Pirates collar the Cougars [Williamson Daily News, W.Va.]

Sept. 11--BELFRY, Ky. -- The offensive line of the Belfry Pirates came up strong in the second half to defeat the class 4A Letcher County Central Cougars.

With a much improved secondary and a strong OL, BHS improved to 2-2 on the season crushing LCC 42-20 at Cam Stadium Friday night.

Offensively, the Cougars depended too much on QB Logan Johnson, first cousin to UK Wildcat football standout Tim Couch and the Belfry D made some key stops in the second half for the victory.

The Cougars won the toss and returned the first punt of the game to 54-yard line. LCC lined up in shotgun formation. On 2nd and 9, Johnson dropped back to pass and with no one open ran the ball to the 36-yard line for a first down.

Johnson continued to move the ball down the field and on 4th and 8 on the Pirate 9-yard line and the QB scored the first points on a keeper. The 2-point conversion was no good and with 6:11 in the first, LCC led Belfry 6-0.

Running the wishbone, the Pirates marched into Panther territory with QB Tyler Williams, RB Josh Robinson, RB Gary Runyon and SE Josh Dixon moving the chains. The first quarter ended with Belfry trailing the Panthers 6-0 on 4th and goal.

A false start moved the football to the 6-yard line at the beginning of the second quarter. The Bucs were unable cross into the endzone and turned the ball over on downs.

However, LCC Drew Bentley was tackled in the endzone by Morgan Bentley for a Pirate safety. The Bucs now trailed the Cougars 6-2 with 11:47 in the second.

Jeffree Pruitt returned the LCC punt to the 48-yard line. Williams handed off to Pruitt for s 7 yard gain. With 2nd and 3, Williams pass was incomplete to Bentley but a sweep by Dixon took the ball to the 38-yard line for a first down.

Williams handed the pigskin to RB Trey Willis who took the ball to LCC's 2-yard line breaking numerous tackles along the way. Another handoff to Willis resulted in a Pirate TD. The PAT by Austin Childers was good and Belfry took the lead 9-6 with 10:21 in the second quarter.

For the next few possessions, neither team was able to put anymore points on the board. Late in the second quarter, BHS Trenity Carr took a LCC punt to the 34-yard line. Williams once again handed off to Willis who moved the ball to the 23 for a 1st down.

A pitch to Pruitt resulted in no gain. With 3rd and 7 on the 20-yard line, Williams passed to SE Steven Gibbs who went up high over Panther defender Keaston Hall for a touchdown. The PAT was good and the half ended with the Pirates up 16-6.

The second half began with Dixon taking the kickoff. He had some running room but stepped out of bounds at the 46-yard line. On a QB keeper, Williams moved the ball to the 44. RB Gary Runyon took the handoff and was tripped up at the 39-yard line for 2nd and 5 for the Pirates. Another QB keeper brought up 3rd and 2. Williams once again gave the ball to Runyon for a 36-yard TD. The PAT was good and with 9:47 in the third, Belfry extended their lead 23-6.

However, the Cougars were not about to lay down for the Pirates. LCC Chris Tyree took the punt and after some missed tackles by the Bucs, took the football the length of the field into the endzone. The 2-point conversion was no good and the scoreboard read Pirates 23, Cougars 12.

LCC gave the ball back to the Pirates after moving the ball down the field but was unable to convert on 4th and 2. However, A Williams handoff to Willis was stripped by the Cougars who took over at the 46.

LCC lined up in the I formation but Johnson was tackled in the backfield for a loss. On the next play, Johnson pitched the ball to Jesse Rose who ran the ball to the 36-yard line for 2nd and 1. Johnson and Rose continued to move the ball into Pirate territory. Johnson's pass to Matt Boggs in the endzone was complete and after scoring the 2-point conversion, the Cougars closed the gap 23-20 with 1:55 left in the third.

But those would be the last points LCC would be able to score against the Pirates. Belfry's OL and key defensive stops in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for the Pirates.

Pruitt scored with 5:43 in the game and with the PAT, Belfry led 30-20. A fumble by LCC's QB Johnson was recovered by Preston Young who ran it for yet another BHS TD with 4:40 left on the clock. And after QB Williams faked a couple of handoffs for a QB sneak and a Pirate TD, the game was over with Belfry winning 42-20.

Belfry ended the game with 356 total offensive yards; 336 of those on the ground. The Pirates' D held Letcher County Central to only 192 yards on offense. LCC dropped to 1-3 on the season.

Belfry will be at home again next week when they host Whitley County.

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