[cuppett777]

A few more after thoughts:
- I have to start with the OLine. Simply "WOW"! Francis, Gibbs, Dotson, Preece, Scott, Bentley, Horton, and anyone else I miss I apologize. Hatfield deservingly got Player of the Game but these monsters were the story. When Belfry won the Title in 2003 they called that dominant group "The Death Vallley Mules". This group deserves their own nickname... I am thinking:

HAYWOOD'S HAWGS




- X Willis looked really, really good. Loved his wiggle and pad level.

- I am a big Ray Horton fan but his stat line won't say the role he played on that game. He was constantly double teamed and was still penetrating the backfield every play...disrupting plays... causing Backs to change their angle.. Henry Clay only had 18 yards passing...the biggest reason was the fact Horton and company was forcing James to tuck and scamper with penetration. This kid is going to be special.

- Austin Hall had a nice night. The Interception looked eerily similar to the State Finals and he came up with 2 or 3 crucial tackles on the outside that helped thwart Henry Clay drives including the big tackle for loss in the 4th Quarter when HC was driving.

- Keaton Taylor looked like he had been the starting QB for years. Not quite to Sani's "smoothness" level, but for the season opener he looked sensational running the belly. When he ran he looked good as well, and on Defense he was a shutdown corner and had I think 3 PBR's.

- It bares repeating...that Kickoff Return was one of the best I have ever seen at the HS Level. The kid literally was being gang tackled by 3 Pirates and slipped it then had 2 more Pirates within 2 yards of him. I know there was some fumble/lateral controversy and truth be told it actually should have been nullified... but I am of the belief that those 7 points DESERVED to be kept on the board simply because that return was so awesome.

- Speaking of special teams...the only negative of the night. Uncharacteristic night for Woolum with a blocked XP and a missed Belfry only missed 2 XP's all of last year with Woolum. I will chalk it up to early season jitters and new personnel around him. Suffice to say Belfry can't leave point off the board with their schedule.

I knew Woolum had a bad night and was telling people he only missed a couple last yr and had game winner in title game..