[jetpilot]

^I agree with all that except JC pass defense will be fine. Don't know about Sammons but the other 3 will pass up and down the field on them. BUT JC rushing attack will run on all those teams.

[Hoot Gibson]

^I agree with all that except JC pass defense will be fine. Don't know about Sammons but the other 3 will pass up and down the field on them. BUT JC rushing attack will run on all those teams.

Duty had 88 yds with an interception against JC. Elam had 178 last season, although he had a couple of big plays that broke the game open. Good quarterbacks are going to get yardage, but if you're giving up over 400 yards rushing, as Pikeville did, there is no room for mistakes.

Johnson Central is averaging 390 yards a game in rushing yardage alone and it's passing threat is improving every game. Slone is a very gifted athlete. If Corbin cannot establish a running game against JC, then Elam will not be enough.

[Belichick]

JC could play against Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Patrick Mahomes and it wouldn’t help. The back end of that defense isn’t great. They don’t guard well back there. JC is great and I’ve been very impressed this year but the lack of passing defense will catch up to them in playoffs I’m afraid. Why Pikeville tried to bully the bully was a bad approach and head scratcher when Belfry went the next week and threw for close to 400 yards on JC. Pikeville has better receivers and QB in my opinion even though someone will chirp back Varney is just as good or better. He isn’t. He is a great game manager for Belfry and smart. Great high school QB. Pikeville just didn’t use their players against JC. I could understand that being second game of the year but you gotta know who your playmakers are by now. Stanley played well and looked like he deserved more touches all year (where has he been?) but Pikeville’s offense didn't use the other pieces who had been producing. Seemed they got caught up in the rushing success they had in first half and after Belfry adjusted, Pikeville did not. Also, Anthony is not Anthony of last year. He’s hurt. He’s having a lot of problems on one of his legs or feet. Slows him way down. Pikeville offense has to get going. Defense will be there but their offense must get going to win it this year. They have the kids to do it.

---

Impossible to know what coaches are thinking with this play calling  One of two things:

1 They are either struggling to find an identity and being unsuccessful, or
2 They know exactly what they are doing and the fans won't see the real (and much more diverse) offense until the playoffs.

I'm fully on board with 2

I am fully on board with the fact they have too many different people calling the plays. Been well known for years. Not a secret around the program. That’s why it looks like it does. Why would Pikeville lead the state in delay of game penalties? Does that make any sense? Players looking bad because a few adults struggle to check their ego at the door. There’s a bit of hard truth.

I had no idea and I have been a Pikeville fan for 100 years. Refuse to believe the HC would allow it. But even if you are even a little bit right it needs to be fixed or this year will be an epic fail. Your posts on here are usually spot on but this one scares me lol. You don't seem like a disgruntled family member in the least. HC needs to take control and call the plays himself maybe?

It probably should concern you because if it continues, your Panthers are going to fall way short of expectations this season. That offense isn’t a player problem. Last sentence you wrote may go a long way or whoever called the LCA game when Pikeville spread it around and had over 500 yards of offense should probably call the plays. Another interesting tidbit that isn’t getting enough attention for Pikeville. They have lost the turnover battle in every game this season. Turnovers, penalties, special teams blunders, and an anemic offense is not how Pikeville typically operates. That is who they have been through 5 games.

[Hoot Gibson]

JC could play against Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Patrick Mahomes and it wouldn’t help. The back end of that defense isn’t great. They don’t guard well back there. JC is great and I’ve been very impressed this year but the lack of passing defense will catch up to them in playoffs I’m afraid. Why Pikeville tried to bully the bully was a bad approach and head scratcher when Belfry went the next week and threw for close to 400 yards on JC. Pikeville has better receivers and QB in my opinion even though someone will chirp back Varney is just as good or better. He isn’t. He is a great game manager for Belfry and smart.  Great high school QB. Pikeville just didn’t use their players against JC. I could understand that being second game of the year but you gotta know who your playmakers are by now. Stanley played well and looked like he deserved more touches all year (where has he been?) but Pikeville’s offense didn't use the other pieces who had been producing. Seemed they got caught up in the rushing success they had in first half and after Belfry adjusted, Pikeville did not. Also, Anthony is not Anthony of last year. He’s hurt. He’s having a lot of problems on one of his legs or feet. Slows him way down. Pikeville offense has to get going. Defense will be there but their offense must get going to win it this year. They have the kids to do it.

