The NKyTribune is featuring each of the 21 high school football teams in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties leading up to the first games of the 2017 season on Aug. 18. We will then provide focused coverage of our local teams throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.
By Evan Merrill
NKyTribune contributor
After averaging just 154.1 yards and 13.3 points per game last season, the Bellevue football team needed to find a way to create more offense. This year, the Tigers will be trying to get the ball into the hands of its playmakers much more. One of them is senior wide receiver Seth Evers, who won the 100 and 200 dash events in the Class 1A state track meet last spring.
Seth Evers, left, will be a two-way starter at wide receiver and defensive back for Bellevue this season.
“We have a new offense in,” coach Woody McMillen said. “I think one of our strengths is we have a lot of guys that can run and a lot of guys that can catch. We’re going to try and utilize that a little more this year than we have in the past.”
In May, Evers became the first Northern Kentucky track athlete to win both sprint events in the same state meet since 1993. His victory in the 100-meter dash was a little surprising because three other runners had faster qualify times than him.
Despite his success in track, Evers has a greater passion for football. He still considers it his favorite sport, even though Bellevue finished with a 3-8 record the last two seasons after losing in the first round of the small-school playoffs.
“There’s just nothing like Friday nights,” Evers said of high school football games. “Under the lights with all your friends. Track’s just like, there’s meets every day of the week. Football, there’s only a certain amount of games and you know who you’re playing every week. It’s just a lot more special, I think.”
Evers was limited to 14 receptions for 220 yards and one touchdown last season. He also played cornerback on defense, registering 53 tackles and one fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown. He got two more TDs on punt and kickoff returns for the Tigers.
Seth Evers
“He’s as good of an athlete as I’ve ever coached,” McMillen said. “I think he’s grown up the last two years, too. He’s really demonstrated a willingness to shoulder a lot of responsibility.”
Despite their offensive struggles last year, Bellevue still managed to place second in the Class 1A district and host a playoff game. The Tigers beat long-time rival Dayton, 7-0, in one of their district games to retain possession of “The Paddle” traveling trophy.
“It was like a heavyweight fight, man, last man standing,” McMillen said of the game. “That’s a backyard rivalry. It brings out the best of both teams. The kids are probably talking about it all year long.”
Bellevue will be counting on other seniors beside Evers for leadership, including outside linebacker Chase Stephenson and quarterback Eric Atkins, who took over that position midway through last season and led the team to its two district wins.
If the Tigers get off to an 0-3 start like they did last year, the seniors will have to keep things together while the team works to get better.
“Stay focused every week and not be intimidated by the teams we play,” McMillen tells the players. “We have some pretty solid teams we play this year.”
The coach will get a better idea of where the Tigers stand after Friday’s home scrimmage game against Holy Cross.
“We have a pretty mature group and I think some of that stuff will play itself out in the first game or two,” he said. “It’s tough to see what a guy’s made of until you mix it up with a guy in an opposite color.”
BELLEVUE TIGERS
2016 SEASON: 3-8 record, lost in first round of Class 1A playoffs.
DISTRICT: Class 1A, District 4 with Beechwood, Dayton and Ludlow.
HEAD COACH: Woody McMillen (10-22 in three seasons overall, 6-16 in two seasons at Bellevue).
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 – at Nicholas County, 7 p.m.
Aug. 25 – DAYTON, 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 – BROSSART, 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 – ST. BERNARD (Ohio), 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 – at Gallatin County, 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 – at Newport, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5 – BEECHWOOD, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 – at Dayton, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 – at Ludlow, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 – WALTON-VERONA, 7 p.m.
Other NKyTribune prep football previews:
DAYTON GREENDEVILS
COVINGTON CATHOLIC COLONELS
BISHOP BROSSART MUSTANGS
WALTON-VERONA BEARCATS
COOPER JAGUARS
SCOTT EAGLES
LUDLOW PANTHERS
HIGHLANDS BLUEBIRDS
LLOYD JUGGERNAUTS
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC THOROUGHBREDS
NEWPORT WILDCATS
BOONE COUNTY REBELS
