[cat86]

Now that my laptop is functional, a few more points I want to make after digesting the game:

- How about Mr. Hatfield? I know the kid is a SOPH, but I think it is only appropriate we refer to him as "Mr." after that performance. Kid turned into a man last night toting the rock.
- I am going to have to pat myself on the back. I called Sani Warren not only being a key factor on both sides of the ball... but I just knew Haywood was saving that run off tackle after going through progressions for tonight. He did the same thing two years ago with Williams. After not really being a running threat all year, against Somerset he became a gamebreaker out of nowhere. Those runs by Sani were HUGE! Not only did they put up points and give Belfry momentum after the 1st Qtr... it single handily opened the entire Bobcat defense. The pass didnt hurt either,but in the 2nd Half you could tell the Bobcats desperately looked to change their defense to account for Warren and then Hatfield went beast mode.
-I want to give some love to a very overlooked Pirate player who has elevated his game. Josh Robinson does not get the credit he deserves. This kid is not the feature back on offense, but he has became a much tougher runner and has a nack for getting key plays in the redzone and breaking tackles. He is a sensational blocker out of the backfield and never takes plays off. Defensively he has turned into an excellent DB and I can't count the number of key INT's he has made. Lost in the offensive explosion was his INT in the endzone where he absolutely baited Trent. Breathitt scores that drive and they are still in the game with confidence. Hats off to Robinson.
- Have to love the Belfry OL. 425 yards of offense and 6 TD's in 8 posessions (had they not taken a knee I have no doubt those numbers would be higher).
- Belfry's depth played a huge factor IMO. Too many two way players playing all game for Breathitt. You could tell they were spent in the 2nd Half on defense and Belfry was not going to be stopped. I also can't help but think the lack of 2nd Half playing time this season for Breathitt played a part in this.
- Belfry employed Muhammad Ali's Rope-A-Dope tactic defensively. They started by rushing 3 and dropping everyone in coverage. Once Breathitt got comfortable and a bit fatigued, they started applying pressure more and more until every play resulted in Trent having to run 30 yards just to avoid a sack. Breathitt completely abandoned their run game for a spell and the Pirates got Trent to throw off his back foot or when his feet were not set resulting in lots of incompletions and interceptions. I am sure Coaches from Somerset, Hazard, and Morgan County are saying "Man...why didn't we think of that?"

In the update thread MtnHSFootballFan said "I guess the referrees indeed made superman tuck in his cape". I responded with "Superman is still there... Belfry just has taken away his phone booth and forced him to stay in the form of Clark Kent". Belfry let Trent do his thing, but they took away the things he does best (deep ball, designed runs, breaking contain when everyone drops). If Trent was going to hurt them it was going to have to be in small doses and require a ton of energy from their entire team.

Now on to the Semi Finals. Belfry's 9th Semi-Finals appearance in 10 years that is.

All I can say is the Big Red better not unbuckle those chin straps just yet. This Bourbon County team is scary!

The last half of this post is why Phillip Haywood and staff are the best coaching staff certainly east of Lexington, and probably in the state.