Caden Woolem scored 5 total touchdowns as the Belfry Pirates blasted the hosting Breathitt County Bobcats, 48-14, on Friday Night to open the 2023 season.
The Pirates opened the scoring at 7:16 in the first quarter on a 7-yard touchdown run by Woolum to make it 6-0. A few minutes later, Chase Varney completed a pass to Woolum for 46 yards and a touchdown. Dre Young scored on a 2-point conversion to make it a 14-0 Pirate lead.
Breathitt County got on the scoreboard with 0:20 left in the first period as Kory Combs scored on a 3-yard run to trim the Pirate lead to 14-6.
Belfry answered early in the second period as Varney connected with Woolum again, this time on a 56-yard scoring strike. Nick Savage’s PAT kick made it a 21-6 advantage. The Pirates’ lead grew when Ace Caudill raced into the end zone from 55 yards out with 6:20 left in the half. Savage’s PAT kick made it a 28-6 lead. With 1:25 left in the half Varney found Woolum again, this time for 46 yards and another touchdown. Savage’s kick made it 35-6 at the intermission.
Belfry kept up the pace in the third quarter as Woolum raced into the end zone from 45 yards out. Another Savage PAT made the score 42-6. With the running clock, the score remained the same until the fourth quarter as Caudill sprinted into the end zone from 85 yards away to make it a 48-6 advantage.
Jayden Gibson rushed in from 3-yards out and added a 2-point conversion for the Bobcats to make it a 48-14 final score.
Woolum finished with 103 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns on 7 carries. He also caught 3 passes for 145 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Varney completed 3-of-4 passes, all to Woolum, for 145 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Caudill led the Pirates on the ground with 161 yards on 6 carries and 2 touchdowns. Young had 6 carries for 23 yards. Varney had 13 yards on 4 carries. Jeremiah Austin finished with 1 carry for 2 yards. Eli Caudill had 1 carry for 1 yard.
The Pirates will next host George Rogers Clark in the Pike County Bowl on Friday night at 8 pm.
Breathitt County will travel to Perry County Central in 7:30 pm start.
Photo Courtesy of Jarrid McCormick
