BELFRY - It was billed as one of the biggest games of the year in Class 2A, and by the end of regulation the outcome was still undecided. Belfry rallied for a late touchdown from senior tailback Doug Howard to send Friday's game against visiting Prestonsburg into overtime. In the overtime session, Belfry prevailed, winning 20-14.

In regulation, Prestonsburg won the toss and elected to take the opening kickoff.

For Prestonsburg, after driving to the Belfry 45 yard line, David Shaffer's pass was intercepted by Matt Maynard and Belfry took over. The Pirates would need only one play for Howard to scamper 60 yards for a Belfry score and after the extra point Belfry led 7-0 with 10:11 remaining in the first quarter. The opening quarter ended with Belfry leading 7-0, but Prestonsburg struck back on a 2-yard touchdown run from Joe Blackburn with 11:55 left in the first half of play.

The highlight of the Blackcat scoring drive was a 50-yard pass completion from senior quarterback Trevor Compton to Kyle Ousley. Both teams exchanged punts in the second quarter and the game went into the half even at 7-7.

Belfry took the second half kickoff and failed to muster any offense. Prestonsburg took the Belfry punt and marched 60 yards in 6 plays which was capped by a 16-yard touchdown run from Trevor Compton. The Blackcats then looked to be in control. Prestonsburg led 14-7 after three quarters of play, and still held the lead with less than 8:00 remaining, but that is when Belfry's Howard took control.

Howard carried the ball six times in Belfry's next possession for a total of 45 yards. Howard found the endzone on a 9-yard run with 3:55 left in the game to even the score at 14-14.

Prestonsburg was then unable to move the pigskin and was forced to punt the ball back to Belfry. David Jones, who had been held in check all night by the Prestonsburg defense, reversed field and returned the punt from the Belfry 40 to the Blackcat 24 -yard line.

Belfry marched to the Prestonsburg 5-yard line with less than :30 remaining, but Howard coughed up the football at the Blackcat 4-yard line and the game went into overtime.

Prestonsburg took the football in the overtime and was faced with a fourth-and-goal from the Belfry 1-yard line when Joe Blackburn was stopped at the goal line and Belfry took over on downs.

Belfry took the win on the first play in overtime as Howard raced to the corner of the endzone and the Pirates escaped with the 20-14 overtime win.

Prestonsburg controlled the game for the most part as the Blackcat defense frustrated Belfry for most of the night. But in the end, Belfry claimed the win. The game ended as one in a series of many classic match ups in the Belfry- Prestonsburg rivalry and with any luck football fans in Eastern Kentucky could be treated to a rematch in the State Playoffs at the end of the season.