[EKUAlum05]

Valiant effort by the Pirates. Milliken hits Bolden with a beautiful pass play late in the 4th to spoil the upset bid.

Wales left the game after the first possession.

hats off to the Jackets for enduring the threat and coming up with the big plays on both sides of the ball when needed. Expect both teams to do it all over again next season.

[AtlPirateFan]

Congrats to Central on a great hard fought win without their star.

Very classy ending.

Pirates don't you dare hang your heads. Look at the prediction thread, you guys where 3 td underdogs. They said you couldn't hang with Central, they where too fast. Well boys you proved today you are one of the Top 2 teams in 3A and that the State Title game was not played when Bell faced Central in the Regionals

[WideRight05]

I tip my hat to Belfry. They played a great game and really looked impressive. I was wrong on my prediction on the game, and have no hesitance coming on here and manning up to it. I like to give Belfry a hard time on here, as well as anyone else with a big following. I know I am a complete asshole, but I do it all in good nature. Seriously though, hats off to Coach Haywood and Belfry. To lose like that HAS to suck, but at least Belfry can say they left it on the field, and honestly that's all that matters. Belfry should hold their heads high. And congrats to Central on a big win.

[McCameraMan]

Congrats Central. And congrats to Belfry for doing what not many people believed you could do. The Mountains were represented very well this year in the State Championship.

[EKUAlum05]

That Pirate defense that looked so tough returns 7/11 starters and Central returns 8/11 starters, both teams basically return every other player in the Defensive 2 deep as well.

If you want to be in contention for 3A next year, you better pack a lunch because these teams will be downright scary next season.

[Strikeout King]

Belfry has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, they played hard and they just about came away with the Win. Belfry will be back in the State Title game next year I do believe. Congrats to Central

[McCameraMan]

I tip my hat to Belfry. They played a great game and really looked impressive. I was wrong on my prediction on the game, and have no hesitance coming on here and manning up to it. I like to give Belfry a hard time on here, as well as anyone else with a big following. I know I am a complete asshole, but I do it all in good nature. Seriously though, hats off to Coach Haywood and Belfry. To lose like that HAS to suck, but at least Belfry can say they left it on the field, and honestly that's all that matters. Belfry should hold their heads high. And congrats to Central on a big win.

Well said!

[Stardust]

Belfry presented themselves excellently and proved they are one of the best teams in the State of Kentucky. There was no arguing that Central was not just good, but great. They were in viruatlly everyon's top five in the State. This proves that not only is Belfry good, but a top 10 team in the state of Kentucky at minimum! Great job by the Pirates.

[vundy33]

Hey Central fans...you people that said Belfry had no chance and Central could score whatever they wanted. You see what believing in yourselves does? 1 point...just 1 point.

Congrats men...you all showed how Belfry does things, and how you pull together to play ANYONE. Go get em next year.

[LeeCoUKFan]

So much for Central supposedly blowing out Belfry. Central was lucky to win this game!! Congrats to Belfry on a GREAT game and an even better season!!

[EKUAlum05]

Belfry presented themselves excellently and proved they are one of the best teams in the State of Kentucky. There was no arguing that Central was not just good, but great. They were in viruatlly everyon's top five in the State. This proves that not only is Belfry good, but a top 10 team in the state of Kentucky at minimum! Great job by the Pirates.

I, along with most reasonable Belfry fans, will give credit where it is due and acknowledge a healthy Central with Wales is more than 1 point better than Belfry. I don't think Belfry is a Top 10 team regardless of class...but they were CLEARLY the 2nd best 3A team and a Top 20 team in the state overall.


The funny thing is, if we had the old "harder" 4 Class system and Belfry was in 2A I think the Pirates are celebrating a State Title right now with a convincing win over Glasgow.

Central is the undisputed King of 3A..but they are making the Belfry program better. The Pirates are evolving and today proves they are beginning to close the gap.

[GetChili]

First off, congrats to Central on the state title. Then I would like to congratulate the Belfry Pirates on a historic season. You all represented the mountains extremely well!

