Preview: Belfry Pirates vs. Bell County Bobcats
Belfry is on a three-game streak of home wins, while Bell County is on a ten-game streak of away wins (dating back to last season): one of those streaks is about to end. The Belfry Pirates will take on the Bell County Bobcats at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
With a playoff game on the line, Belfry rose to the challenge on Friday. Everything went their way against Clay County as Belfry made off with a 56-36 win. Belfry's offense checked out after the first half but had enough points banked to take the game anyway.
Belfry's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Dre' Young led the charge by rushing for 129 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries. Young is on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in two or more in the last three games he's played. Caden Woolum was another key contributor, gaining 146 total yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Bell County humbled Magoffin County with a 62-27 victory. Given Bell County's advantage in MaxPreps' Kentucky football rankings (they are ranked 38th, while Magoffin County is ranked 155th), the result on Friday wasn't entirely unexpected.
Daniel Thomas was his usual excellent self, rushing for 333 yards and four touchdowns while picking up 14.5 yards per carry. Thomas is absolutely dominating the rushing yard category: he's posted at least 100 every time he's taken the field this season. Another player making a difference was Blake Burnett, who threw for 122 yards and two touchdowns on only eight passes.
Their wins bumped Belfry to 8-3 and Bell County to 10-1.
Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Friday's matchup: Belfry has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 312.3 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Bell County struggles in that department as they've been even better at 346.5 per game. It's looking like Friday's match might have some serious battles in the trenches. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
Everything went Belfry's way against Bell County when the teams last played back in November of 2021 as Belfry made off with a 41-20 win. Will Belfry repeat their success, or does Bell County have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
