TomLandry

Perry County comes to Log Mountain. They apparently will bring the cold weather with them. Temperatures are predicted to be in the thirties! This could affect the game. Bell Co. is a more diversified attack this year. Passing, kicking, etc. will be impacted by the cold. Bell will need to play well and not take Perry for granted. Bell is coming off a tough game with Rockcastle and must win all three games left to enter playoffs on a roll. Bell's offense must be on track and no turnovers; Bell's defense is playing well, in spite of the yardage gained against them by Rockcastle. Bell in a shutout. 45-0.

The Bell Co. kicker, Merrick, consistently is kicking 50-55 yard FG's in pregame warm-ups. He is said to have hit 57, 58, and 60 yard FG's last spring as Freshman. Since he is only a sophomore, his leg strength should increase over the next two years barring injuries, etc.

Oops!:sssh: Sorry to bring it up, but....I believe you have them reversed.

I don't believe anyone has mentioned the controversial new Connecticut rule against "running up the score" and sanctioning coaches. Doesn't sound as bad when viewed in perspective of this mess. Coaches were to be sanctioned, etc. in Connecticut were they not?

If you look back at my post that is what I said too. The officiating WAS good. What I was pointing out was either the officials did not know or did not see that the line's strategy was to "pin" many of the Bobcat lineman and not allow them to get up. Several said they fought this all night, and the films show it. This is an unusual strategy, and really not necessary when you outweigh the line as much as Rock did. It just was either not noticed or called. Did it make a difference in game? Who knows. We will see next time when it is pointed out and coaches draw it to officials attention. Early in season Bell had several kickoffs allowed to be returned from the endzone by officials who were doing good, but some were unclear of rule and allowed it at first until they were told. Some of these things don't show up in Mountain football as often and maybe they were not aware. Did not mean to criticize the overall officiating and draw the reaction from 3 Wishes. I think "bellflops" fall somewhere in there as well! LOL!

There really wasn't anything wrong with the OFFENSIVE strategy of the Bobcats in this game. Nelson had several "adrenalin" driven passes sail wide or high in first half. The secondary was giving Bell just about anything they wanted all night. Nelson did not start to click until later in game. One good read on a play that had worked six or so times before ended the game, or we have a Bobcat victory. It was the rushing DEFENSIVE strategy that will need to be drastically different. Also the officiating was good, but they allowed Rock's big lineman to hold Bell's inside line down...lying on them...and not allowing them to get up....a holding penalty. Never called all night.

One thing that everyone seems to be forgetting is the 21-0 defeat at Log Mountain in 2005. Rock shutdown the running game of Bell. That was with "blocking backs from last year." This is the first meeting since, and the game plan was to not give up those downs with useless rushing attempts. Better to throw the swing passes, etc. to get around the big line. Everyone seems to forget that if Bell's QB had been throwing the ball in the first half, like he eventually settled down and did in second half, Bell might have won the game. In spite of everything, the plan worked and gave Bell the opportunity to win at end. Only the INT kept the score and this discussion thread from having a whole different look.

I believe #5 Dozier had a good interception on a deep pattern near the Rock sidelines around the 20.

I certainly agree! Ky kickers fared well. Merrick and Popham, I believe are placekicker/punters. They have scores in those areas of Prokicker site. Could not find only kicker ranking for Uminger. Kicker/Punter combo scores ranked Popham 21st and Merrick 43rd. Punter/Kickoff Specialist ranked Popham as 31 and Merrick at 47. It is too bad that weather was a factor in Popham's scores.

I agree. Johnson Central has been beating up on their opponents, but the W-L record of those opponents is suspect. No one has really tested them yet. Scoring at those rates would be easy for Bell and Rockcastle if they played JC's weak schedule. That is one of the reason Bell and Rock are always ready for the playoffs and District 8 stays home.

I have to go with the Bell-Rockcastle game. Last year's game was at Bell. This one is at Rock. Bell won their home game on a QB sneak at the buzzer to come from behind, winning district title and home field advantage for playoffs. Rockcastle has not forgotten that. It is on their turf tomorrow night. Bell is seaking revenge for the 21-0 humiliation at Log Mountain in the playoffs. This is their first meeting since! This game decides District 7 more than likely; playoff home field advantage, and perhaps who will meet Johnson Central (if they win District 8) in Regional Playoffs. Tomorrow nights winner is in the driver's seat. BIG GAME!!!

Bell recently edged Corbin on last-second field goal for the win. This was a first for Coach Hilton in his third-place all-time winning coach victories.

I understand the kid played soccer before moving to Bell around 7th or 8th grade and kicked for Bell Middle School for part of one season. Bell's kicker was a Senior that year. Coach Hilton challenged him to get ready to be the varsity kicker as incoming freshman. My understanding is that he went to former NFL kicker's camp (Chris Boniol.....kicked for my successor, that bushy haired guy, Johnson and owner Jerry...oh, well I won't mention his name). Then he started for Bell last year. This past summer he attended Ray Guy's Prokicker.com camp at Bowling Green. These camps are listed on their website and are in thirty some odd cities. They then rank kickers based on role (kickers; kicker/punter; and punter/kickoff specialist. They train and they have a rating system based on accuracy, distance, and hangtime (big factor in going to next level). According to their website, Merrick is ranked 40-something kicker/punter in nation. All of those ahead of him are class of 2007 and 2008. Shane Popham and some other KY kickers attended their camp. If you compare their stats....Popham is ranked ahead of him shading him in some catagories, but he has better hangtimes than Popham. Should improve a lot with two more years of high school ball.

What a game! Difference in coaches, etc. Bell's kicker has only had five attempts in two years!

Kicking lore I heard around the City/County Bowl. Wynn set the state record by taking some delay of game penalties that backed up the Jackets to the required distance for the new record. (True?) He also used to kick PAT's across the street from "6 Million Dollar Stadium" and once broke the upstairs balcony window(True?). Seems the Bell County kicker, Merrick kicked one that hit the house and landed on same balcony. Bell's kicker is only sophomore! Best is yet to come?

According to KHSAA site: Wynn of Middlesboro had three 50+ yard field goals....52;54; and state record 57. Aaron Pettrey of Raceland also is listed with three: 52;53; and the current record in 2003 against Berea of 58. Hopefully these are up-to-date. Popham's 57 yarder last week would have tied the old record set by Wynn. It is not recorded as of yet.

What about the days of old....??? Was not Paul Hornung, kicker/punter/running back from Kentucky?

I believe that KHSAA rules state that he cannot turn 19 before August 1. Might change with new start of season....but then is eligible for entire school year...all sports.

Down the stretch, as is noted in another post, special teams and defense win the big games. Bell definitely has the edge in these two areas. If the Bobcats can play an error free game, win the turnover ratio, and shut down the Rock running game inside....they slip into Mt. Vernon and out with a W! Bell 27 Rock 6.

Bell Co.'s Air Force ROTC color guard bring the colors in at center field. The band plays the national anthem on the field in support of the color guard. Looks like a special "Veteran's Day" at every game! Great tradition, well done.

Could #32 Brent Slusher waiting across the line have anything to do with that? LOL

Could #32 Brent Slusher waiting across the line have anything to do with that? LOL

Freshman placekicker/kickoff specialist Lonas Seiber(already earned the starting job) from Knoxville Central was one of the top prospects in country. He will be hard to beat out. This is why Tydlaka was recruited as punter IMO.