Ashland 22 Belfry 20

**GOREDDEVILS** · 09-04-2009, 10:53 PM

final

**CatDawg** · 09-04-2009, 10:58 PM

Congrats to the Cats. Belfry showed what they are made of tonight by the way they stayed in this and fought. Going to be just fine this season. Just keep digging and getting better.

wooderson · 09-04-2009, 11:08 PM

CatDawg Wrote:Congrats to the Cats. Belfry showed what they are made of tonight by the way they stayed in this and fought. Going to be just fine this season. Just keep digging and getting better.

And they will. Belfry will be just fine come playoff time, they may take some lumps along the way but this team is really really young and it might take them a while to get rolling. Its going to interesting on Pond Creek to face numerous opponents being the underdog. They will be looked at as the 4th or 5th best team out of the east in 3A for the majority of the year. As bad as the record might look come November I actually believe Belfry can/will be a serious contender for a trip to BG.

**FBALL** · 09-04-2009, 11:18 PM

Belfry is the kind of team that can give that speedy Tomcat defense fits. In the end Ashland is just a little better. I figured this would be a close one.

Pirate · 09-05-2009, 12:04 AM

FBALL Wrote:Belfry is the kind of team that can give that speedy Tomcat defense fits. In the end Ashland is just a little better. I figured this would be a close one.

Honestly I don't see how anyone could've watched that ball game and say that one team is better than the other. Negate a fumble and belfry wins by 6. Ashland played a flawless game other than one delay of game penalty and one false start penalty that was offset by a offsides penalty by belfry (I'm still trying to figure out how you have both). Both teams were evenly matched... Very good ball game.

bucslover68 · 09-05-2009, 12:11 AM

Heck of a game. For most of the night, Belfry had no answer for the Tomcat offense, and at the end, Ashland had no answer for the Belfry offense. A bunch of really good running backs for Ashland and a great game to watch. Thomas Varney continues to cement his place in Belfry history. He never came off the field. He ran, caught, kicked and punted and had over 220 yards rushing. The way 3A is developing in the mountains, anyone can win it. When Belfry gets through with this 5A stretch and the Pikeville game, then the real season begins. Footnote to the Ashland game. The Pirates played without their second leading rusher, Chase Maynard, who had over 200 yeards in the first two games. He had been sick all week and did not dress. Congratulations to both teams on a heck of a game.

smurfed · 09-05-2009, 12:13 AM

sounds like an AWESOME game. suprised Ashland won

**Real Badman** · 09-05-2009, 12:18 AM

Sounds like the Pirates never went away. Good Job Belfry.

BADCAT74 · 09-05-2009, 12:28 AM

Way to go tomcats great game!

redleg · 09-05-2009, 12:29 AM

Thought the young Pirates grew up alot in the second half tonight. Varney with another great game for the Pirates. Pirate defense couldn't seem to stop Albers. Every time Ashland needed a big first down it seemed he got it

**FBALL** · 09-05-2009, 12:31 AM

Albers is tough. I love watching him play.

redleg · 09-05-2009, 12:34 AM

Thats the first time I've seen him. Runs the ball hard

**phs1986** · 09-05-2009, 12:38 AM

According to what I heard, the Ashland paper had them picked to win 48-6 over Belfry?????.... Belfry started off slowly but rebounded back to make this one of the most exciting games I've ever watched! As far as the Tomcats being speedy, yes they are BUT, Belfry is just as speedy if speed is what your looking for. Both teams played very hard and I personally could see a complete 360 between the game Belfry played tonight and the game they played 2 weeks ago against P-burg... TOTALLY different team!

Kudo's to both teams and Belfry... Keep up the hard work and improving.... Your showing some that you CAN play ball young men!!!

BADCAT74 · (This post was last modified: 09-05-2009, 12:47 AM by BADCAT74.)

Sounds like Varney is all they have, He did everything for them. Albers 100+ yd had another solid game, Demartino always dependable, Rogers came in an stepped up big had a100+ yd game. Great job tomcats!

