[insideinfo]

Knox Central's ability to keep this close begins and ends with their ability/inability to hurt Harlan County outside or with the threat of the pass early in the game.

Belfry's offense made HC's defense look a lot more vulnerable than it really is, but noone this side of I-75 has the skill players that Belfry has. HC was unable to focus on a single key point to stop Belfry and the threat of the pass, the option, the super talented FB, and Belfry's lightning quick HB. This eventually left HC in a guessing game and that's when the yardage accumulated in a hurry.

Gist is a darn fine RB, but if KC can't stretch the Bears to the sideline and loosen up their LB's then he will struggle to gain 100 yards. I think the single greatest weakness HC has this year is they are not an especially fast or overly athletic team. They are vulnerable outside to a team who has the threat of balance. Unfortunately, I don't see KC having the team speed to do this, nor the quickness up front on defense to contain the Black Bear running attack.

Coach Russell wants to have a balance attack that why he went with DIamond to start the year,but he needs some time to learn the offense and the speed of the game and just settle in. This kid has everything you need to be a great high school quarterback. He need to take some of the load off of Gist he has at least 30 carries the last two. You know Harlan Co is going and try to take the run away. Coach Russell had a great gameplan last year against them, and Knox played there best game of the year.