By JAY COMPTON

Sports Editor

LOG MOUNTAIN — Bell County continues their run at defending their Class 4A state championship tonight as the Bobcats host undefeated Lawrence County at 7:30 p.m.

Lawrence comes in at 12-0, a remarkable turnaround from last year’s 0-11 team. The Bulldogs lost at Bell in the opening round of the playoffs last season in a game the Bobcats took control of early in the first half and coasted to a 62-0 win.

Bell County has rolled off 11 straight wins and their only loss came to Tennessee power Alcoa in the first game of the season.

The Bobcats appear to be peaking in the playoffs as they’ve out-scored their opponents 92-0 the last two weeks.

Bell coach Dudley Hilton (his career record is up to 331-99) says his team is preparing for a tougher test tonight and won’t be caught looking ahead.

“We’re playing for the regional championship. It would take a fool (to take it for granted),” he said. “Last year we sat here for the regional championship against Knox. We beat them 21-0 in the regular season and almost got beat. Our kids have been stunned enough that we don’t have to worry about overlooking somebody. We’re talking about a team that’s 12-0 and big in the ratings.”

Hilton has been impressed by Lawrence County’s turnaround under coach Luke Salmons.

“They’re 12-0 and they’re a team that has a good attitude. When you win, that breeds winning and that’s what they’ve done,” he said. “They’ve had the same coach for two years now and he’s got his system in place.

“They’re about the same team we faced last year that was 0-10, but they’re a year older. Some people want to think they’ve recruited or something, but they haven’t recruited, they’ve got in the weight room and went to work. If your going to play this game that’s what you’ve got to do. They’ve done a great job.”

One big key to Lawrence County’s success is a ball-control offense based around senior fullback Shane Pack. Pack has run for 1572 yards and 27 touchdowns on 194 carries. His power is complemented by speedy wingback Hunter James. The junior is up 936 yards on the season on 115 carries after breaking out for 144 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 19-0 win over Knox Central.

The Bulldogs bread and butter are inside traps to Pack while James and freshman Caleb Bentley have shown they can be dangerous in the open field off misdirection.

Sophomore quarterback Hayden Kiser hasn’t done much running but has completed 43 of 77 passes for 737 yards with 10 TDs and 4 interceptions. Lawrence has scored 498 points on the season while rushing for nearly 4,000 yards in 12 games.

“They’ve got something they hang their hats on. A lot of people run so much junk that they don’t have nothing,” Hilton said. “They’ve got a good fullback, a tailback and their quarterback can throw it good enough if he has to. They don’t like to throw it, but he can do what he needs to do to put his team in a winning situation.”

The Bulldogs haven’t been slowed much this season, the 19 points they scored last week was a season low. But they also haven’t faced a defense the caliber of Bell County’s.

The Bobcats are strong and athletic at every level. Seniors Billy Lawson and Cody Marcum lead the way up front with Lawson’s 85 tackles outstanding for an interior lineman. Junior John Dudley Hilton stars at middle linebacker and tops the team with 123 tackles. With him, Dominic Carton, Josh Brown and ends Keith Lowe and Justin Patterson Bell can cover sideline to sideline as well as any team in 4A. On the year Brown has 98 total stops, Patterson 77 and Carton 59 in seven games.

Ben Madon has come a long way as a safety from early in the season has provided a physical presence in the middle the past few weeks. At cornerback senior Matt Raines has shut down just about everyone lined up across from him while he, Cody Davenport, Cory Davenport and Bryan Thacker have all shown to be reliable tacklers when needed.

Bell is allowing right at 225 total yards per game, but that number is skewed from the early season game with Alcoa and the fact the they have played backups in the fourth quarter of most of their other games.

On offense Bell is a little more balanced than Lawrence County, but also favors the running game.

Sophomore running back Cory Davenport has become one of the most electrifying backs in state. He’s run for 1624 yards and 25 touchdowns on 162 carries — that’s an average of ten yards every time he touches the ball.

Hilton and junior Taylor Mills provide the thunder to Davenport’s lightning. They’ve combined for over 700 yards and ten TDs on 90 carries.

Madon is up to 1282 passing yards on the year, he’s 61-of-102 with 17 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions.

Raines and Cody Davenport are the top receivers for Bell with Davenport at 21 catches for 567 yards and nine TDs and Raines at 371 yards and four TDs on 18 grabs.

Lawrence is no slouch on the defensive side of the ball. They’ve allowed just 185 yards per game in total offense.

Senior defensive lineman Cody Anderson anchors the front line and has 79 tackles on the year and the Bulldogs have a pair of outside linebackers with between 75 and 79 tackles in juniors Wade Skaggs and Blake Bradley. Safety Turner Obrian leads the team with 80 tackles and has recovered four fumbles.

It’s playoff football between two teams who are playing with confidence and expecting to win. This one should come down to execution, which team can win the battle at the line of scrimmage and who takes better care of the ball.

“This is what it’s all about,” coach Hilton said. “We’re excited to be playing this game. Practice has gone real well this week, we’re healthy, and we’re just going to keep working hard and playing hard and try to keep this tradition going.”

Ben Madon has come a long way as a safety from early in the season has provided a physical presence in the middle the past few weeks. At cornerback senior Matt Raines has shut down just about everyone lined up across from him while he, Cody Davenport, Cory Davenport and Bryan Thacker have all shown to be reliable tacklers when needed.

Bell is allowing right at 225 total yards per game, but that number is skewed from the early season game with Alcoa and the fact the they have played backups in the fourth quarter of most of their other games.

On offense Bell is a little more balanced than Lawrence County, but also favors the running game.

Sophomore running back Cory Davenport has become one of the most electrifying backs in state. He’s run for 1624 yards and 25 touchdowns on 162 carries — that’s an average of ten yards every time he touches the ball.

Hilton and junior Taylor Mills provide the thunder to Davenport’s lightning. They’ve combined for over 700 yards and ten TDs on 90 carries.

Madon is up to 1282 passing yards on the year, he’s 61-of-102 with 17 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions.

Raines and Cody Davenport are the top receivers for Bell with Davenport at 21 catches for 567 yards and nine TDs and Raines at 371 yards and four TDs on 18 grabs.

Lawrence is no slouch on the defensive side of the ball. They’ve allowed just 185 yards per game in total offense.

Senior defensive lineman Cody Anderson anchors the front line and has 79 tackles on the year and the Bulldogs have a pair of outside linebackers with between 75 and 79 tackles in juniors Wade Skaggs and Blake Bradley. Safety Turner Obrian leads the team with 80 tackles and has recovered four fumbles.

It’s playoff football between two teams who are playing with confidence and expecting to win. This one should come down to execution, which team can win the battle at the line of scrimmage and who takes better care of the ball.

“This is what it’s all about,” coach Hilton said. “We’re excited to be playing this game. Practice has gone real well this week, we’re healthy, and we’re just going to keep working hard and playing hard and try to keep this tradition going.”