Knoxville Catholic vs. Belfry, KY

[ATLCat]

Congrats on the big win Irish!

 

Belfry has to play tonight against their cross county rivals and defending 1A State Champions Pikeville. I anticipate Belfry winning though.

 

This should be a war between two very good small schools!

 

Belfry is the 3 Time Defending Class 3A State Champs from Kentucky and defeated Catholic 38-14 last year at Belfry.

 

Belfry returned 9 starters from last year's team including 4 players with D-1 Offers in some capacity.

[Warriors2011]

I'd pay money to watch this game if the Warriors weren't in action at the same time.

[BCsportsfan]

I'd pay money to watch this game if the Warriors weren't in action at the same time.

+1

[ATLCat]

Belfry just polished off Pikeville 55-13.

 

This game should be a dandy. Two unstoppable forces diverging.

[QSouth89]

Catholic has 5 players with FBS offer in Kuerschen, Rodgers, the Mays brothers and Tucker, and 3 others with FCS offers in Woods, Scott and Blakley. They have small college offers from some other players as well. Last year Belfry handed it to us pretty good. I'm expecting the Irish to be more competitive this year. Catholic returned 9 starters on offense and 7 on defense from last year.

Edited September 17, 2016 by QSouth89

[BCsportsfan]

Tell us about the Belfry team. We don't get to hear or see much about KY high school football.

 

What style and system on Offense and defense? Key players and roster size? Dedicated Defense line and O line?.

 

Much appreciated!

Edited September 17, 2016 by BCsportsfan

[QSouth89]

Tell us about the Belfry team. We don't get to hear or see much about KY high school football.

 

What style and system on Offense and defense? Key players and roster size? Dedicated Defense line and O line?.

 

Much appreciated!

BC you get about as much sleep as I do lol. Looking at the scout film it appears they run a variation of the wing T.

[BCsportsfan]

BC you get about as much sleep as I do lol. Looking at the scout film it appears they run a variation of the wing T.

A lot of mis-direction like Webb?

[Bravey]

Catholic has 5 players with FBS offer in Kuerschen, Rodgers, the Mays brothers and Tucker, and 3 others with FCS offers in Woods, Scott and Blakley. They have small college offers from some other players as well. Last year Belfry handed it to us pretty good. I'm expecting the Irish to be more competitive this year. Catholic returned 9 starters on offense and 7 on defense from last year.

Hey QLOU .. I think you guys handle this pretty easy .. Belfrey's only chance is to consume clock with 3yards and a cloud of turf ... but dont see them being consistent in doing this .. KC will have to make their early posessions count for points and if they get them down 21-0 or so then Belfrey cant just run the ball .. they will be forced to open attach up but dont see Belfrey being able to stop KC offense at all .. but the possesions early may be limited .. but as long as KC makes them count then by the mid 3rd Qtr if will be katy bar the door .... and I tink KC has their way with Belfrey ....  

[ATLCat]

Tell us about the Belfry team. We don't get to hear or see much about KY high school football.

 

What style and system on Offense and defense? Key players and roster size? Dedicated Defense line and O line?.

 

Much appreciated!

Sorry in advance for the long post, but when you get to share your favorite team with those that don't know about them it is easy to be long winded.

 

It is first necessary to understand where Belfry is. This is a small county school, enrollment 700, in very rural Kentucky in the heart of coal mining country. Belfry sits nestled up along the WV border and for decades now Belfry football has been the biggest draw in the area and is a legitimate Friday Night Lights kind of vibe.

 

Phillip Haywood is the head coach and he is a living legend. He is Kentucky's all-time wins leader and Top 10 nationally among active coaches. He is "old school cool" and is one of the most respected HC's in KY as a man for how he teaches his kids much more than football.

 

His hallmark is his rushing offenses and his fundamentally sound Defenses. For years Belfry was a wishbone team who lined up exclusively in a 5-2. Belfry has arguably the top feeder program in the State of Kentucky and has won 4 consecutive Middle School State Titles beginning with this current Senior Class. As the feeder system has produced more talent and depth he has evolved his Offense into a hybrid of the Wing T and Flex Bone. Lots of triple option, misdirection, and a mix of straight ahead power. The Defense has also evolved into more of a 3-4.. I will get into this team's Defense more in a minute.

