[EKUAlum05]

Cursory look at stats reveals that the problem was as much with the Belfry defense as the turnovers.

Central averaged 9.8 yards per play. :yikes:

Belfry averaged a healthy 3.9 but almost 10 yards per play is hard to defeat anyone. Had Belfry held on to the ball they may have scored a few more and they may have kept Central off the field a little more but it doesn't mean the defense would have been any better. http://www.khsaa.org/football/2010/3afinal.htm

Belfry has three resounding issues that resulted in the blowout. That compounded off each other perfectly.

1. Tackling- Belfry's tackling was atrocious. If anyone looks back at the game and what Anthony Wales did to Belfry they will see that 90% of his yards came after first contact. Belfry held their own at the LOS and hit Wales either there, or in the backfield, only to see him break the tackle and then explode for a huge gain. The issue here is Wales is not a big back, yet he was breaking tackles like a guy that was 6'2 200.

2. Speed- Once Central broke the initial tackle and got into the open field they were in a different class in terms of speed and Belfry literally had no one who could run them down. To make matters worse, Dixon was the only Pirate who was able to consistently take the correct angle in an attempt to end the big play.

3. Turnovers- Belfry moved the ball well and had a good surge all day. The turnovers were killers though. Not only because it took away any momentum the Pirates could muster, but it consistently resulted in absolutely horrible field position. This then transgressed to Central having a short field most of the day which they took full advantage of.

Central was clearly in a different class from the young, over-achieving Pirates. Haywood has ventured out of the mountains with Henry Clay on the schedule to try and help them see Central caliber speed and athleticism. I am holding out hope that the tackling will improve with experience. For ANY 3A team to defeat Central they have got to eliminate turnovers and mental mistakes. Bell County, Tilghman, Ft. Campbell, etc can not even remotely come close to Central's speed and athleticism... you have got to beat them with execution and by making them put the ball in the air.