No game plan would have made up for Pikeville's weak line against JC. Duty's passing was off target because he was rushed on almost every play. His receivers never had time to get open for anything but very short passes. Johnson Central always struggles early against the pass because they start lots of young players in the secondary. 

I know that many Pikeville think that lack of effort lost the JC game, but if lack of effort was to blame, then it was a lack of effort in the weight room during the off season. The teams could play 10 times and Duty would struggle in every game. But like I said, Pikeville's line is good enough to bring home another 1A title and that's what matters.

[Belichick]

JC did what every other team this year has done to Pikeville and why the Panthers haven't adjusted is really the question. It wasn’t just a JC D line or “weight room”. They brought their linebackers downhill all night and secondary played cover 3. Their LBs don’t cover well either. They are run stoppers. How do you beat cover 3? You don’t need much time to shred that defense especially the JC secondary. It is meant to guard against the deep ball and the corners bail deep every play just like JC did. Seams, flats, and middle of the field were wide open. Slants, screens and hitches all day. It was bad offense by Pikeville. Watch it back. Belfry watched the film and learned. Play that against Corbin and watch what happens. They usually have 3-4 wideouts and 1-2 backs every play. JC cannot stop that offense with their personnel. They just aren’t made for that. Now Corbin has to stop them too and I don’t know if they can consistently either but I give them a better chance getting a few run stops than I do JC getting many stops at all. Just being honest with you. JC dominated Pikeville but you were 100% correct. It wasn’t effort. It wasn’t weight room either. It was scheme. Offensive line played awesome for JC and has all year but you can attack that defense and it will at least end up in a shootout like the Belfry game. Pikeville did get an early turnover on downs and not much later a McCourt fumble recovery. So if they go out and attack JC differently, that game is much different. JC may still have won but it would have been competitive. It wasn’t that night.

[Hoot Gibson]

JC did what every other team this year has done to Pikeville and why the Panthers haven't adjusted is really the question. It wasn’t just a JC D line or “weight room”. They brought their linebackers downhill all night and secondary played cover 3. Their LBs don’t cover well either. They are run stoppers. How do you beat cover 3? You don’t need much time to shred that defense especially the JC secondary. It is meant to guard against the deep ball and the corners bail deep every play just like JC did. Seams, flats, and middle of the field were wide open. Slants, screens and hitches all day. It was bad offense by Pikeville. Watch it back. Belfry watched the film and learned. Play that against Corbin and watch what happens. They usually have 3-4 wideouts and 1-2 backs every play. JC cannot stop that offense with their personnel. They just aren’t made for that. Now Corbin has to stop them too and I don’t know if they can consistently either but I give them a better chance getting a few run stops than I do JC getting many stops at all. Just being honest with you. JC dominated Pikeville but you were 100% correct. It wasn’t effort. It wasn’t weight room either. It was scheme. Offensive line played awesome for JC and has all year but you can attack that defense and it will at least end up in a shootout like the Belfry game. Pikeville did get an early turnover on downs and  not much later a McCourt fumble recovery. So if they go out and attack JC differently, that game is much different.  JC may still have won but it would have been competitive. It wasn’t that night.

We'll just have to disagree. JC more than doubled Pikeville's total yardage. Aside from one long run, JC totally shutdown Pikeville's offense and short of a rash of unforced fumbles, nothing would have made Pikeville competitive with JC this season.

[Belichick]

A team who runs the wing T literally threw it all over JC the next week just like I am suggesting. A team who doesn’t really know how to pass block gashed JC. Belfry had JC beat. You think Pikeville can’t throw it on JC? Now why they didn’t is your $ question. Same can be said about Pikeville Belfry game. Although Belfry has better athletes on the back end, several still don’t cover well. Games are available online to go back and watch. Tape/film doesn’t lie. JC is playing great and dominated the matchup with Pikeville. Not disputing that. Rather pointing out why the Eagles did. Still may have won the game but it would have been competitive.

[Hoot Gibson]

A team who runs the wing T literally threw it all over JC the next week just like I am suggesting. A team who doesn’t really know how to pass block gashed JC. Belfry had JC beat. You think Pikeville can’t throw it on JC? Now why they didn’t is your $ question. Same can be said about Pikeville Belfry game. Although Belfry has better athletes on the back end, several still don’t cover well. Games are available online to go back and watch. Tape/film doesn’t lie. JC is playing great and dominated the matchup with Pikeville. Not disputing that. Rather pointing out why the Eagles did. Still may have won the game but it would have been competitive.

