Bell County has enjoyed the comforts of home their last two games, but now they'll head out on the road. They will take on the Belfry Pirates at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Bell County had already proven themselves in the regular season, and didn't miss a beat now that it's playoff time. They simply couldn't be stopped on Friday as they easily beat Magoffin County 62-27 at home. Given Bell County's advantage in MaxPreps' Kentucky football rankings (they are ranked 38th, while Magoffin County is ranked 155th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
It was another big night for Daniel Thomas, who rushed for 333 yards and four touchdowns while picking up 14.5 yards per carry. Thomas was no stranger to the big play, turning on the jets for a run that went for 55 yards. The team also got some help courtesy of Blake Burnett, who threw for 122 yards and two touchdowns on only eight passes.
Meanwhile, Belfry waltzed into Friday's game with five straight wins but they left with six. They put the hurt on Clay County with a sharp 56-36 victory. With Belfry ahead 56-20 at the half, the game was all but over already.
Belfry's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Dre' Young, who rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries. Young hasn't dropped below two rushing touchdowns for three straight games. Caden Woolum also deserves a mention for his punt return touchdown.
Bell County's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 10-1. They've been dominating during the matchups in that stretch too, as they've won by an average of 32.67 points. As for Belfry, their win bumped their record up to 8-3.
Keep an eye on the end zone in Friday's game as Bell County and Belfry haven't had much trouble getting there this season. Bell County commands a daunting offense this season, having averaged 5.9 touchdowns per game. However, it's not like Belfry struggles in that department as they've been averaging 5.5 per game. With these two high-octane teams facing off on Friday, fans should be in for an exciting offensive matchup. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
Bell County might still be hurting after the 41-20 defeat they got from Belfry when the teams last played back in November of 2021. Can Bell County avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
