The Bellmont Braves have not played a more significant game at DeKalb since the 2002 season, when coach Shaun Busick’s team was 12-1 and the Barons were undefeated, having won 35 of their previous 36 games.
22 years and one day later, the two teams will meet again with Bellmont having another shot at winning a conference title, just like they did in 2002, Seth Colclasure’s senior season.
The Bellmont program has never won a conference title in the new NE8. In fact, they have not won a conference title overall since 2005, when Aaron Richie and Adam Arnold terrorized teams and went 7-0 in the NHC in Busick’s final season at the school.
This year’s team sits atop the NE8 standings with a 5-1 record, the same record as the Columbia City Eagles. The Braves were defeated up at Columbia City on a controversial buzzer-beater, but the Eagles began the season with a loss in their conference opener at East Noble.
If the Braves can beat DeKalb Thursday night, they will be rooting hard for the Leo Lions Friday night. A win by Leo over Columbia City would give the Braves the outright title.
Thursday’s enormous contest will be the featured broadcast on Thursday night on 92.7 FM, with Mike Macke and Lou Koning on the call.
