[99PIRATEFAN]

It's a tough call.

Bell certainly had the better resume in the regular season, played a tougher schedule, and won the Harlan County game which was hyped as the biggest game in the Mountains.

Belfry certainly had the better resume in the post season. Playing Central much more closer, going further in the playoffs, knocking off a possible Top 5 Mountain team in Breathitt on the road, and an impressive road victory over a pretty darn good Garrard County team. The knock on Belfry is they lost to Johnson Central in the Regular Season finale whereas Bell hasn't lost to a mountain team in a handful of years.

Johnson Central's claim to fame is their win over Belfry. The Eagles though suffered a loss to Perry Central earlier in the season, did not win their district (losing to Ashland handily, a team Belfry defeated), and the consensus is they caught Belfry on an "off night" after the emotional win the Pirates had the week prior.

Hazard can say something no other team can, and it is a BIG claim. They won the big one. In doing so, they also knocked off (in controlling fashion) a team many viewed as a Top 15 team in the State regardless of class. The knock on the Bulldogs is the fact they lost twice to Mountain Schools Somerset and Breathitt County (who Belfry defeated) and had a heck of a fight brought to them by Pikeville (who Belfry crushed).

Harlan County had a fantastic regular season until Bell vanquished them in the Season Finale. The Bears felt they were the class of the mountains all season, but the Bell loss coupled with an extremely disappointing playoff run that ended at the hands of Southwestern proves they may have been a bit over rated.

Breathitt County was untouchable in the regular season including quality wins over Hazard and Somerset. Their season came to an end on their homefield though as Belfry ousted them by 2TD's.

IMHO you can view it two ways.

In terms of accomplishments:
1. Hazard
2. Belfry
3. Bell
4. Johnson Central
5. Breathitt


In terms of the eye test:
1. Belfry
2. Bell
3. Breathitt
4. Hazard
5. Johnson Central

Hazard has a great team but Breathitt beat them and so would Belfry Bell and JC i seen them play they are good and they are the best in there class
but in the mountains no they are not.