[AtlPirateFan]

I’m just confused on how Belfry’s defense is suppose to be GREAT but only ranked 15th in 3A on rush D. Bell Co has rushed right at 4,000 yards on the season.

You can't just look at KHSAA total season stats and expect to see anything of value unless you deep dive and verify. For example, South Laurel reported that they allowed 131 yards rushing on the year but if you go back and piece it together they allowed 2124 yards on the year, Magoffin reported 570 and it was really 2500+

Offensively
Bell Co has rushed for almost 4000 on the year, nearly 1000 of those came against a combined 5-25 set of McCreary, Jackson and South Laurel. Belfry gained nearly 1000 of their yards against 6-15 Magoffin and Floyd Central (2x). So the weak end of the schedules is pretty much a wash.

Bell's 3934 rushing yards came against a slate of teams who averaged 2075 yards allowed on the year. With only 5 of their opponents allowing fewer than 2000 yards rushing on the year. Belfry rushed for 4295 against defenses that averaged 1770 yards allowed on the year with 8 teams they played allowing fewer than 2000 yards.

Bell has played and beaten the #10 Run Defense in 3A (Rockcastle), Harlan County and Whitley are the other two decent run D's Bell has faced based on numbers. Belfry has played and beaten the #1 overall in 3A and statewide in DeSales, #8 in 3A (Ashland). They have also played 3 other top-15 run Ds from other classes.

Belfry is ranked #1 rushing offense still playing, and most likely top 5 overall statewide when the dust settles on the season regardless of how the state title games shake out.

Defensively
Belfry's defense has allowed only 13.5 points a game against opponents that averaged 31 points a game. Bell allowed 11.5 points a game against a schedule of teams that allowed 25 points a game. That means both these defenses have taken care of business.

Bell Co's Run D allowed 1730 yards against a schedule that averaged 2286 yards rushing on the year. Belfry has allowed 1746 yards against a schedule that averaged 2740 yards on the ground. Belfry has allowed 16 more yards rushing than Bell Co has against offenses that have been better collectively than what Bell Co has faced. So why do we say Belfry's D is good? Because they have allowed nearly identical numbers as Bell and have done so against much stiffer competition.

None of this will matter come Friday though, it will be who has the best gameplan and who executes it.