ATLCat

I can fill you in on Corbin, KY a little better The Redhounds are coming off back to back Semi-Finals appearances, they are a Class 3A team. Both times they lost to eventual State Champ Belfry (who KnoxCath has played the past two years) This year, IMHO, Corbin was clearly the 2nd best team in KY Class 3A. They actually led Belfry late in the 2nd Half at home and had executed a beautiful gameplan, but then Belfry made some adjustments and the wheels came off en route to a 42-17 Final Score. Belfry exploded for 28 points in like a 6:00 window capitalizing on turnovers and big plays. Corbin's program is ascending right now. They have a very talented young Head Coach in Justin Haddix and Corbin used to be a powerhouse program. He has reignited the fire down there and their feeder system is producing great talent. They will be a Pre-Season Top 3 team in Kentucky 3A, and might even be Pre-Season #1 with Belfry losing so much talent to graduation. Corbin returns a three year starter at QB and he is very good. He is a Tim Tebow-esque player, bruising runner and accurate passer. They do a lot of RPO with him and they like ball control on Offense. They have some nice talent back at Receiver and good pieces on the line, but will need a secondary running option as their two best backs graduated. They also lost a hybrid TE that was their best possession receiver. Defensively, they have a solid core returning. Their Defense isn't anything physically imposing.. just very well coached and "good but not great" size across the board. Belfry has killed them the past two years with speed on the edge though and I anticipate Alcoa to bust some big plays as well. For an easy comparison for Alcoa... I would say this Corbin team will be better than CAK across the board, but not at the level of a KnoxCath. If you think back to when they played Bell County some years back, just think of it this way. Corbin has replaced Bell County as the premier program in that area. Scheme wise they are different, but from an overall team talent standpoint I would compare them favorably. Maybe a slight edge to the 2017 Corbin team over that specific Bell squad that wasn't one of their best. I would say Alcoa will enter as a 3-4 TD favorite. They will get a great challenge, but not sure Corbin can hang with them athlete for athlete that early in the Season.

^^^^ There are thousands of people in red who are surprised as well HAHA Part of it was something was going on with the QB/C exchange that had timing off. Preece the Cebter was a game time decision. Not sure if his injur was causing some short snaps or if Corbett was pulling away too fast. Haven't seen those two have that problem since early last year The other part was Just mental errors. Can't explain it. Maybe nerves, maybe the running equivalent to alligator arms. The last part.. and most important part., was Catholic just made plays. They brought the hit stick and did a great job stripping as Belfry went for extra yards. That was by far the biggest key

Hats off to a great Catholic team! Irish just had too much. Wish Belfry would have held up their end of putting in a great show but when you put it on the ground nine times and lose six you can't expect to beat a team that stout. No excuses though. Of those six lost fumbles most were the product of either great hits or great plays in the ball. I also don't think we even saw Catholics "A-Gane" or even close to it. Lots of penalties. Catholic took care of business and Belfry couldn't move Cunningham. Rodgers is simply special and someone needs to take a chance on Cunningham because his arm is special. When Belfry wasn't fumbling or getting penalties to keep them behind the sticks they really shows how tough they were on Offense but at the end of the day it was clear KnoxCath was the superior team on this night Was pleasantly surprised with how Knox Cath hit on D.

If Catholic doesn't renew the contract a Belfry vs. Alcoa 2-year series would be lots of fun. Belfry will be vulnerable next year with all these Seniors gone but should still be pretty good...and in two years should be pretty solid as well. I know Belfry has some open holes on their schedule to fill

Best of luck tonight Catholic, hoping for an injury free game that lives up to the hype!

This is pretty awesome A former Belfry family member who is great friends with Coach Haywood is an influential person at Bristol Motor Speedway.

https://scoreboard.12dt.com/scoreboard/khsaa/kyfb09/30154 You must have another team in mind, they didn't play Belfry. The last time Bell and Belfry played was 1998. Belfry won 14-13 in the playoffs.. Bell was in 4A at the time in 2009, Belfry was in 3A. FWIW, had they played Bell would have absolutely killed Belfry though that season. 2009 is the only year since 2003 that Belfry failed to even reach the Semi-Finals. That Belfry team went 8-4 and was the worst team Belfry has had since before 2000. Bell dropped to 3A in 2012 but has never been able to hold up their end of the bargain to advancing to play Belfry. Since Bell has joined 3A they have never advanced out of their Region whereas Belfry has went on to 3 Titles and a Runner-Up in that time. They are in the same Semi-State now but the Bell program has hit rock bottom unfortunately. I hate seeing it. Bell has always been an excellent program, but they are extremely low right now. Talent pool is way down and they had all sorts of coaching drama where they ended up firing their Head Coach and when noone would take the job they even tried offering it back to the guy they had just fired. He essentially laughed in their face and went to Corbin (a team in their District) as an Assistant Coach.

For the record that Bell team was solid, but not great They lost in the State Semi's that year and had to replace something like 5 or 6 starters each way from their 2008 team. They were a team full of good players but not exactly littered with talent or explosive. Belfry is returning 9 starters each way and is both talented and explosive. You are also missing one other matchup against the Defending State Champs. Three years ago Belfry went to CAK and beat CAK 27-21 despite the Pirates entering missing 5 starters each way due to injury. CAK was the defending State Champions. Most of these Belfry Seniors were Freshman on that team with Horton, Bentley, Catron, and Woolum all starting Don't see Belfry running away with it like last year, but also don't see Catholic continuing their video game scores.

