TomLandry

Not the top programs! They usually reserve a scholarship for a punter or kicker in each recruiting class.

If that is so, then enlighten us all!

Scrimmage was against Lee County school, Thomas Walker. Pineville scored two touchdowns and converted both extra points. TW missed their only attempt at PAT; they also missed on field goal attempt. 14-6 Pineville. Pineville looked good on offense; defense gave up a lot of yards....bent, but did not break...not allowing scoring. But its a scrimmage so hard to determine a whole lot. Don't know how strong TW is this year.

Check out the Corbin vs. Bell and Middlesboro vs. Bell....my understanding is that they both still "own" Bell when it comes to the series W-L records. Bell was their "doormat" for a long while....and then when the tables turned in recent years.....they "took their ball and went home!" LOL!

Bell County's kicker Merrick is one of the top ranked kicker/punters in country. He was on the early top "25 Watch List" by one rating system first time I could remember a kicker being on that. He is ranked 5 star and has been recruited actively by over 20 D-1 programs. I believe his Dad said that they had kicked for coaches this summer at about 10 of those schools. Heard he was going to Tennessee tomorrow for third visit. You are right....kickers can be highly recruited and no one seems to notice. Especially when they don't hale from Louisville or Lexington.

And I believe the semi's come south this year....thus a rematch on the Log Mountain field but for all the marbles and a chance to play for the title!

Sure it will be! How did this work out? Seems really fair that the games were moved to Lawrence. LOL! Aren't neutral sites supposed to be scheduled at beginning of year? KHSAA site does not list Lawrence as the scheduled site. Were they not supposed to be at Pikeville? What gives?

I believe that game is set for 7:00 p.m.

Usually don't comment on baseball...but could not help it this time. I saw Bell and Middlesboro play twice this year. The previous game was at Middlesboro and was ended on the "10-run" lead rule....a blowout. Everyone wants to comment on the officiating. I believe that the three officials really hurts....they are not used to working together and were out of position and missed some key calls on the base path. Should stay with umpire groups from regular season. Let's not forget that the worst call of the day was a third strike at the knees....where it was called at least five other times in the game as a strike.....when Spencer Greer strikes out the batter in the second, I believe, inning. Middlesboro gets a walk...errors, etc. and five batters later....have their only two runs! He gets that call and all the other discussions are for nothing!!!

Prayers for him and his family from Log Mountain!

Perhaps it could be a "glorified" scrimmage that would be a real game situation in the week prior to the season, but with the results not counting except for bragging rights. Great way to kick off the season, but would eliminate problems with scheduling and would only impact these few teams.

This combined with the tragic drowning deaths of two Powell County football players....resulting in the loss of three Kentucky Prep athletes this week! Our prayers go out from Bell County to all their families.

Would not underclassmen be on the all district team? If so, I don't think that would be allowed. Only seniors can compete in postseason all-star competition according to state and and national high school rules. I believe that underclassmen could lose eligibility. Can someone clarify?

I agree, Leonidas. Bell County's numbers have been low the last couple of years, forcing the playing of freshmen and sophomores in greater numbers. However, there is a ripple effect. This year's Bell team will feature at least three seniors who are four-year starters, and several who are three-year starters. Add to that the number of talented freshman who started last year, along with the undefeated freshman and sophomore teams....the Bobcats numbers should improve. Older players got to play early and have stayed. Walk the halls any day at Bell and you will see many boys who are much larger than the Bell linemen.....but certainly do not want to pay the price in the weight room. Bell will have a strong, quick, and experienced team. Last year they slipped up against Lexington Catholic (numbers played a huge factor...since LC dressed nearly 100 players to Bell's 38). Catholic has to replace 35 Seniors....Bell loses 6. Should be a great season for Bell football and the continuation of the Bell-Rockcastle tradition. I look for the added tradition of facing PARKEY and LARKEY after next season. Rockcastle will never be overlooked by Bobcats......but we lost two games in 2006 on their field.....and this year we would like to win at Rock and then host playoffs again. Bell could have seven straight home games going into Regional Championship next year if they make it that far. Far cry from the 5 straight away games going into last year's playoff. We at Bell County wish Coach Parkey a great season (with a couple of exceptions! LOL!) in 2008!

Dudley Hilton is also so at Bell County. He was offered the Harlan County job, but turned it down. He has a son now who is a Bobcat, and some of the best Bell teams to come along in the next few years.