Rewatch the game and count the bad snaps. There was a reason that Duty could not pass against JC. If Pikeville had followed your advice, the result would have been even more lop-sided than it was. Teams that cannot establish a running game against Johnson Central have very little chance of beating them with the passing game. Johnson Central had to respect Belfry's ground game, which is the reason Varney looked so much better than Duty did.

Belfry is young and talented. Both Pikeville and Johnson Central will have to take their"A" games to Belfry to go home with a win next season.

[Belichick]

Jumping around so much it’s hard to keep up. Are you saying Pikeville couldn’t throw because of bad snaps or the weight room warriors dominated Pikeville’s wimpy offensive line so much that Duty wouldn’t have time? He had time against LCA and sorry but JC does not have a better D line than LCA. It doesn’t take long to shred cover 3. JC doesn’t have the personnel to guard on the back end. Belfry didn’t run or pass great by the numbers against Pikeville and their weak line and the Pikeville weak offensive line had some success running the ball in the first half. That’s weird because it almost contradicts what you’re saying. Corbin doesn’t run much so we will see if your theory holds water. JC knows the pass is coming so they should be fine.

[NEXT]

The Belfry hate is real for you for some reason.

[Hoot Gibson]

Jumping around so much it’s hard to keep up. Are you saying Pikeville couldn’t throw because of bad snaps or the weight room warriors dominated Pikeville’s wimpy offensive line so much that Duty wouldn’t have time? He had time against LCA and sorry but JC does not have a better D line than LCA. It doesn’t take long to shred cover 3. JC doesn’t have the personnel to guard on the back end. Belfry didn’t run or pass great by the numbers against Pikeville and their weak line and the Pikeville weak offensive line had some success running the ball in the first half. That’s weird because it almost contradicts what you’re saying. Corbin doesn’t run much so we will see if your theory holds water. JC knows the pass is coming so they should be fine.

We watched a totally different game. In the game that I saw, Johnson Central dominated the game with both its offensive and defensive lines.

The game I watched featured Duty taking some snaps over his head and picking other snaps off his shoe laces. Duty did a great job simply avoiding multiple fumbles and sacks

As for Corbin, I expect that their lines will match up better with Johnson Central's than Pikeville's did. I also expect that Elam will be the recipient of better snaps and have more time to find his receivers than Pikeville's line gave Duty.

I don't understand people who struggle so much to give opposing teams credit after losses. Pikeville did not give games away to Belfry and Johnson Central. The Panthers just lost to better, more physical teams on those two nights.

[Belichick]

Where is the hate? I said they didn’t run or pass well by the numbers. They didn’t. That’s not opinion. Neither team put up big stats but Pikeville had better rushing and passing yardage in the game. I’ve also said Belfry was better than Pikeville and should have beaten JC. Shredded the JC defense. Where did I hate?

[jetpilot]

Nobody hates Belfry. Nothing but praise from Pikeville fans is all I've heard.

[Hoot Gibson]

The Belfry hate is real for you for some reason.

No more real than the hate for Johnson Central. At least he put the Pirates on the same tier as Pikeville and Corbin in an earlier post. I believe JC was lumped in with Lawrence County. ?

[Belichick]

Jumping around so much it’s hard to keep up. Are you saying Pikeville couldn’t throw because of bad snaps or the weight room warriors dominated Pikeville’s wimpy offensive line so much that Duty wouldn’t have time? He had time against LCA and sorry but JC does not have a better D line than LCA. It doesn’t take long to shred cover 3. JC doesn’t have the personnel to guard on the back end. Belfry didn’t run or pass great by the numbers against Pikeville and their weak line and the Pikeville weak offensive line had some success running the ball in the first half. That’s weird because it almost contradicts what you’re saying. Corbin doesn’t run much so we will see if your theory holds water. JC knows the pass is coming so they should be fine.

We watched a totally different game. In the game that I saw, Johnson Central dominated the game with both its offensive and defensive lines.

The game I watched featured Duty taking some snaps over his head and picking other snaps off his shoe laces. Duty did a great job simply avoiding multiple fumbles and sacks

As for Corbin, I expect that their lines will match up better with Johnson Central's than Pikeville's did. I also expect that Elam will be the recipient of better snaps and have more time to find his receivers than Pikeville's line gave Duty.