Not a fluke whatsoever and wouldn't be surprised if Cunningham goes for 300+ again. As I said, KnoxCath will get theirs and may rack up yardage, but the way this game plays out will be different from any other game Catholic has played. Belfry will chew up more clock than most of these teams and I expect Belfry's Offensive efficiency and this clock grinding to reduce the number of possessions that Catholic gets. I think Catholic hits some big plays and maintains success moving the ball, but I think Belfry has the defensive playmakers and the Dline to do some things that other teams have not been able to and as a result create some big plays or get a key stop or two. Watching those highlight videos the one thing that stuck out as well is Belfry is a much more fundamentally sound team when it comes to tackling, especially in the open field and on the edges as opposed to the teams Catholic has seen. Fulton was downright attrocious at tackling in the secondary. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to not only see KnoxCath outgain Belfry, but to also be the most yards Belfry allows all season by a good margin. That's how talented Catholic is.

This year's team seems to be a little ahead of last year's team at this point in time. With that said, they aren't quite to the dominating level last year's team was in November when they steamrolled to a Title. Still making some fumble issues and dumb penalties, and Belfry has been slowed a bit by a bunch of minor nagging injuries that have cost key starters valuable minutes either early in the Season or during Summer. With that said, this team has the POTENTIAL to be not only the best Belfry team in their storied history, but possibly the best team to ever come out of EKY. As for prediction I think we are going to see a high level football game Friday. I think KnoxCath get's theirs on offense and hits some big plays and gains a lot of yards. With that said, I am a firm believer that at the High School level the team that wins the line of scrimmage wins the game.I also think Belfry has enough play makers on D that they get a handful of big/key plays. I will take Belfry 34-26 in a hard fought, close game that leaves both sides respecting one another for their effort and talents.

For the curious KnoxCath fans, some of Belfry's key players to watch OL/DL Cole Bentley http://www.hudl.com/video/3/3068066/57d428b3842eb3532c44942f Kid is a brute. He is an absolute mauler and plays with max effort every snap. Committed to Louisville. Four year starter and he is playing better as a Senior than he ever has and that is scary. OL Austin Dotson http://www.hudl.com/video/3/4256028/5721de089a90ec5540a7b9c7 You can judge for yourself, but IMHO he is one of the biggest sleeper prospects in the Country. Committed to Kentucky. This kid is a special football player. 6'6 300+ and runs like a TE. Has a nasty side. A little back story on him, he is one of the most modest kids you will ever see. Doesn't do social media, doesn't do interviews really, and above all didn't do the whole recruiting process. Last year at the State Finals college coaches in attendance were literally looking for his parents. Dotson didn't even have a highlight video and had never set foot on a college visit. Belfry's coaches put his highlights up for him and soon UK came calling and offered him basically on the spot. Dotson and his family are diehard UK fans and he committed right then. From what I have heard from good sources, Alabama called and pleaded for him not to commit before visiting them for their Spring Game. Saban even sent a hand written letter. Dotson though politely said "Thanks but no thanks". Just watch him and how he moves Friday. If he learns to pass block in college, LOOK OUT P.S. if nothing else watch the play at 1:05 DT RayQuan Horton http://www.hudl.com/video/3/3068042/5721db5b19a53e2a187e1524 Just watch the video and smile. Horton will go down in Belfry lure once his career is over.He has been a standout since his Freshman year and has just made game changing play after game changing play. He has several offers but the Power 5 offer hasn't came yet despite dominating at The Opening in Columbus. Tremendous football IQ.. the knock is his height and wingspan but the kid is simply a winner. OL Jordan Scott http://www.hudl.com/video/3/2775597/5721de0dbd746d007c806ac9 Scott has been the victim of being surrounded by great players, to the point he is probably the most under appreciated Pirate. Big kid and a prototype guard. Has an offer from Tennessee Tech. 3 Year Starter and just fulfills his assignment every play. HB/S/KR Cameron Catron http://www.hudl.com/video/3/3068211/57cad8d70aff7a64c4ca1b5c He's that kid we have all enjoyed watching for other schools. Undersized but the heart and work ethic of a Lion and a natural leader. Is a violent and aggressive Safety, a dangerous kick returner, and a lightning quick HB who runs like he is shot out of a canon. Belfry's vocal leader. He has small college offers and has a couple FCS school very interested in him as a slot guy. QB Noah Corbett http://www.hudl.com/video/3/4303776/5721d33819a53e2a1874f0b4 Corbett is the perfect fit for this Belfry Offense. Great athleticism, great ball handling skills, and when asked a big time arm. Has some small college offers. FB/LB Derek Wellman (Jr.) http://www.hudl.com/video/3/4435562/572bad32c6de8045d8f31885 Probably my favorite Pirate to watch alongside Catron. Kid is just a football player. Very smart and fundamentally sound LB'er with excellent athleticism and plays angry. Belfry limits his reps at FB to keep him fresh but when he is in there he is a game changer. Averages over 8 yards per carry for his career. Getting looks from FCS schools, I expect him to open eyes this summer as he hasn't did the recruitment game yet. CB Devin Varney (Jr) http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4762944/highlights Was an All-State 2nd Team Selection as a Sophomore. Has potential to be the best CB to ever play for Belfry. He has dominated KY competition and I would be lying if I didn't say I am eager to see what happens with him Friday when he steps up to play D-1 talent. He plays with supreme confidence so I can see Friday going either way.

Good ole Williamson Daily News.... HAHA Sigh... Pulitzer Prize winners they are not... but they do at least try to give lots of coverage to area athletics despite their limited resources.

I would if I were there! You all should say hi to bucslover68... really great guy. He would especially be interested if there is any tailgating involved and tasty home cooked food HAHA

Not looking like I will be able to. Have to travel a lot in the next two months and would have to take a full day off to get there.

The economy in Eastern Kentucky is painful right now. Belfry and many other schools are being hit heavy due to the collapse of the coal industry.