TomLandry

Special teams play can be a real determining factor as we approach the last half of the season and move toward the playoffs. How has your special teams play (kicking game; returns, etc.) been this year? What has been the impact on game outcomes, and how do you see it affecting the final games? Who are some of the standout players on special teams?

Coach Hilton is now in third place, I believe with 288 wins!

There seemed to be a renewed "hunger" that had been missing the last couple of games. The defense continues to play well. Special teams play has been good. Lots of touchbacks and deep field position for opponents. Punter is averaging 47 yds. on eight punts! Several pinning opponents inside twenty. Now the offense is back on track. I like the Bobcats chances against Rockcastle. It will take a near perfect game to beat Rock at their house. If the Bobcats play like they did Friday night, they will come away with a big win and another potential district championship!

You are way off target! If you could see Slusher's work ethic, and day to day routine....he is definitely a D-1 player. I worked with a college team who won a national championship....10 players went on to NFL careers....Slusher could have matched up with many of them. This kid went out, because recruiters are not coming to Mountains that much, and attended some key combines. At these combines he showed the talent that many times he does not get to show at Bell due to their offense and defensive schemes. Bell rarely throws to him at tight end as well!! He is an all-around team player. Slusher's performances at national levels of competition is what won him his scholarship offers.

Three points.....in this close a game the kicking game will be a factor. Who wins the kicking game, Bell or Rock??

After reading several Middlesboro and Corbin threads in recent day, it seems that the very things they are decrying about their programs, are the things that make Bell County strong. Discipline; a strong off-season weight and conditioning program; strong coaching staff; kids lined up to take positions of anyone that did not hustle, etc. [Last two weeks, Dudley has benched some starters for a period of time, to let others who were more "hungry" have a shot. Several of them produced! Also the starters got fired back up and motivated. They appreciated what they lost.] Last night's performance by the offense and defense showed the result of the coaches challenge this week. They had to step up at a critical time in the season and they did. Nelson was perfect 10-10 passing! T.R. was running like the TR of old before the Corbin debaucle. Bell has turned a corner at the right time. They go to Mt. Vernon to meet Rockcastle next Friday. It will be a shame for the programs in the area. As the Bell County AD, I imagine you will see Bell refuse to play Corbin, and Middlesboro in other sports as well. It is unfortunate that people want to blame a coach for their own problems. Others have mentioned people coercing players to leave Bell for other programs. Without going into specifics and breaking thread rules.....it has and does happen. People criticized coaches for advising TR to stay at Bell. TR would not have had as good a chance of playing college at a higher level if he left Bell. Cashen's pass driven offense would overshadow his talents. Also because his was "not" a true move.....he would had to sit out a year. I believe this is what happened and the ruling of KHSAA was the reason he decided to return. Other players have been encouraged (even by coaches) and I won't say which school of the two, have been involved in encouraging transfers. Just like the "watering down" of the Bell field when they have put a tarp on it.....people will believe what they want to about the Bobcat Hilton. Unfortunately, jealousy and envy, replace hard work on behalf of players and coaches. Bell County players hit the weight room with a vengeances, and the coaches hit the films....the very next day after the Rockcastle loss in the playoffs last year. Friday night a much smaller, younger Bell team will take on Rockcastle in their own lair. Will heart and determination beat size and home field advantage? Should be a great game and wonderful night for Mountain Football. Bell County moves on. Corbin and Middlesboro programs will be the losers.

Bell County offense decides to show up tonight in a big way. Kyle Nelson was 10-10 passing for 195 yards and 4 TD's. Bell's running game was on track. Special teams play was good. The defense played another strong game. A big win for Bell with Rockcastle coming next week.

Bell County has several key sophomore starters (some in second year starting varsity). Shawnta Zachary, WR already getting making "circus" catches; Spencer Greer TB and return man....punt return last week for only Bell score for TD; Tyler Harbin; FB Matt Simpson; placekicker/punter Monty Merrick, whose last second field goal edged Corbin...40+ yard punt average; only one PAT blocked no misses, 2-2 FG and 90% touchback on kickoffs.

Slusher will go to Auburn and he will definitely play. His speed and size are consistent for D-1. He is also being recruited primarily for tight end at Auburn, something that no one has mentioned. His vertical leap of 38 inches for a player his size opened a lot of recruiters eyes at major combines across the country last year. He went out and perfomed for these coaches. That's what you have to do to get noticed. Two weeks ago Slusher intercepted a pass, unlike any I had ever seen a high school or college player do. He leaped high into the air, turned nearly sideways, on a pass that was to go way beyond him and snatched it out of the air. It took incredible leaping ability, tremendous strength, and unbelievable hands to pull that one off. Check out the films!

Field conditions against Leslie certainly affected the offense. It took the kicker out of game as well, not going for field goal, etc couple of times due to conditions. Leslie is a better team than most credit them, it was at their house, and they played solid defense. Bell made turnovers that cost them. This has been the story all season. Bell is young. Young teams make mistakes in first half of season. Look for Bell to overcome these mistakes and their new offense to solidify midseason. They could be a real force come playoffs. Corbin played Rockcastle to nearly a tie. They are much better than their record and always a strong opponent for Bell. The Corbin game came down to a field goal, but Bell had two key turnovers that led to the fourteen points that Corbin had in second-half. Each time they were inside the ten yard line and ready to score when they turned the ball over. Bottom line is they still find ways to win. A good game against Madison Southern will get them ready for Rockcastle, but the weather again could be a factor in KY on Friday night. It's Bell homecoming and I believe they will be ready to make a statement.

