TomLandry

Okay, I get it! My bad!

Not making excuses...but Simpson, who we previously stated was sitting out due to injury, is a 4-year starter at LB and the heart of the run prevent defense. Bell really missed him. Also Carton, another punishing defender....out with broken hand. Both will play Friday evening. Bell is not same team without these two on D.

Do you mean ABOVE them, Leonidas? Not picking...just clarification!

Bell's starters are NOT all hold-backs, thank you. Check your facts before making that kind of statement. In fact, most ARE NOT!!! We have not said that they are no competition. Bell would gladly play Middlesboro and Corbin. Last Corbin-Bell game went down to last-second field goal. Both teams were even better last year. QBs Cashen and Nelson had played together or against each other since grade school. They were denied a great game their senior year by Corbin refusing to play Bell. That's a shame for the kids sake.

I found out that Matt Simpson, the holder is out with injury. Had new snapper. Snapper and holder were struggling on extra point and FG. I think he sprained ankle on FG attempt. Don't think it is too serious. He's never missed a start in four years. One year, I remember he did not kick off due to knee sprain....but kicked extra points left-footed that night! May not be at 100% Friday night, but I bet he'll play!

Anyone know about this one? I don't think he played. Did he?

It appears that he is referring to the EIGHTH GRADE GAME IN 2004!!! Middlesboro beat this year's seniors 12-8..I believe in the first game. Greer was hurt and did not play! Bell did win the championship game that year....the one that really mattered....by about FOUR touchdowns. GOOD GRIEF!! That was middle school. Dudley Hilton had not had these boys for one snap! It is laughable to compare middleschool football with this team! I would say that only about 40% of that group is even on the field today. This is not the same team! Sure any team has a chance....if you want to make that comparison.....in any given game. The team could all have the flu at game time; bus break down...they forfeit..; Coach Hilton forget that we had a game that week.....etc.!! AAHH!! Don't worry, the Bobcats will show for every contest. Let the regular season begin!

I believe their kicker is the younger brother of Bell County's all-state kicker Monte Merrick. Is that right?

Just a couple of observations. Bell did come out flat....BUT they had 25 minutes from the time they arrived until they started! They did not have adequate time to warmup and prepare after that long, hot bus ride. That's why they came out flat and let JC have a couple of quick "big plays." Once they got into things it changed. Another factor was that Matt Simpson sat out due to recovering from previous injury. Matt is 4-yr. starter at LB and the heart of their run prevent defense. They truly missed Simpson. He should be ready for season. Bell's team approached this as a "scrimmage" while I believe JC looked at it more as a game. At least it seems their fans did. Great time was had by all. Pretty even...just like last year. I used to take a lot of grief for our Cowboy preseason record. We lost most of them...BUT we were ready when season came...and were the "last team standing" at the end of the season. Don't be surprised if this Bell team doesn't do just that.

Did anyone get to go and see this one? How did they come out. Did Lynn Camp blow out Pineville as some on here suggested they would?

Anyone know the outcome of this one? How did the two teams look?

Sorry, Doodle....its just that you chose 35 points.....sorry, I could not resist. Remember you beat Bell with a lot of zeros on our end in the two years before!!! LOL! Bobcats wish the Rockets well and look forward to coming to Mt. Vernon in September for a great game as always!

From what we've seen around Bell County this year.....the new Pineville coach has turned things around in the last couple of years. They will always fight numbers and the draw of Bell County for kids....but they are working hard over there. I heard they put in an entire new weight room this off-season.

The Gridorama is really messed up this year. Due to the consolidation of three of the teams (Evarts, Cumberland, Cawood) who normally participate in this scrimmage, into one (Harlan Co.) it has changed the numbers. Bell is also not participating this year due to scrimmaging Johnson Central.....a two-year home-away agreement conflict Friday night. Williamsburg participated regularly at the SEKC gridorama. I also think that the SEKC gridorama is going on at Clay County on Thursday night as well, are they not?

Doodle!....what was the score of the Bell and Rock playoff game last year? Bell is a better team this year and with an offense that is capable of generating a lot of points!

Praying God's peace from Log Mountain and Bell County for friends, family, and teammates.

Last year Pineville's JV which are all now starters....just about....took Lynn Camp "to the woodshed" on their own field! Look for a really good scrimmage!

Merrick is now ranked with Two-Stars and a 5.3 rating on another site that ranks recruits. They have him as the #21 kicker in class of 2009....includes all full-time punters as well.

I believe that they are not participating in the Gridorama this year. Evarts, Cumberland, and Cawood have been consolidated into one team...Harland Co. Bears. Harlan Co. plays Knox Central, I believe, Friday night in Gridorama at Knox Central. I also think Pineville and Lynn Camp play as well there that night. I believe Clay Co. is hosting the other Gridorama site.

Guru put up a link to a story this week on Merrick's college visits and coaches who asked him to come and kick for them. http://www.bluegrasspreps.com/showthread.php?t=157637

He had a 53 yard kick that was dead-center and nearly hit the track. That kick would have cleared easily at 62. Perhaps we will see the state record fall early on in the season!

I thought Tydlaka was recruited primarily as a punter when they had Seber as pk? What year are the KY kickers currently?

Sure is exciting to see how he will do this year. Film was as Junior. He is a lot stronger and seems to be kicking in practice farther than he did last year at this time. I found another link when I went to look at the highlight link. Here it is: I remember this other kick...I believe it was his sophomore year, the last time that Bell played Corbin:

:thumb:

Seber did an incredible job that year. He won the MVP of the defunct City/County. Gave Dudley a vision for what his kicker could do in future. Seber's effectiveness in high school was benefited by the 2 in. block that he used...I believe....and then when he transferred to ground at UK many kickers struggle with that transition. I believe the article said that Merrick kicked off the ground at all these colleges this summer and was hitting over 60 yard fgs. off ground. I also heard that at Lousiville last month working out for Nelson in kicking drills.....was 100% on all fgs with all but one on the chart at dead-center! I think that Merrick has told Coach Ortsmeyer that he would be willing to redshirt at KY and that would allow Lonas to finish out. Good move for the Cats. The only thing I would caution him about is that KY is short on schollys this year anyway....I heard they PULLED a KY kids scholarship offer this week ....??? Sure would be risky to turn others down for a redshirt and then have them change their mind.....and all the other schools having found someone else! I think blue and white is in his blood as a Bobcat....and we all would love to see him stay in Kentucky!