[BlackcatAlum]

It seems Pikeville fans have more confidence in Belfry in this matchup then some of us Pirate fans do

I see Tony Messer as the X-Factor in this game. History tells us that you can expect 3 things from Pburg:

1. The Jet Sweep
2. Short timing routes and screens designed to allow their playmaking WR's to make a pay in space.
3. A lot of guys in the box and organized chaos in the power holes daring Belfry to pass.

Messer could play a role in all three of these. The Belfry DE's will be tested all night with their ability to string out the outside runs and to pursue on the quick passes. On offense Messer will see single coverage and will have a height advantage no matter who Pburg assigns to him, if he can go up and get a couple passes it will make the Blackcats defense think twice before they sell out to try and disrupt Belfry behind the LOS. Messer will also be significant in sealing the edge to open up Williams keeping the ball when the defense collapses in the middle.

The Henry Clay game was the prime example of Good Belfry vs. Bad Belfry. The Good Belfry held on to the football, did not shoot themselves with penalties, and made great offensive reads, and played an aggressive attacking defense. The Good Belfry was literally unstoppable against superior athletes, size, and speed...the Good Belfry was impossible to move the ball against defensively.The Bad Belfry shot themselves in the foot and as a result was pinned into 3rd and Longs where they became all too predictable, the Bad Belfry was reactive on defense and looked into the backfield flat footed and were too late to react and saw the RB take off for a long TD.

Pburg has taken the fight to Belfry the past two years on both sides of the ball. The Pirates not only could not match their intensity, but they also committed numerous mental errors (delay of game, poor clock management, unforced turnovers at the snap, false starts) which consistently halted their drives and left them in 3rd and Long. Defensively Belfry blew assignments and coverages, and missed tackles on the outside runs that allowed Pburg to continue drives.

If the same Belfry team who locks up when Pburg punches the in the mouth shows up, the same team who fell into a spiral against Lou. Central:
Pburg 20-7

If the Belfry team who we basically saw mature in the playoffs against Mason County and Somerset, and then attacked Henry Clay shows up:
Belfry 28-14

I think it falls somewhere between, Belfry 20-14

Agreed.

Prestonsburg wants to do what they've done against Belfry the past two seasons and that's jump out to an early lead and make Belfry play catch-up.

If Belfry is able to control the LOS then Prestonsburg is in trouble and this could either be a shootout or Belfry wins this one by 2-3 touchdowns. It's important that Prestonsburg is able to stop the belly dives early and make Belfry beat them around the tackles or make them pass.

Prestonsburg X-factor is Grant Anderson. He's probably the fastest player Prestonsburg has and he is certainly the most elusive and hard to tackle with his small stature. Kind of reminds me of Jordan Amis who played at Perry Central. I'd like to see Prestonsburg use more of Jarred Jarrell in this game, as he's shown he can make the plays. Keep Wes Robinson fresh for defense, as he's one of our better tacklers.