Upcoming 2025 High School Football Previews: Established Bellevue seniors aim for successful final season with victory
The Bellevue Tigers are ready to roar once again as they prepare for the 2024 season, armed with a challenging schedule and a team brimming with experience. The Tigers, who have not posted a winning record since 2014, are eager to turn the tide under the leadership of head coach Chad Montgomery.
Montgomery, a Bellevue alumnus, has been instrumental in reinventing the Tigers' football program. He has addressed foundational issues, such as the installation of a new synthetic turf field at Gilligan Stadium, which promises faster play and durability for the team. This investment in the program's infrastructure is expected to support better practice and game performance.
For the 2024 season, Montgomery is confident due to the numerous returning starters. Key veterans like Kayne Ross, Arion Stuckey, Amari Rodgers, Derrick Fortner, and Patrick Vogt will anchor the offense. The team's continuity and experience are promising indicators of a competitive season ahead.
The Tigers' schedule for 2024 includes games against familiar rivals such as Trimble County, Nicholas County, Pendleton County, St. Henry, Louisville Iroquois, Ludlow, Dayton, Newport, Newport Central Catholic, and Holy Cross. After starting the season with three road games, the Tigers will enjoy hosting St. Henry on their new synthetic turf field, which is expected to enhance their speed and play style.
One of the seniors, Tristan Woodyard, will play a crucial role as the lead running back following Jordan Pendleton's transfer. Montgomery has expressed his desire to get Woodyard the football and is looking for him to have a breakout season. The offense that the Tigers are putting in place will allow for many players to be involved.
The five senior linemen, who have been playing together since their freshman year, bring valuable experience and unity to the team. Derrick Fortner, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound defensive end, had a team-high nine sacks last year. The Tigers are counting on their experience, skill, and size to capture the first winning season since 2014.
Last season, the Tigers finished 5-5 with a game against Lynn Camp canceled. Had the game not been canceled, they would have finished the season with a 6-5 record. Despite the shortened 2022 season, the Tigers are optimistic about their prospects for 2024 and beyond.
With Montgomery at the helm, the Bellevue Tigers are poised to build on their previous successes and elevate their competitiveness in the region. The 2024 season promises to be an exciting one for the Tigers and their fans.
- The Bellevue Tigers' football program, bolstered by the return of key veterans and the installation of a new synthetic turf field, aims to make a comeback in the 2024 season, aiming to post a winning record for the first time since 2014.
- American football analysts have been intrigued by the Tigers' schedule, which includes games against familiar rivals, as well as their new synthetic turf field that promises faster play and durability, potentially enhancing their speed and play style.
- As the Tigers prepare for the 2024 season, the NCAA football community will be watching closely, as head coach Chad Montgomery and his team seek to solidify their position as a competitive force in the region, backed by the talent and experience of players like Derrick Fortner, Kayne Ross, and Tristan Woodyard.
