It’s time to play — and go to work.
The 2025 football season kicks off Friday night with a slate of non-conference games as team take the first step toward the dream of a state championship.
Bellefontaine, under Coach Jason Brown, will get going in front of the home crowd as they welcome Sidney.
It is Brown’s 12th season overall as head coach.
The Chieftains were 8-3 last season and 4-1 in the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail division.
Sophomore Reign St. Clair replaces older brother Tavien, who is now in Columbus as part of Ryan Day’s squad at Ohio State.
Carter Caudill is back after leading the CBC in rushing last season (1,040 yards, 14 touchdowns), with junior Krue Brandyberry sharing the load and senior Jamison Clement at halfback.
The receiving group includes juniors Spencer Stolly and Sutton Daring, seniors Kaiden Foulk, Patrick Stolly and Josh Phillips.
“We’re just excited to play,” said Coach Brown in a phone conversation Wednesday. “The kids have worked hard. We have some new faces that will be expected to step up and make plays.”
He added that “We just want to attack the whole field, we want to make people defend every blade of grass. Our goal is to have great rhythm and move the chains.”
On defense, Bellefontaine uses a 4-3 base formation.
The front line includes Clement, junior Blake Loomis, sophomore Bentley Stewart and junior Julius Butler.
The linebackers are Caudill, who was first-team CBC and Kaiden Foulk, who got special mention, along with Brandyberry and senior Cayleb Overmann and sophomores Aven Caudill and Trey Deyo.
Making up the secondary will be Karsen Drake, Patrick Stolly, Caleb Sechrest, C.J. Butler, Sutton Daring, Josh Phillips and Spencer Stolly.
Sidney is part of the Miami Valley League. They were 5-6 overall last year and 5-4 in league action.
Bellefontaine won last year’s game 48-21, shutting the Yellow Jackets out in the first and third quarters.
Brown said that while Sidney will be replacing key players, “they still have some dangerous athletes” and will use a spread attack to try and get the ball to the edges of the defense.
Listed at quarterback for the Yellow Jackets are sophomore Quinten Graves (6-0, 183) and freshman Andrew Lundy (6-0, 155).
Running backs include seniors Carti Thompson (5-10, 192), Ishhod Diomande (5-8, 164), and junior Jamari Combs (5-5, 137).
Diamonde had 13 carries for 107 yards last season.
Those lining up at wide receiver will likely include seniors Demarcuse Fleming (6-1, 181), and Ben Luthman (5-11, 177) and juniors Ashton Herron (5-9, 166), Maleek Franklin (5-11, 157); Christian Hill (6-0, 145); Braylon Rodeheffer (5-10, 127), and Dreaden Foy (6-1, 162).
Fleming is the leading returning tackler from 2024, with 40 total (28 solo) at defensive back.
Brown said that Sidney uses an odd front defense and will use the inside linebackers to help create pressure.
Overall, “We’re a 1-0 football program. Our focus is right here,” said Brown.
He said the main objects are to win the line of scrimmage, win the turnover battle and play complimentary football.
The teams are meeting for the 116th time, with the first coming in 1899.
“It’s a great rivalry game for us,” said Brown. “It’s an honor to be part of this game for our players and coaches.”
Next Friday, Bellefontaine will travel to Bellbrook. It will be the first of three straight road games.