It sure was unfair for McCreary Central, whom Bell had defeated two weeks earlier 63-0 on their own field to travel to Log Mountain to be defeated in their first ever playoff game 72-0. Bell did not play their starting QB in game and freshman and sophomores abounded the entire game along with running clock. McCreary did not bring very many fans considering it was their first EVER playoff game, I understand. Cross district play at least provides some variety in schedule.

I believe that Bell County fans have mixed emotions. We love the rivalry between Rockcastle and Bell that has emerged between Hilton and Larkey. Take either one out of the mix and it changes things. Bell and Rockcastle will continue their rivalry that Larkey initiated. Bell will certainly begin a new rivalry with their neighbor school in Harlan County. This will provide a strong non-district game within the region. This also will be a large school and give Bell some real competition and certainly help their strength of schedule critics. Rumor has it that Bell and Harlan Black Bears will meet in the scrimmage of the SEKC Gridorama 2008. Since all the component schools were members of the SEKC, only makes sense that Harlan County will take their place. Anyone know more about this? With the absence of Middlesboro and Corbin rivalries....Harlan County will fill a great vacuum...and what better way to kick off this rivalry than to bring in the rival coach and pair him once again against his old adversary, who himself recently turned down the job! Great for SE Kentucky football. If it is true....????

Raider....sorry about Larkey if that is true....I went on the site and clicked on top recruits. There the list of ratings is. Merrick was one of ten who had 5-star recruiting rating by Nike camp, and is #6 in nation and top kicker/punter on that list. The other list of "The Top Twelve" is alphabetical and not by rank it would seem.

Congratulations to Merrick! Special teams were a big part of the Bobcats success this past season. All of us on Log Mountain look forward to his fourth and final year as a Bobcat starter. He came close to breaking the state field goal distance record last year with near misses from 58, 59, and 60 yards. He made the one with plenty of room to spare against Rockcastle from 56 in September. Hope he sets the record this year. Let's also hope he gets a chance to kick in the Pizza Box come December.....or have they pushed the playoffs this year clear back into January? LOL!:dancingpa

Bell Co. kicker, Monte Merrick had a great event at the Nike National Kicking Event. It was attended by over 300 kickers. Merrick had a strong camp and came out with a 5-Star Recruit rating. He made the "Top Twelve" underclassmen. He is ranked on the ChrisSailerKicking.com website as the #6 ranked kicker in the Class of 2009. He also was identified on his profile as having the potential to be the #1 kicker/punter combo player in nation. Zlaton Petrovic of Trinity had a strong showing. He did not make the top twelve group of the Class of 2008, but did get special notice for his performance. Congratulations to our Kentucky guys for a strong showing.

Can't see this one. No one talking about it. Bell returns a strong team, maybe one of Dudley's best in years. The state title in 4-A could very well be Bell's next year. Add to that the fact that Dudley's son started this year for Bell at tight end as a Freshman. Three more years to coach his son as a Bobcat! Don't think $ lures anyone from that scenario.

My bad! That's why I had ??? by name...Petrovic is kicker for Trinity! Surprised someone from there did not catch it! Bathiany is another great kicker that should have received more recognition.

That's great. Sounds like that Cain is off to great start. Real advantage to get to kick for varsity freshman year. Bell's kicker has started for three years. G. Popham noted on BGP last year that his son Shane of Covington Catholic did not start until his Senior year and followed two D-1 kickers. Hurt his opportunities to get noticed for recruiting. These camps and kicking events are the way to go he said. I believe that Zlatan Petrovic of Highlands ??, the Butler punter ?? and the Merrick kid from Bell will compete in the Nike National Kicking Event in Las Vegas Jan. 12-13. I wish all of our Kentucky kickers the best!

Bell County does not report their stats to MaxPreps, so Merrick's stats are not there. He was 64-68 PAT's; 5 FG's (long of 56 yds.); about 38 yd. ave on punts....although Bell only punted about 16 times all season! Two punts were disasters averted by errant deep snaps. He got off fifty plus yd. kicks on both...but only had about 15 yd. official totals on both...hurt overall average. Longest punt was 67 yds. I believe from scrimmage. I don't think our guys get much attention down here on the all state teams in SE KY. KIcking game is getting stronger in Kentucky. Look forward for great things from all of these guys next year!

Bell County's kicker/punter Monte Merrick: Longest FG in state this year: 56 yds. against Rockcastle. Third longest distance in Ky prep history. 71 touchbacks on season! Kickoff distance ave. around 68 yds.