**GOREDDEVILS** · 09-05-2009, 12:42 AM

phs1986 Wrote:According to what I heard, the Ashland paper had them picked to win 48-6 over Belfry?????.... Belfry started off slowly but rebounded back to make this one of the most exciting games I've ever watched! As far as the Tomcats being speedy, yes they are BUT, Belfry is just as speedy if speed is what your looking for. Both teams played very hard and I personally could see a complete 360 between the game Belfry played tonight and the game they played 2 weeks ago against P-burg... TOTALLY different team!

Kudo's to both teams and Belfry... Keep up the hard work and improving.... Your showing some that you CAN play ball young men!!!

Wrong, Mark Maynard of the daily independent picked Ashland 21 Belfry 18.

Belfry_99 · 09-05-2009, 12:51 AM

BADCAT74 Wrote:Sounds like Varney is all they have, He did everything for them. Albers,demartino, and JR. Trey Rogers wow over 100 yds!

Thomas Varney is a great player, but not all they have. I was at the game and I will give you my opinion. This Belfry team is leaps and bounds better than the team who played against Pburg. IMO Gary Runyon needs to share the load a little more and he proved that in the 4th quarter. Ashland has a fine team but Belfry gave them a run for the money and made a game of it! If Belfry ever puts two halfs together than they will be a much improved team. I think this is the first time I have got in the car after the game and said I am proud of that loss because we showed some heart and we were better for playing that game. I for one think that this tough schedule these Pirates are playing will play great dividends come playoff time. This is one night win or lose I am proud to be a fan of the Belfry Pirates, keep your head up boys ..alot brighter days are ahead for you.

**phs1986** · 09-05-2009, 12:52 AM

GOREDDEVILS Wrote:Wrong, Mark Maynard of the daily independent picked Ashland 21 Belfry 18.

Well, thanks for the clarification.... I was just going by what I was told by an Ashland resident.... Smile

IBleedRed · 09-05-2009, 12:55 AM

Congrats Tomcats!! Sounds like it was a good game

**BlackcatAlum** · 09-05-2009, 12:57 AM

Congrats Tomcats!

Looked like it was one helluva game. Could have been a different story it seems if Maynard played, but Varney is one heck of a football player. Kid does it all!

irishcard16 · 09-05-2009, 01:02 AM

A very exciting second half to watch. The offense for the pirates it seems will continue to get better and grow as the season goes along. I have said it before though, I dont know if it's youth or what the real reasoning is but the defense is so soft, poor tackling and no real aggression to just hit and inflict pain with tackles, kinda like they are playing not to get hurt or they are thinking too much. I know I sound like I am complaining but this team will come into form as the season goes along it will just take patience.

:HitWall: ....... tackle and play with wrecklesness on defense!!!!!

If the whole team played with the intensity of Thomas Varney.....WOW....be a tough team to deal with.

**BelfryPride** · 09-05-2009, 01:13 AM

So proud of our guys out there, they did'nt quit.

**C.Clair** · 09-05-2009, 01:16 AM

WOW!!! Im kinda speechless.

mrfootball03 · 09-05-2009, 02:06 AM

Like the rest have stated, Belfry played tough the 2nd half. Had they played two halfs the way they did the 2nd, the outcome would have been the other way around. I think we've seen a big step in the right direction tonight, as this team gets better. I've watched all three games so far, and the team tonight looked nothing like the team that played Prestonsburg 2 weeks ago. I think Gary Runyon stepping up and helping at FB is something we haven't seen much of until tonight. He kept those legs moving, and dug for those extra yards. He is going to be a beast.

As for the game, Belfry just didn't get going early enough, and got into too deep of a hole. The best thing to take from this is they didn't give up after being down 22-7. They showed heart and came back, and did what they had to do to give themselves a chance to win the game. They were heading in the right direction, just ran out of time. Heck of a game.

I can't believe no one has mention the hit the Ashland kid layed on Thomas Varney. That was the hardest hit i've seen in years. And to beat it all Varney held onto the ball! Amazing play.

