Belfry Pirates: 2011 Season Preview

The 2010 edition of the Belfry Pirates were supposed to reloading. For all intents of purposes last season's Big Red Machine was supposed to be caught amidst a bridge year awaiting the development of stellar young talent against a daunting schedule. Instead, the Pirates caught lightning in a bottle en route to defeating a pair of favorites in the hunt for the 3A State Championship. When the dust settled the surprising Pirates were State Runner-Ups.

Entering the 2011 season Belfry still is widely considered a "young team" loaded with Junior and Sophomore talent. The schedule still remains arguably the most daunting in 3A, as the Pirates not only see a non-district slate against several teams widely considered to be in the upper echelon of their respective classes, but the Pirates must also compete in the powerhouse District 8. Phillip Haywood is within striking distance of becoming Kentucky's All-Time Wins Leader, but it may very well require a similar Herculean playoff effort as last season to reach the threshold of the mark.

The Pirates ran a figurative stable of rushing threats at opponents last year. Though leading rusher Jeffree Pruitt has graduated, the Pirates still boast an armory of talented and experienced backs. Senior Tyler Williams returns for yet another stint running the offense at the QB position. Senior Trey Willis stands to anchor Belfry from the FB position after having a breakout performance in the 2010 playoffs which helped push him over the 1000 yard mark for the season. The Halfback positions figure to be a veritable collage of speed and agility as Belfry will platoon JR Josh Robinson, SOPH Trenity Carr, and SR Gary Runyon. The Pirates also have high hopes for speedy SOPH Justin Johnson who burst onto the scene during the 3A State Finals. Returning starters up front for the Pirates are OT Tony Messer, OG Josh Nelson, and C Keegan Fields.

Defensively the Pirates will have to fill the void left smack in the middle of the DL from the departure of leading tackler DT Micah Mahon, NG Preston Young, and DT Stephen Gibbs. Belfry returns both DE's in Runyon and Messer. The LB corps remains in tact as JR Madison Ghormely and JR Peyton Mullin s retain their starting roles. The Pirate secondary has beena liability in year's past, but 2011 appears to be one of the stronger units to step foot on CAM Field anchored by SR Josh Dixon at the Safety position. Dixon proved to be one of the state's top defensive play-makers and the Pirates "enforcer" last season, he is expected to have a break out season in his Senior campaign. Talented SOPH Sani Warren was a revelation after stepping up at CB as a Freshman and hauling in a team leading 6 INT's in about half of a season, he will be an asset in helping to anchor the unit.

Realignment has made 3A arguably the deepest and most competitive class in the entire state. The road to Bowling Green will have many turns and twists, but as always Haywood's Pirates look poised to be amongst the top of the heap come November.