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By PAMELA SCOTT JOHNSON

Sports Editor

GOODY, Ky. -- Pond Creek Nation can now refer to the gridiron at Cam Stadium as Haywood Field in honor of head coach Phillip Haywood. The Pike County Board of Education met Oct. 18 and unanimously voted for the title.

Haywood tied the record for most wins in the state with last week's victory over Lawrence County.

The Pirates travel to Pike Central Oct. 21 and should the Bucs remain undefeated, Haywood will become the winningest coach in the Bluegrass surpassing UPike's head football coach Dudley Hilton and retired coach Bob Schneider.

With the W over Lawrence County, Haywood holds a record of 345 wins and 119 losses.

Belfry has been known throughout the state as a football school for many years but even with all of its success, it was Coach Haywood that brought the first title to the school in 2003.

Coach Haywood has been at the helm of Belfry since 1984. In his 27 years at Belfry High School, he has won 265 games and lost 87.

Before coming to Pond Creek, Haywood was head coach at Prestonsburg High School for nine years.

The motion to name the field in his honor was brought before the board by member and BHS alumni Dr. Chuck Johnson.

Johnson explained to the BOE that Belfry football head coach Phillip Haywood has led the Pirates to state championships in Class 2A in 2003 and 2004; state runner-up in Class 2A in 1985 and 1986 and Class 3A in 2007 and 2010.

The first football squad for Belfry was organized in in 1924. Elbert Tye became the initial coach for the Bucs. During WWII, there were not enough boys to field a team and Belfry went without a squad until after the war.

It was John Moricle in 1950 from Williamson that began the winning tradition the Pirates take for granted now. Moricle was followed by Guy Patterson, Irvin Wilson, Albert Vipperman, Paul Dotson and Dick Roddy. Coach Haywood wore the red and white after Roddy retired.

Since the beginning, several big names have worn the uniform including Rick Kestner, James Ramey and, under Coach Haywood, David Jones.

Jones is the defensive backs coach under Dudley Hilton at UPike and says Haywood is the biggest part of his success.

"He has taught me to be a better man," said Jones. The most important thing I learned from Coach Haywood is respecting my peers and always watch what I do or say in public. You never know who is looking up to you."

"It was way overdue," Jones said of naming the field after the famous coach. "If I had a country I would name it after him because people really don't understand what kind of great person he is"

"But, you would never hear him say it was well overdue," said Jones. "All he wants to do is win games and win games for his players and coaches."

BOE Chairman Frank McGuire said he doesn't typically agree with naming a field after a living being, however, with the record of most wins within reach, he gave his nod to naming the field after the long-time successful coach.

Superintendent, Roger Wagner also gave his assent saying it was well deserved.

"We could plug the game Friday night," he said of the potential record breaking contest between Pike Central and Belfry High School. "It could be a night Coach Haywood breaks the record."

Haywood and the Pirates take their undefeated 8-0 record to Pike Central for a huge distract battle with the Hawks. The winner will be ranked first in District 8 class 3A.

While some would rather see the beloved coach break the record on Haywood Field, a huge crowd is expected from Pond Creek to witness the potential record breaking event and will celebrate a win anywhere.