[bucslover68]

The 2005 Belfry team was coming off a state title, but it was also a team who had to replace the entire starting backfield, QB, nearly the entire Front 7 on defense, and both CB's (one of which was David Jones).

Russell entered that game 9-1, their lone loss coming to Boyd County.
Belfry entered 8-2 with a blowout loss to Henry Clay and a loss to a "down" Ironton team.

It was a pretty even matchup, and I believe Russell was the higher ranked team, they were also playing at home.


In 2006 Russell was the defending State Champs, returned several key pieces, and entered the game once again at 9-1, their lone loss coming in OT vs. Ashland. Belfry entered 8-2, also losing to Ashland in OT, and also dropping an OT game to Sheldon Clark.

Once again very even matchup entering the game on paper, Belfry may have been slightly favored playing at home.

The other recent matchup was 2004 when an undefeated Russell team led by Josh Gross (FWIW the best Russell team I have seen this decade) came into Death Valley at 13-0, Belfry was 12-1 with their only loss coming to Ironton. Once again, it was a pretty even matchup on paper with Belfry being the slight favorite based on the schedule they had played.

In none of these instances would I consider Russell to have been a true underdog.

In no way was Russell an underdog in 2005 or 06. Belfry still had a fantastic team in 05, but it was a typical "develop every week" team of Haywood's. No one really knew how good Belfry was; maybe until the Russell game in the second half when the comeback from 20-0 came up short. In hindsight, 06 was the weakest of the teams in this latest Belfry run, and Russell was clearly superior. Belfry learned a lot about just running the ball up the gut that night. But to say that Belfry has been anything more than a slight favorite in any of the recent matchups would be wrong IMHO. You are right on the money, as usual, EKU.