[Poseidon]

Hey Central fans...you people that said Belfry had no chance and Central could score whatever they wanted. You see what believing in yourselves does? 1 point...just 1 point.

Congrats men...you all showed how Belfry does things, and how you pull together to play ANYONE. Go get em next year.

I hear what you are saying, but 1 point or 100 points it is still a win, or loss. Congratulations to Central on another title, and congrats to Belfry for losing by 1 point.

[MtnHSFootballFan]

Congratulations Central. And thanks for the exciting season, Belfry. You've earned a lot of respect for yourselves, your coaches and for Mountain Football! God bless all associated with both teams and their families.

[LWC]

Closer than I expected, good try Belfry gave it your all.

[PirateNation1971]

Belfry great played game, keep your heads up i know it is hard but you played a hell of a football game today.Go get them next season they know who belfry is and they know now that we are for real

Congrats to central you have a class team and i loved how at the end everyone from both sides got down on there knees with arms on each others team mates at the end of the game great sportsmanship on both teams part.



Thanks Pirates For A Great Season!

Hope We Can Return Next Season!

Go Big Red!

[The Contrarian]

Belfry represented Eastern Kentucky well in the Championship Game! Coach Haywood and his players did great and have no reason to hang their heads.

[cj2561]

Congrats central on winning the title.
Belfry, you have nothing to be ashamed about. you was a 3 TDS underdogs, and lose by 1 point.
everone say mountains football is dead. Hazard and Belfry show this weekend, mountains football is still alive and well.

[Stardust]

Central won its fourth state title in five years in dramatic fashion. Tajh Milliken threw a 35-yard TD pass to Cornelius Bolden in the back right corner of the end zone with two minutes left to give the Yellowjackets a 15-14 victory over Belfry.

“It felt great to pull it out for our team,” Bolden said.

Central also beat Belfry in the 2007 finals (27-17) and 2010 finals (46-7). The Jackets won this one without star running back Anthony Wales, who hurt his shoulder on his second play of the game and did not return. He spent the rest of the afternoon the sidelines.

“This is four (titles), and each one gets better and better,” Central Coach Ty Scroggins said. “But this has got to be one of the tops because we had to fight back, 15-14. It was mad, it was unbelievable.”

Central jumped ahead 9-0 on Musa Kamara’s 29-yard field goal, and TaeShawn Gibbs’ 10-yard TD catch.

Belfry pulled to within 9-7 on Tyler Williams’ 74-yard TD pass to Howie Dotson late in the first half.

The Pirates took a 14-9 lead on Josh Dixon’s 4-yard TD run midway through the third quarter.

Central’s game-winning drive started at its own 19 with 3:42 left. It didn’t take the Jackets long to march down the field, though, and they cashed in on Milliken’s perfect TD pass to Bolden.

Belfry had one last chance in the closing seconds when it drove to the Central 23. But the Jackets’ defense stuffed the Pirates after that, sacking Williams on fourth down.

Milliken finished 8 of 12 for 151 yards and 2 TDs. Jaquez Howard ran 14 times for 59 yards.

Belfry was led by Trey Willis, who ran for 69 yards. Williams was 2-for-5 passing for 91 yards and had one interception.

Belfry, a two-time state champ (2003 and 2004), has been runner-up six times.

Pirates Coach Philip Haywood said he thought his team gave a much better effort this year than they did last December.

“Last year Central got out on us and we didn’t play well,” he said. “I feel our kids laid it on the line today, and I’m really proud of how hard we played. We lost and we hurt, but I can honestly say they laid it all on the field against a very good football team.”

http://www.Kentucky.com

[Stardust]

[Image: http://fieldsnotes.bloginky.com/files/20...ntral4.jpg]

[Louisville]

Hey Central fans...you people that said Belfry had no chance and Central could score whatever they wanted. You see what believing in yourselves does? 1 point...just 1 point.

Congrats men...you all showed how Belfry does things, and how you pull together to play ANYONE. Go get em next year.

