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It was not the same experience for Bellmont as last year.
The Braves went through a postseason of firsts that ended with a Class 3A state championship in 2008.
The changes, though, started in the offseason when coach Toney Bergman stepped down and was replaced by co-head coaches Greg Meyer and Rick Burkhalter.
The differences wrapped up with a 34-0 loss to No. 4 Eastbrook on Friday in the sectional finals.
“I am proud of these kids,” Burkhalter said. “I am proud of this coaching staff for coming back and coaching these kids. That’s a fine group of seniors there. They are state champs.
“We just ran into a very good football team tonight.”
In a 28-14 win over Evansville Memorial in the 3A state title game last November, Nick Hall scored four touchdowns. On Friday, Hall played quarterback and was held to 41 yards rushing and eight yards passing.
He will not be forgotten, though, by his coach.
“It will be a long time we see another player like Nick Hall,” Burkhalter said.
No offense to you, Andy Roop. But Snider coach Kurt Tippmann would rather not have had to lean on your leg.
“Andy Roop’s done a nice job all year,” he said after Roop kicked two field goals in Snider’s 33-20 sectional championship win over Warsaw. “We knew if we had to kick a field goal he’d be solid.”
But?
“But we really wanted seven there,” Tippmann said. “We came away with three, and it ended up being all right. But we really wanted seven.”
If you judged the Bishop Luers-vs.-Winchester matchup on records alone, you were in for a rude awakening Friday.
The Knights (7-5) blasted the Golden Falcons (9-3) 68-0 at Luersfield.
It might have been indicative of the competition the respective teams face all season long.
“There’s no question that the SAC is a tremendous conference,” Knights coach Matt Lindsay said. “Seeing so much talent every night, and the different styles, we really don’t see anything new come tournament time.
“Our athletes are a little more athletic than (Winchester’s), too, and that showed. As long as we take care of the ball and don’t make too many mistakes, we’re going to be a hard out.”
Wayne’s Taylor Deckard recovered a fumble, setting up the team’s only score Friday against Delta.
The Generals lost 18-6, but the defense didn’t allow a point in the second half.
“We made the adjustment in the second half. We adjusted our schemes and did a better job stopping the run,” Wayne coach Larry Getts said.
“It paid off for us there. It allowed us to have some opportunities, but we just didn’t finish them.”
