[EKUAlum05]

Here is what I will say:

I am very happy with the job Coach Mac is doing at Pikeville and I will say with certainty that for the first time in several year that I think Pikeville has a team that COULD beat Belfry.

A little perspective from my view. If this were the 2014 Panthers vs the 09 Pirates...or even the 2010 State Runner-Up Pirates I would actually think it would be a toss-up game. The latter is actually saying a whole lot when you consider Pikeville is a 1A team. That shows that Pikeville has truly developed into a team capable of contending for a State Title.. something that even 3-4 years ago was not a reality.

This game will probably have the most buzz around it of any game over the past decade, and for the critics saying the rivalry should end this is living proof of why it should continue on.

Now the bad news for Pikeville though is it is not 2014 Panthers vs. 2010 Pirates.... for as much as the Pikeville program has evolved the Belfry program has followed suit and the product on the other side of the field is scary good. Belfry is bigger.. Belfry is deeper... Belfry is more athletic... and Belfry is more battle tested. Those are the facts.

What this all comes down to is Pikeville's only chance to win this is if the Panthers play perfect and Belfry shoots themselves in the foot. Much like the Pburg game I think Pikeville has a propensity to turn it over when the other team can penetrate and disrupt them in the backfield. The past few years have also shown that Pikeville typically gets a little tight against Belfry and have the tendency to try and force passes or to stretch the ball for an extra yard and have it knocked out.

This game begins and ends with #44 and #23 in Red, as well as Whitt. If they create penetration like they have all year Pikeville will have to find a way to subsidize their offense outside of Pugh. Those two stir the drink and then Belfry's very fast DE's and LB's clean up the rest.

On the opposite side of the ball there is no doubt Belfry's going to move the football at a pretty regular clip. The key for Pikeville's success here is to limit the damage. No long break away TD's... make Belfry cap off 15 play drives with a 1 yard plunge on 4th and Goal. Keep the clock moving, keep the game within reach, limit possessions... and make it so if Belfry makes any mistake.. be it penalty or fumble... that they have to overcome themselves to put points on the board. The hope is you get this thing to the 4th and it is still in question..then you can throw the kitchen sink and try to make magic happen.

Personally... I think Pikeville does a good job 75% of the game...but costly mistakes by the Panthers and shear of plays of excellence by Belfry begins to open it up until Belfry puts the nail in the coffin at the start of the 4th.

Belfry 52
Pikeville 21