[imported_imported_torQQue]

Will Belfry have a enough returning to bring home the 2A state for the third straight year?

[Big Red]

Way too early to tell.

It is not an impossibility, as a lot of the elite 2A teams in the eastern side of the state are also trying to recover from heavy losses to graduation. But Belfry just graduated the best backfield they have ever had and a very good group of linemen.

We'll just have to get in there and work hard and try to peak at the right time and see what happens.

[ComfortEagle]

I don't think so, they lost a lot this year.

[imported_imported_torQQue]

BIG RED Who will be some of their key returning players that could possibly step up and help Belfry make a run next year at another State Championship!!

[CatDawg]

I don't think it will happen like CE said they lost a lot but nothing is impossible.

[BelfryPride]

Ya never know....Never count out Coach Haywood and the Boys from Pond Creek !!!

[crazytaxidriver]

I don't think they can go for a threepeat, but you can always count on them in the playoffs. But I think they may have lost too much to take it all the way this year.

[panthermania]

No chance......

[blackcat]

No, they lost to much with Jones and Howard leaving.

[4leaf]

Blackcat said it right. They had lost too much in those two.

[sandwich spread]

How will their linemen be in '05?

[Hurley]

I would be surprised if they were 1st in the disrict next year after losing such tuff backs

[youknowwhoibe]

I expect Belfry to have a good season like always but I doubt a threepeat with the loss of all their star backs.

[gish]

NO WAY. They just lost arguably the best player they've ever had at the school in Doug Howard. He carried them the last two years and I don't see them winning it again.

[T-Blankenship78]

Without Jones and Howard, i doubt belfry will win region.

[BCF4L]

They won't win state. Too many schools that return good players out there. However, with P-burg losing a bunch, and Breathitt losing just as many, I say the region is wide open again this year.

[Beef]

Well...it was said after the first championship that they couldn't go back to back but they did.....but a 3-peat I think is just asking too much....esp with the loss of one of the greatest backfields in recent history!

[fanofkentuckyb-ball]

Nope, lost too much with Howard and Jones.

[T-Blankenship78]

I Don't think it is physically possible

[Big Red]

It may be mid season before we start to recognize favorites in 2A this season. There seems to be a mixture of teams returning for 2005 that are either strong teams from last season who lost a lot to graduation or decent teams from last season who were young but return a lot.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Teams from the eastern half of the bracket have controlled 2A the last few seasons and we may see a change in that come next season.

In Region 4, Middlesboro and Leslie Co return the most talent and will battle it out along with Breathitt Co in D7 while Belfry and Prestonsburg will again be the favorites in D8. You could make a case for any of these teams to be the regional favorite.

[Showtyme]

Great program, don't think they can win third straight but with great programs it is possible every year.

[fanofkentuckyb-ball]

How will the backfield look next year for the Pirates??

[SVHERO#74]

I think they might come close to winning the 2nd game of playoffs, but it is really to early to say right now. They lose alot of good strong athlets this year. BUT WILL THERE BACK FIELD BE DOMINATING LIKE IT WAS EVER YEAR????

[liveMAROON]

YES I BELIEVE THAT IT'S VERY POSSIBLE.....that is if all the other 2A teams got mad cow disease for the entire season....like the man CE said....its impossible with what they lost in that dominate backfield

[POOFACE]

I think the boys from ole Pond Creek Nation will not see the carpet again...at least not in the near future...It's not very often that two groups of individuals with that much athletic ability comes through a 2a school at least in eastern kentucky...And it wasn't the coaching staff that made such drastic changes to get Belfry to the next level...I mean Coach H should have a ring for every finger with some of the teams that he has had in the past....It was the athletic ability of three backs and a couple of linemen that pushed Belfry to the state championship. I like Belfry don't get me wrong, and they have done a good job of getting area players to come there, but year in and year out they are not going to be able to match the athletes that come from some of the schools down state.

[NC FAN]

NO WAY with JONES and HOWARD gone they have nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EyeOfTheTiger508]

The region graduated many of talented athletes this year, especially in football. It's tradition at Belfry to have a good, well respected team. But it is also the same way at Prestonsburg, Breathitt Co., and other programs in the region! I say the region is left wide open for 2005. It's really too soon to tell what might happen. Belfry will be good but not make it back to the state game for a third time, IMO. Although, I do wish them and the rest of the region the best of luck.

[Superman]

Even though I would love to see a mountain team win 3 straight championships, i would have to say that i dont believe Belfry will have the talent to replace Howard and Jones. Howard is probably the best high school runningback that i have ever seen while Jones was a great high school Defensive back. Losing two players of that caliber is hard, but with a coach like Phillip Heywood, who knows how good this 05 team will be.

[15thRegionSlamaBamma]

I dont think they will but i would love to see this happen again the represent the Mountains WELL

[15thRegionFan]

It's possible, no one thought they would repeat in 2004 but they did.