I don't understand people who struggle so much to give opposing teams credit after losses. Pikeville did not give games away to Belfry and Johnson Central. The Panthers just lost to better, more physical teams on those two nights.

I didn’t know the defensive line consisted of 9 guys. You are right. Pikeville shouldn’t have thrown. They should run against 9 in the box. Picture included just for reference. It was your backers and safety playing downhill sir. You aren’t running against that. You throw the ball. Snaps are completely different issue. I have given them credit. Said they dominated. Why they dominated was an awful game plan by Pikeville.

[NEXT]

Nobody hates Belfry. Nothing but praise from Pikeville fans is all I've heard.

I was shocked, pleasantly for the most part, by the praise and encouragement by most of both fanbases, you included.

Some though juts can’t let stuff go. I hope Pikeville wins out!

[jetpilot]

I would love to see JC go far. But look at the Belfry tape and the Ashland tape from last year. The secondary will get lit up again, and more than once. Will their run game be enough? Maybe.

[jetpilot]

Nobody hates Belfry. Nothing but praise from Pikeville fans is all I've heard.

I was shocked, pleasantly for the most part, by the praise and encouragement by most of both fanbases, you included.

Some though juts can’t let stuff go. I hope Pikeville  wins out!

I want to see Pikeville and Belfry at Kroger. Hopefully Belfry is watching the tape of LCA beating CAL every day and foaming at the mouth.

[Belichick]

I think JC beats Ashland again this year but they’ll eventually run up against a Corbin or Boyle who makes the back end play the pass. Pikeville didn’t do that. Belfry did. It was a close game and if not for some costly turnovers, Belfry wins that game. Would have been close if Pikeville played JC that way too. Can’t block 9 with 5 or 6. Math doesn’t work out. I didn’t say Pikeville was better or wins. But JC would not dominate the way they were allowed to if Pikeville played differently (passed the ball). That’s my opinion. JC dominated the game as it was played as I’ve said repeatedly.

[Hoot Gibson]

I would love to see JC go far. But look at the Belfry tape and the Ashland tape from last year. The secondary will get lit up again, and more than once. Will their run game be enough? Maybe.

Last year's games have no relevance to this year's Johnson Central team. With all of injuries that Johnson Central had, I was amazed that they beat Ashland. The Tomcats should have won last year's game.

I don't think you understand Johnson Central's approach to player development. They will put a lot of talented freshmen and sophomores in the defensive lineup and they will allow them to make mistakes. They may also throw some more experienced players into those positions in big games and situations until the youngsters are up to the job.

If you look at the Breathitt County score and stats, you might conclude that JC had trouble stopping BC's passing game. Actually, JC subbed liberally after getting a quick running clock and BC left their starters in and continued throwing down field. JC could have easily won that game by 60 points or more.

Johnson Central is also making quite a few interceptions. Yardage allowed doesn't make much difference if you are scoring on nearly every possession and winning the turnover battle. 

Ashland will have a lot more success throwing the ball against JC than Pikeville did because they are a better team - but Johnson Central's record against Ashland is something like 18-3 since Matney came, but there have been some very close games. Ashland had trouble stopping JC's makeshift offense last season. We will see how they fare against what will probably be the top rushing offense in the state.

[jetpilot]

Ashland won't stop JC rushing attack. We will just have to disagree on the secondary. You are getting ahead of yourself Hoot. JC is good and everyone knows it but they have a hole in the defense and it's called the middle of the field. Let's see if they can handle Strader and Elam and then we'll know how far they can go. And say what you want Pikeville is a shadow of themselves this year for a variety of reasons but if they heal up and  put it all together they are as good as anyone in the mountains. Lots of big ifs but still time. The talent is there.

[Bull got out!]

 Elam will light that Johnson Central defense up like a Christmas tree. They will not stop Elam. The only thing Johnson Central can hope for is Corbins defensive coordinator was to lay an egg on the game planning.  The Corbin players will do their jobs when put in the right positions. Its gonna take a strong 5/4 look IMO like they have done the last 2 years and put Johnson Central in a position to stop Elam on the offensive side of things. Corbin doesn't have to hold JC to no points, they just need to slow them enough to win. I just don't think Belfry is a better team than Corbin. Sorry, not buying it.