 

To assume this is a team that simply wants to beat you with three yards and a cloud of dust is a fatal error, one that KnoxCath learned last year when Belfry ran for over 400 yards and essentially dominated from beginning to end. Belfry has a freakishly large OLine anchored by three players with D-1 Offers, they average around 6'2 300 across the line. The two studs are UK Commit Austin Dotson (6'6 300) and Louisville Commit Cole Bentley (6'4 305). Dotson plays tackle and he is a special player. As big as he is he moves like a TE and has a nasty side. Bentley lines up at TE where he is basically a third Tackle. He is a mauler. Behind this massive Oline Belfry uses a stable of backs with varying skills. They have big play ability at the wingbacks and two very good Fullbacks who can power in the middle once you are spread out.  The QB is a great athlete and so far this year is a combined 5/7 passing with 4 of those goings for TD's (the other was down at the 1), he is averaging around 40 yards per completion.

 

Defensively is where KnoxCath is about to see a challenge like they haven't seen all season. Belfry is big, fast, and very experienced with numerous 3 and 4 year starters. It starts up front where Bentley joins RayQuan Horton on the D-Line. Horton is a special HS player and arguably the most dominant Defensive Player in Kentucky. Last year KnoxCath tried to block him one on one and he absolutely ate the Irish alive. At this point he only sees double teams and most teams just try to avoid even challenging him. Last night a specific play stood out where Pikeville committed a double team and the blitzing Belfry LB'er literally didnt even get looked at as he came through for the sack. Bentley is a space eater at Nose. Behind this line is Junior LB Derek Wellman. Wellman I predict will be playing at the FCS level before it is over..he is a very good LB.

 

The matchup that intrigues me will be Belfry's secondary vs. those unbelievable Knox Cath WR's. In terms of the HS level Belfry has three very good DB's between their two CB's and the FS Catron. Junior  CB Devin Varney #3 is an excellent High School player and a lockdown corner against Prep competition... with that said, he hasn't seen anything like Amari Rodgers. Varney is 6'2 and can move and plays with a swagger, but Rodgers is just simply a special talent that is on another level compared to what he is used to. 

 

Special Teams for Belfry is a huge mystery on multiple levels. They simply have not been asked to punt this year, but they lost an excellent punter who graduated. Kicking I am not sure what is happening. Belfry has an All-State kicker who KnoxCath fans will remember from last year in Austin Woolum. Big time leg. With that said, Woolum suffered a soft tissue leg injury prior to the season. Woolum is a very good CB and also the starting SE, and for whatever reason has not handled any of the kicking duties this year since the opening kickoff. Belfry has used a Freshman Kicker who has done adequate, but he isn't anywhere near the weapon Woolum is. I am not sure if they are just not wanting to risk re-injury, if they are just saving him when they know they will be tested, or if they just decided to develop the Freshman this year knowing Woolum is graduating. Return wise Belfry is alright..they have returned a kickoff for a TD and returned a punt for one as well, they have also muffed a punt and fumbled a kickoff though. Coverage wise the punt coverage is TBD, kickoff coverage has been "meh"

[ATLCat]

What this week comes down to is this:

- How does Belfry adjust to the step up in competition? Belfry has obliterated their first 4 opponents with a First Half running clock in three of them. They have played the 2A Runner-Up and 1A State Champs as well as a 5A School and a 6A School.. but KnoxCath is a different monster. Newport Catholic two weeks ago (the 2A Runner-Up) has been the only team to really even make Belfry break a sweat and as a result Belfry made some penalty and fumble errors before eventually imposing their will. 

 

- How does KnoxCath handle Belfry's physicality and depth? Being frank KnoxCath just doesn't see teams as physical as Belfry. CAK learned about this and KnoxCath found out last year. Playing a team that runs 95% of the time under center and brings a ton of power at the LOS is just something you dont see much anymore, especially at a high level of execution. In last year's game you could tell KnoxCath was not ready for Belfry's OLine and Dline and by the time they started to settle in Belfry already had them a bit winded.

 

- The big play will reign supreme. KnoxCath has playmakers galore and give a lot of different looks to get it in their hands. Belfry is predictable, but they set you up so that if you do not play flawless assignment football you are watching a back go 70 yards because you missed one tackle or went to the wrong hole. Defensively the big play will be huge as well. Can KnoxCath turn Belfry over? Can Belfry get a big TFL or make a key QB hurry on 3rd down to get Catholic off the field?

