[EKUAlum05]

Here's what I don't understand...it's like Belfry fans are talking like Bourbon doesn't know what Belfry brings to the table. I'm sure the players remember Warren, Hatfield, and Carr from last year. I believe Sani is a better defensive player than QB, you don't hear about many QB's who can lay the wood. The physicality element won't be a big of a factor as many think, because Bourbon expects it now. Just my two cents

It goes both ways. Bourbon fans are acting like Belfry has never seen athletes like Bourbon has .

What it comes down to is Bourbon has never seen the Belfry offense the way it is with Dari and Johnson in that backfield (both were injured last year)... Belfry has not seen a Bourbon offense with a Holman kid who appears to me to be a much better fit at RB for Bourbon's system than Hopkins.

Both teams know very well what they can expect to see from the other... one team has played teams throughout the year who give them a taste of what to expect... the other really played no one that comes close to emulating their opponent.

Right now there is a lot of smoke blowing.. but the real factors that will determine this game are being glossed over.

- Can Belfry tackle? I have no doubt the Pirates will be in position all night to make the plays.. but tackling has been the single biggest issue they have had all season. A missed tackle versuses Bourbon is 6 points.

- Will Bourbon's depth hurt them? More than anything last year it wasn't Belfry's true physicality that beat Bourbon... it was the fact there was 4 quarters of it on both sides of the ball. It was 14-10 at the Half..but Belfry had the Colonels looking for oxygen masks in the 2nd Half. Bourbon plays numerous players more on both sides of the ball than Belfry and don't rotate as nearly as frequently as Belfry. If Belfry is able to control the tempo will Bourbon fade in the 2nd Half again?

- Is Pope healthy? I have said before and will say again that if Bourbon is one dimensional then Belfry will win..but if Bourbon shows balance and can hurt Belfry with the legs of Pope and Holman then I think Bourbon has the upper hand on offense. Playing hurt won't help Bourbon if Pope is struggling with mobility and not a threat with his legs.. when there is a lone threat running the ball then Belfry is borderline dominant and there pass defense typically is good enough to play soft and get stops when they need them.

- Is Belfry's defense fools gold or is this what they have been looking for all year? Lawrence and PC are not great teams...not even close to the level of Bourbon.. but they do have very good 3A offenses. Both put up huge numbers all season and had multiple quality weapons and hurt Belfry in the regular season. Since making the big changes Belfry's defense absolutely shut down both teams in the span of a few weeks. Was this the product of familiarity or the product of a defense that finally has found it's mojo?

I said it in the build-up and will say it again...I think Bourbon enters as the slight favorite...especially at home... but those questions above will make a major difference in how this game plays out.