[Hoot Gibson]

Ashland won't stop JC rushing attack. We will just have to disagree on the secondary. You are getting ahead of yourself Hoot. JC is good and everyone knows it but they have a hole in the defense and it's called the middle of the field. Let's see if they can handle Strader and Elam and then we'll know how far they can go. And say what you want Pikeville is a shadow of themselves this year for a variety of reasons but if they heal up and  put it all together they are as good as anyone in the mountains. Lots of big ifs but still time. The talent is there.

I have no doubt that Pikeville is capable of winning another title and I hope they do. 4A is loaded and Johnson Central faces a very steep hill to make it back to the finals and it will take a near perfect game for anybody to have a chance to beat Boyle County. Johnson Central can have a very successful year without reaching the finals. The top 7 teams in 4A are very strong this season. There is no shame in losing to a better team. I'm not sure Pikeville fans will consider anything less than a season that ends with a title a success.

One final point. You repeatedly note that Pikeville always improves a lot by the end of the season. That is a very common characteristic with good football programs. Yet, you dismiss the possibility that Johnson Central's secondary will make similar improvements. Not only that, you use a game from last season as an indicator of how JC's secondary will play in the team's last regular season game. In what world does that sort of logic make sense?

JC will be facing some very talented quarterbacks, but those teams will be facing the top rushing team in the state.

I actually like Belfry's chances of winning another title at least as much as Pikeville's chances. It would great if both bring back titles to eastern Kentucky.

[Hoot Gibson]

 Elam will light that Johnson Central defense up like a Christmas tree. They will not stop Elam. The only thing Johnson Central can hope for is Corbins defensive coordinator was to lay an egg on the game planning.  The Corbin players will do their jobs when put in the right positions. Its gonna take a strong 5/4 look IMO like they have done the last 2 years and put Johnson Central in a position to stop Elam on the offensive side of things. Corbin doesn't have to hold JC to no points, they just need to slow them enough to win. I just don't think Belfry is a better team than Corbin. Sorry, not buying it.

Belfry has always defended JC's running game better than Corbin has. Corbin will not slow down JC's  running game this season. Elam will need a huge game for Corbin to leave Paintsville with a win.

[Senters_93]

The Belfry hate is real for you for some reason.

No more real than the hate for Johnson Central. At least he put the Pirates on the same tier as Pikeville and Corbin in an earlier post. I believe JC was lumped in with Lawrence County. ?

Whoahh whoahh who brought Lawrence in a belfry/pikeville threadm Just like all I've seen for the last 58 comments is all about JC lol.
Where's the focus at here guys?

---

The Belfry hate is real for you for some reason.

No more real than the hate for Johnson Central. At least he put the Pirates on the same tier as Pikeville and Corbin in an earlier post. I believe JC was lumped in with Lawrence County. ?

Whoahh whoahh who brought Lawrence in a belfry/pikeville threadm Just like all I've seen for the last 58 comments is all about JC lol.
Where's the focus at here guys?

We just got too many health problems right now!! It might now be the year to brag all the way to late November but we are gonna give some good teams a shot!!

[Bull got out!]

 Elam will light that Johnson Central defense up like a Christmas tree. They will not stop Elam. The only thing Johnson Central can hope for is Corbins defensive coordinator was to lay an egg on the game planning.  The Corbin players will do their jobs when put in the right positions. Its gonna take a strong 5/4 look IMO like they have done the last 2 years and put Johnson Central in a position to stop Elam on the offensive side of things. Corbin doesn't have to hold JC to no points, they just need to slow them enough to win. I just don't think Belfry is a better team than Corbin. Sorry, not buying it.

Belfry has always defended JC's running game better than Corbin has. Corbin will not slow down JC's  running game this season. Elam will need a huge game for Corbin to leave Paintsville with a win.

[Bull got out!]

[Video: http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwSLV13ys0Q]

 If Corbin gives up 450 yards rushing, I hope they lose. Belfry done good with their run defense like always by the looks of it. 

[Pirateredwhite]

[Video: http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwSLV13ys0Q]

 If Corbin gives up 450 yards rushing, I hope they lose. Belfry done good with their run defense like always by the looks of it. 

You not a big belfry guy?

[jetpilot]

35 Anthony, Brenden 3 10 13 2 0

Looks like Anthony was out there a lot, I was wrong.
Stat line added to KHSAA site.

[Patriot1]

I don’t know by these posts whos thread that it is but Pikeville hopefully gets better and Belfry gets better and Johnson Central gets better and bluegrass rivals gets better because Hoot Gibson is back!!!!!