[BCsportsfan]

Sorry in advance for the long post, but when you get to share your favorite team with those that don't know about them it is easy to be long winded.

 

It is first necessary to understand where Belfry is. This is a small county school, enrollment 700, in very rural Kentucky in the heart of coal mining country. Belfry sits nestled up along the WV border and for decades now Belfry football has been the biggest draw in the area and is a legitimate Friday Night Lights kind of vibe.

 

Phillip Haywood is the head coach and he is a living legend. He is Kentucky's all-time wins leader and Top 10 nationally among active coaches. He is "old school cool" and is one of the most respected HC's in KY as a man for how he teaches his kids much more than football.

 

His hallmark is his rushing offenses and his fundamentally sound Defenses. For years Belfry was a wishbone team who lined up exclusively in a 5-2. Belfry has arguably the top feeder program in the State of Kentucky and has won 4 consecutive Middle School State Titles beginning with this current Senior Class. As the feeder system has produced more talent and depth he has evolved his Offense into a hybrid of the Wing T and Flex Bone. Lots of triple option, misdirection, and a mix of straight ahead power. The Defense has also evolved into more of a 3-4.. I will get into this team's Defense more in a minute.

 

To assume this is a team that simply wants to beat you with three yards and a cloud of dust is a fatal error, one that KnoxCath learned last year when Belfry ran for over 400 yards and essentially dominated from beginning to end. Belfry has a freakishly large OLine anchored by three players with D-1 Offers, they average around 6'2 300 across the line. The two studs are UK Commit Austin Dotson (6'6 300) and Louisville Commit Cole Bentley (6'4 305). Dotson plays tackle and he is a special player. As big as he is he moves like a TE and has a nasty side. Bentley lines up at TE where he is basically a third Tackle. He is a mauler. Behind this massive Oline Belfry uses a stable of backs with varying skills. They have big play ability at the wingbacks and two very good Fullbacks who can power in the middle once you are spread out. The QB is a great athlete and so far this year is a combined 5/7 passing with 4 of those goings for TD's (the other was down at the 1), he is averaging around 40 yards per completion.

 

Defensively is where KnoxCath is about to see a challenge like they haven't seen all season. Belfry is big, fast, and very experienced with numerous 3 and 4 year starters. It starts up front where Bentley joins RayQuan Horton on the D-Line. Horton is a special HS player and arguably the most dominant Defensive Player in Kentucky. Last year KnoxCath tried to block him one on one and he absolutely ate the Irish alive. At this point he only sees double teams and most teams just try to avoid even challenging him. Last night a specific play stood out where Pikeville committed a double team and the blitzing Belfry LB'er literally didnt even get looked at as he came through for the sack. Bentley is a space eater at Nose. Behind this line is Junior LB Derek Wellman. Wellman I predict will be playing at the FCS level before it is over..he is a very good LB.

 

The matchup that intrigues me will be Belfry's secondary vs. those unbelievable Knox Cath WR's. In terms of the HS level Belfry has three very good DB's between their two CB's and the FS Catron. Junior CB Devin Varney #3 is an excellent High School player and a lockdown corner against Prep competition... with that said, he hasn't seen anything like Amari Rodgers. Varney is 6'2 and can move and plays with a swagger, but Rodgers is just simply a special talent that is on another level compared to what he is used to.

 

Special Teams for Belfry is a huge mystery on multiple levels. They simply have not been asked to punt this year, but they lost an excellent punter who graduated. Kicking I am not sure what is happening. Belfry has an All-State kicker who KnoxCath fans will remember from last year in Austin Woolum. Big time leg. With that said, Woolum suffered a soft tissue leg injury prior to the season. Woolum is a very good CB and also the starting SE, and for whatever reason has not handled any of the kicking duties this year since the opening kickoff. Belfry has used a Freshman Kicker who has done adequate, but he isn't anywhere near the weapon Woolum is. I am not sure if they are just not wanting to risk re-injury, if they are just saving him when they know they will be tested, or if they just decided to develop the Freshman this year knowing Woolum is graduating. Return wise Belfry is alright..they have returned a kickoff for a TD and returned a punt for one as well, they have also muffed a punt and fumbled a kickoff though. Coverage wise the punt coverage is TBD, kickoff coverage has been "meh"

Excellent Thank You!!