Congrats to belfry and Central, my yellowjackets never gave up and had to play without Wales, and Vundy33, a true central fan would never say that belfry had no chance, we've always respected the class you all bring to the table and we never take a belfry team lightly, they are always dangerous, they were not true yellow jacket fans if they said we would blow them out, playing belfry ANY DAY is a challenge, im just glad we won, but helluva season for belfry, and way to go central on #4!

[FBALL]

Congratulations to Central on another Championship. Impressive doing it without Wales.

Good game from Belfry as usual.

Hopefully Russell will be able to step back up soon but with the parents, politics and attitudes up here right now I don't see it happening for a few more years.

[Stardust]

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Louisville Central High School lost its star football player Anthony Wales early in the game but still rallied to claim the Class 3-A state football championship.

Tajh Milliken completed a 35-yard touchdown pass to Cornelius Bolden with

2:01 left to help the Yellowjackets claim their fourth title in five years and second in a row by beating Belfry 15-14 at Western Kentucky University.

But this one came in dramatic fashion.

Wales, who came into the game needing 11 yards to surpass Derek Homer for second on the state's all-time rushing list, only carried two times for minus-one yard before suffering a separated shoulder.

Central took a 9-0 lead but the offense stalled for much of the rest of the game. The Yellowjackets only ran three offensive plays in the third quarter.

Belfry scored on a 74-yard pass from Tyler Williams to Howie Dotson with

3:04 left in the first half and then took a 14-9 lead with 7:23 left in the third quarter on a 4-yard run by Josh Dixon.

Milliken then directed the Yellowjackets on a seven-play, 81-yard drive that was capped by his TD pass to Bolden.

Derius Jones then intercepted a pass on the first play from scrimmage for the Pirates. But the Yellowjckets then had a punt blocked by Gary Runyon.

Belfry had one final shot from the Central 47-yard-line but after a 17-yard gain on the first play the Yellowjackets defense held

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2...|text|Home

[AtlPirateFan]

Very good interview from Coach Scroggins

[BoondockSaint]

I tip my hat to Belfry. They played a great game and really looked impressive. I was wrong on my prediction on the game, and have no hesitance coming on here and manning up to it. I like to give Belfry a hard time on here, as well as anyone else with a big following. I know I am a complete asshole, but I do it all in good nature. Seriously though, hats off to Coach Haywood and Belfry. To lose like that HAS to suck, but at least Belfry can say they left it on the field, and honestly that's all that matters. Belfry should hold their heads high. And congrats to Central on a big win.

I'm sure you could care less, but you just earned a lot of respect from me with that post.

Congrats to both teams on probably the best game of the state finals event.

[BelfryPiratePride74]

What a game...shew...kept me on the edge of my seat. Want to send out a WTG to Central! You played a great game!

And to my Pirates I want to say WTG~!!!!! You played awesome and proved to many what they said couldn't be done...you hung right in there with one of the best teams in Ky. Hold your head high. Be pride of what you accomplished. Down by 1 point that is true football playing...Remember we are Belfry!!!

Also want to say I think it is great the way the players from both team ended the game...True sportsmanship!!!

[WideRight05]

I'm sure you could care less, but you just earned a lot of respect from me with that post.

Congrats to both teams on probably the best game of the state finals event.

Nope, I appreciate it!

Belfry came out and played a tough game. Looks like them, and Central, should things roll the right way, have another great rematch next year.

[vundy33]

I hear what you are saying, but 1 point or 100 points it is still a win, or loss. Congratulations to Central on another title, and congrats to Belfry for losing by 1 point.

Don't be a smartass, you know what I was saying. Congrats to the boys for making it a game instead of listening to the media and fans saying it wouldn't be a game. A loss is a loss...but this one burns extra hot, and will be a great building block and motivator for next year.

[LionNation]

Congratulations to Central on their Win today. Very good game Belfry!! The Lion Nation was pulling for ya' the whole way! All the NAY SAYERS don't have much to say now. Last weekend it was "score says Belfry is having a down year" in regards to the Garrard game. Thank you for proving that wrong. If you all were having a down year then I guess 3A football in Kentucky was having a down year!

Looking forward to next season!!

GO GC!!!!

[RunItUpTheGut]

Congrats Central on your 4th title in 5 years.