder picks up the ball and runs, it counts as a rush for holder and does not count against the kicking unit (snapper, holder, kicker) as a miss.

Bell 52 Clay 6

In 2005, Rockcastle County beat Bell Co. 21-0 in the Regional Championship on Log Mountain. This was a revenge game for earlier last-second defeat on QB sneak as time expired. Rockcastle fans felt that the Qb did not score. It cost them the District title. The returned with a vengeance. This year's scenario pits a young Bell team returning to Rockcastle where they lost 18-14 to a much larger and older Rockcastle team. If the playoffs go as the seeds predict, Bell could return for a rematch in the second round game at Rockcastle. Should make for a great game.

This article describes the game well. Wayne Mills, is building a great program. He is truly a class act. The future is bright for Knox in spite of the setback last night http://www.thetimestribune.com/sports/local_story_294180035.html

Bell fumbles on first drive, just like last year. The field conditions were not very good. Both sides slipped, etc. Dudley went back to the old "three yards and a cloud of dust (no dust, though tonight LOL). Bell ground out the clock. Few passes, or offense with flair. Nelson dropped the ball as he attempted to throw one of his first passes. Bell did not throw much after that. Hilton was not going to give this game away. I don't know what the plays or time of possession were, but Bell had to dominate in that area. Knox was never in the game, and Bell was not going to turn the ball over any more. None of the new offensive barrage of late. Good old conservative, old-fashioned win in a tough environment. It was Senior Night and the whole county was out to see the upset of Bell. Good win for Bell. Defense was great.

The Bobcats are growing up. Tomorrow night is a chance to make a statement for all those who think this Bell Co. team is not for real. It's time for the younger players to step up. It is time for the leaders to take charge. Kyle Nelson is in his third year starting QB as Junior. Last week he was a near perfect 14-17 passing. Bell Co. had nearly 250 yards of offense both in air and on ground for over 500 yds. total. The Cats defense is playing well. It is time to separate the contenders from the pretenders. The balanced attack of Bell Co. will not keep this game close. Bell Rolls!

Bell County (6-2) travels to the new stadium in Barbourville to meet district rival Knox Central (6-2). Last year's game at Bell was played in the night of unbelievable lightning, bad weather, and long delays. Bell won 26-20. Coach Mills knows Coach Hilton (having coached at Bell with Hilton as asst. coach, I believe) very well. But this was the Hilton of old. "3 yds. and a cloud of dust!" Bell has a new offense this year and is throwing the ball well! Bell's defense led by Auburn bound, Brent Slusher, has been playing well. This should be a great game, but Bell is hitting on all cylinders now. Bell wins this one 34-6. There could be a rematch in the first round of playoffs, depending how things go.

If you look, the comment was that the game played was bad. Do conditions contribute to a bad game? Both teams play in same conditions....BUT...with one being home team....advantage....running-based verses passing offense....advantage.....no kicking game verses strong kicking game.., etc. The elements definitely have an effect on the game when they are thrown in. Unless both teams are mirrored images like Rock and Bell used to be and line up with smash-mouth style football...someone is going to be at disadvantage in such games. Bell should have blown out Leslie....but poor play regardless of the weather was the factor.

This comparison is always a stretch. In the whole of the season Bell has played well. According to Coach Hilton on his radio show last week, considers Leslie to be the worst game played by Bobcats all year (in rain and mud) and Corbin would be a close second. Bell played well against Henry Clay (one of top 4-A teams in KY- 9-0) and if Bobcats had made that controversial first down (poor spot and no measurement!) they run out the clock and maybe score one more time. Clay had to come from behind to win with only 4 minutes in game. That game better defines the true Bobcats. They have not been as consistent as they could be, but are young and learning. The way they held in there and nearly won the Rockcastle game at end shows how they have matured. If they keep up the pace, then they should win the next three games and meet Rockcastle again. They must take each game serious and climb each mountain one at a time. Coach Hilton will have them ready for the playoffs.

Two of his PAT kicks looked strong and true. The other misses, he hooked, but looked like the snap, hold, etc. were off. Probably more difficult for those guys than the kicker to switch to left side with little or no practice! LOL

Coach Hilton indicated in his article in Middlesboro paper yesterday "Monte has a little bit of a knee strain, so we tried to give him some rest...I think he will be alright."

Too bad they don't have this rule in West Virginia....might have stopped the ridiculous new rushing record and all the details listed on other thread!!

I would certainly agree. Since the Middlesboro fans have made it clear that it is the coach's decision not to play Bell..one parent today said," they just felt we were not on the level of competition with Bell...!!" I wonder how they feel now that they have a good team and could give Bell a competitive game. They don't deserve to be ranked ahead on paper when they refuse to play on the field! IMO

Saw one today girl was wearing....Had LEXINGTON in large letters across the front and on back said "A Drinking City with a Football Problem"!!!

Bell Co. wins in ugly fashion. Lot's of turnovers, penalties, etc. Week off of school and modified schedule did not help. Bell's overall offense looked good, but should have scored more points, especially in first half. Bell's kicking game was out of sync with Bell's kicker #11 out with injury. He was 2-4 ....PAT's first season misses because he kicked with left foot! Might be some kind of new record...a "switch-kicker!! LOL Slusher handled the squib kickoffs.