Madison Southern comes to Log Mountain for Bell Homecoming. Last year's matchup at Berea was a late comeback for Bell to win 21-17. The second round of playoffs matched the two again. Bell dominated from the first drive to win 38-7. MS played Knox Central close last week. What kind of team are they bringing this year?

Bell County features T.R. Christopher (2008) and Spencer Greer (2009). Matt Simpson(2009) is a strong young fullback. Add to the mix several carries at FB by Brent Slusher (D-1-Auburn commit at TE and LB). Stronger backfield than their line this year, but young line is getting better.

Shanta Zachary is emerging as a real factor in Bell County's new offense. He has made several "highlight" reel type catches in clutch situations. Started as a freshman when Whittaker left team last year. Only a Sophomore!

With minutes left in the game with Bell County, Minnefield took over. HC put him in the shotgun formation as quarterback and he ran!! Brought HC back from defeat (Bell led whole game until 4:40 left in fourth quarter) and scored two quick tds to put game away.

The Bell-Corbin game was decided by Bell's Sophomore kicker Monte Merrick's FG with no time remaining Friday night. How many times has that happened in recent history in Mountains? Coach Hilton was quoted in paper that in his 286 career wins, it was a first for him. How about other memorable last second wins by FG's in KY football?

Thank you! What an exciting game. :banana: Bell turnovers made the game closer, but Corbin took advantage of two key ones and turned them into 14 points. Corbin is a much better team than their record. They will get better from these first games, as last year and contend for title. Great atmosphere and sportmanship between the two sets of fans. Too bad that the series is ending. Still cannot understand why Corbin is dropping Bell from their schedule. A great tradition is lost and a true test each season prior to district will be missed.:dancingpa

Looks like I got it right on this one. Times-Tribune headlines read, : Bell's Merrick Kicks Game Winning FG as Time Expires! The importance of the kicking game is becoming more obvious to Mountain teams. Bell controlled field position all night with the kicking game, and iced the cake with a walk-off FG as time expired. Congratulations, Bobcats! Great game!

Many high school soccer-style kickers use the one inch tee already. I don't know about Popham, but the Bell Co. kicker has always used the one inch tee. This is more what they are used to (kicking off ground) in soccer. It also helps them adjust to the new NCAA rule for kickoffs. Most use the one-inch block for field goals and PATs as well, in order to adjust more easily to the "no tee rule" in NCAA.

Popham is a great kicker. He is highly ranked on Prokicker.com camp rankings nationally as #21 kicker/punter combo. Bell's kicker, Merrick, is ranked not too far behind him with fairly comparable numbers 43rd overall (#1 Class of 2009). Popham is a senior. Merrick is a sophomore in his second year as varsity starter. Bell, unlike most mountain teams, has established the kicking game. This will surely prove to be an advantage come Rockcastle and playoff time. Popham and Merrick both have strong hangtimes. College recruiters look for touchbacks WITH hangtimes, not just drilled into endzone. Even if returns were allowed as in D-1 ball, these guys have long, high kicks. Pophams average distance at camp for kickoffs was around 65 yards with 70 yards the longest. Merricks longest was 68, at time a new Kentucky camper record for Prokicker, only to be broken later this summer by Popham. Merrick's distance was shorter, but his hangtimes were longer than Pophams. The kicking game is an exciting part of football. Just ask Bobby Bowden, or Payton Manning, and other great players and coaches whose fate rode on the foot of a kicker on a Saturday or Sunday!

I don't know...but all the squib kicks we have seen in the mountains with the ball bouncing through the mud and players dogpiling....that's not real exciting either!

You must not have been at the Bell County game last week! The referee allowed the first Bell opening kickoff to be returned out of the endzone. This has happened before. Seems the refs don't see it that much in the mountains and caught them off guard. Bell's kicker, a former soccer player, then kicked 7 more caught in endzone in air for touchbacks that were not returnable!

It appeared that Middlesboro BOE took action to fix that problem, but recent comments by Bell Co. coach on radio, leads us to believe that Middlesboro vs. Bell will not be on in 2007. For years Bell took a pounding from Middlesboro (who I believe still owns the series) before the stronger Bell years. Ironically, the best Middlesboro team in years leaves the field after a two year run this year...without playing Bell. Corbin vs. Bell is always a great game and a great tradition. It would be a shame to see it end. Especially for all the wrong reasons.

This should be a good game. Corbin played Rockcastle to 2-0 defensive struggle. Bell's defense should shut down Corbin offense. Cashen may complete passes, but Bell allowed Whitley to throw, but never for more than ten yards. If the game is close, the Bell kicking game should be an advantage. Bell's new diversified offense is getting better each week. Look for D-1, Auburn-bound, Brent Slusher to have a big game on offense, as well as defense. TR Christopher had hip injury last week against Letcher. Should be interesting with his "return" to Corbin.

This should be a good game. Corbin played Rockcastle to 2-0 defensive struggle. Bell's defense should shut down Corbin offense. Cashen may complete passes, but Bell allowed Whitley to throw, but never for more than ten yards. If the game is close, the Bell kicking game should be an advantage. Bell's new diversified offense is getting better each week. Look for D-1, Auburn-bound, Brent Slusher to have a big game on offense, as well as defense. TR Christopher had hip injury last week against Letcher. Should be interesting with his "return" to Corbin.

A vote should go to District 7-AAA. Rockcastle and Bell County are two of strongest teams in Mountains. Clay County passing game is getting them notice as well.