"They are a heck of a football team. He (French) has put lot of enthusiasm in the program. He has got them rolling again," Hilton said.
"They are a swarming defensive team. That is what they do. They all get to the ball. They don't stand around. The linebackers are disciplined, the secondary is solid and they are quick up front. You put it all together and that's how you have an excellent defense."
Bell's high-scoring offense is led by tailback Spencer Greer and quarterback Shawnta Zachery.
Greer has rushed for 1,230 yards and 20 touchdowns despite missing one game with an injury while Zachery has thrown for more than 1,200 yards and a school-record 22 touchdowns - and just one interception. He's completing about 60 percent of his passes.
Hilton says Zachery, a starting receiver last year, could be the key to Friday's game for his offense.
"We have been capable of throwing at times. Zachery doesn't get a lot of recognition because he hasn't thrown 50 touchdown passes. But he is a good scrambling quarterback. He has 13 games under his belt now and he's a veteran," Hilton said.
French worries plenty about both Zachery and Greer, who helped Bell beat Lincoln County to open the 2007 season when French was still coaching at Lincoln County.
"The quarterback has a super arm. He is real accurate and they use the play-action pass well. They get you conscious of the run and hit you for a big play," French said. "Greer is very consistent. He is going to get his 100 to 200 yards per game. He's not super fast, but he's quick and he's powerful. He's bigger than last year, and he's breaking more tackles."
Fullback Justin Goodin has rushed for 285 yards and 11 scores while Matt Simpson has 419 yards and six touchdowns.
"When we give Goodin the ball, he knows where the end zone is," Hilton said.
Bell also spreads the ball in the passing game as Chase Ely has 23 catches for 419 yards and six scores while John Dudley Hilton, the coach's son, has 11 receptions for 254 yards and five touchdowns. Cody Davenport and Matt Raines have combined for 16 catches, including nine scores, and 373 yards.
"We've had games where nine or 10 guys would score," Hilton said. "We don't have any receiver with many catches, but we have a lot that can catch. I don't guess any of my boys will get recognized for all-state honors, but you don't get as far if you just have individual players and not a good team. It's the same way with Boyle."
Midfield is field goal range for Bell
Bell does have a high-profile kicker in Monte Merrick, who has scholarship offers from Western Kentucky and Kansas State.
"He is a weapon. If we were in the business to set records, we could have let him kick more field goals (he has four this season). But his kickoffs usually go in the end zone. He's a big-time player. Kentucky is just kind of hanging around. They write or talk to him about every day," Hilton said.
French says if Bell crosses midfield, Merrick is in field goal range.
"They have a very sound kicking game with him and we have to work on pressuring him when he kicks," French said. "They may even onside kick when you think he is just going to pound it into the end zone."
Hilton says French has just has many weapons, if not more, at Boyle. It starts with junior halfback Rees MacShara, who has rushed for 1,718 yards and 28 touchdowns.
"The little tailback is a super athlete. He will give you a leg and take it away," Hilton said. "The quarterback is experienced and gets better every game."
Senior quarterback Phillip Mason has completed 118 of 228 passes for 1,782 yards and 15 scores.
The top receivers are tight end Jordan Aumiller with 29 catches for 434 yards and five scores and Bret Marshall with 29 catches for 430 yards and three scores. Ron Crutchfield has 22 receptions for 373 yards and three touchdowns.
"Aumiller is really good or he wouldn't be going to Kentucky," Hilton said. "But they have other good receivers, too. They really have everything it takes, including a great defense, to be where they are at.
"We would be fools to say one or two players will beat us. Larry is going to do what we let him do offensively. They are all superstars to me and he probably feels same about our team. That's why it will be a great game."
Bell has allowed only 42 points in 13 games and has eight shutouts.
"They are sound defensively. They just don't let many people score. They run to the ball well on defense and are all strong players," French said.
Yet Bell gave up two touchdowns in a game for the first time this season last week when it had to rally to beat Knox Central 19-14 after trailing 14-13 in the fourth quarter. Bell beat Knox Central 21-0 on Sept. 12.
"That was last week and now we have to worry about what they'll do this week," French said. "That might have just been the scare they needed to really get them going against us even more."