**phs1986** · 09-05-2009, 02:20 AM

mrfootball03 Wrote:Like the rest have stated, Belfry played tough the 2nd half. Had they played two halfs the way they did the 2nd, the outcome would have been the other way around. I think we've seen a big step in the right direction tonight, as this team gets better. I've watched all three games so far, and the team tonight looked nothing like the team that played Prestonsburg 2 weeks ago. I think Gary Runyon stepping up and helping at FB is something we haven't seen much of until tonight. He kept those legs moving, and dug for those extra yards. He is going to be a beast.

As for the game, Belfry just didn't get going early enough, and got into too deep of a hole. The best thing to take from this is they didn't give up after being down 22-7. They showed heart and came back, and did what they had to do to give themselves a chance to win the game. They were heading in the right direction, just ran out of time. Heck of a game.

I can't believe no one has mention the hit the Ashland kid layed on Thomas Varney. That was the hardest hit i've seen in years. And to beat it all Varney held onto the ball! Amazing play.

Yep, too bad WYMT wasn't there for that one.. Talk about a play/hit/SOMETHING of the week!!! LOL....

They said he got up and said "Hey, where's my helmet"... Thomas is a excellent ballplayer and he did nothing but prove it even more with that play alone!! The ball never even bobbled... he had that one locked in his arms I do believe!! HAHA

**cuppett777** · 09-05-2009, 02:27 AM

congrats asland, but more to my pirates for getting better every week, keep it up boys...

**outdoorsman43** · 09-05-2009, 02:31 AM

Game was 22-7 at one point according to a friend I was getting updates from. Nice comeback for the Pirates, but the Tomcats proved to be too much.

Congrats Ashland!

BADCAT74 · 09-05-2009, 07:10 AM

bucslover68 Wrote:Heck of a game. For most of the night, Belfry had no answer for the Tomcat offense, and at the end, Ashland had no answer for the Belfry offense. A bunch of really good running backs for Ashland and a great game to watch. Thomas Varney continues to cement his place in Belfry history. He never came off the field. He ran, caught, kicked and punted and had over 220 yards rushing. The way 3A is developing in the mountains, anyone can win it. When Belfry gets through with this 5A stretch and the Pikeville game, then the real season begins. Footnote to the Ashland game. The Pirates played without their second leading rusher, Chase Maynard, who had over 200 yeards in the first two games. He had been sick all week and did not dress. Congratulations to both teams on a heck of a game.

Footnotes to the game: Ashland leading rusher from last year is no longer with the team. But there were plenty of others to take up the slack.

MADJACK75 · 09-05-2009, 11:14 AM

irishcard16 Wrote:a very exciting second half to watch. The offense for the pirates it seems will continue to get better and grow as the season goes along. I have said it before though, i dont know if it's youth or what the real reasoning is but the defense is so soft, poor tackling and no real aggression to just hit and inflict pain with tackles, kinda like they are playing not to get hurt or they are thinking too much. I know i sound like i am complaining but this team will come into form as the season goes along it will just take patience.

:hitwall: ....... Tackle and play with wrecklesness on defense!!!!!

If the whole team played with the intensity of thomas varney.....wow....be a tough team to deal with.

agression comes with confidince, have no doubt, there is no rabbit in these boys. They will get better, it still makes you jump straight up and down when you see poor tackling. On o they still are shooting theirself in the foot in the red zone and that will get better also. This group of young men will go deep into the playoffs

**Benchwarmer** · 09-05-2009, 11:55 AM

Congrats Ashland

**Belfry0304** · 09-05-2009, 01:12 PM

So close..

I know it's not much, at all, but what are Tyler's passing stats this year? Just out of curiosity. Our fullbacks did awesome, both Nate and Gary. I'd rotate 'em and keep one of them fresh at all times for defense. Thomas is an animal, he got the crap knocked out of him and it didn't phase him. That was ridiculous. Good o-line play.

Our defense made strides tonight too, I saw an evolution of a certain freshman linebacker on the field. I told him just the other day he doesn't do good, he doesn't do bad, but last night he was fired and tackling people and did really good. Every game we look better and better.

I have a theory about this season, haha, I'll be posting about it later.