The fall of 2008 was a special time in and around Decatur. Just ask anyone who was around then.
Entering that season, the Bellmont football program had not captured a postseason title of any kind, not even a sectional. But Coach Toney Bergman and the Braves did something unthinkable over the course of six weeks in October and November.
They won the program’s first-ever sectional title.
Then its first regional.
And semistate.
The magic culminated at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the first time the state finals had been held in the brand-new digs of the Colts. Nick Hall rushed for three touchdowns and hauled in a pass for a 61-yard touchdown to account for all four Bellmont scores in a 28-14 win over Evansville Memorial.
“Our kids, our coaches, we haven’t had time to celebrate,” said Bergman after the win. “First coming off the sectionals, then the regional and semistate, we didn’t celebrate.
“We just had to win one more game and we kept to the grindstone. Now, we can sit back and really think about what we’ve done.
Bergman went out on top, stepping down after the 2008 campaign. After Rick Burkhalter led the program for two years, Larry Getts took over, leading the Braves to sectional titles in 2011 and 2015.
Bellmont had become a consistent contender over multiple coaches. It had momentum in the new Northeast Eight and was looking to continue to be a factor in Class 3A.
And then, it all came apart.
Since that 10-win season in 2015, Bellmont has not won more than three games in a season. The program is in the midst of a 42-game losing streak dating back to a 42-34 victory over DeKalb on Oct. 8, 2021. That win ended a 26-game skid of futility.
Coaches have come and gone. Marty Ballard took over for Getts and lasted three years. Eric Davis was one and done in 2019. Hall, the hero of the 2008 state title game, felt like the guy to turn it around. Young, energetic and familiar with the school and the area, expectations were high.
The Braves won just one game in six years with Hall as head coach.
There is no single reason for the fall of Bellmont football. Various arguments can be made – lack of commitment from kids, hires that weren’t a good fit, the rise of programs like Bluffton, South Adams and Adams Central nearby, the importance of wrestling at Bellmont – and the reasoning is sound.
But the question remains, why not Bellmont? What is holding the program back from returning to respectability?
It is new coach Blake Blaker’s responsibility to find out.
Outwardly, the hiring of Blaker doesn’t move the needle much. He led Southern Wells for two seasons and a 2-18 overall record. But the Raiders took tremendous strides forward in Year 2, with the team picking up victories over ACAC foes Jay County and Woodlan, the first league wins for Southern Wells since 2019.
“At Southern Wells, I learned how to build a culture of accountability and resilience, even when a program has faced challenges,” Blaker said. “I learned that relationships matter. Relationships with players, families and the community are the foundation for success.
“By fostering trust and developing players both on and off the field, we were able to grow as a team and as individuals. At Bellmont, I plan to bring that same focus: emphasizing hard work, discipline, and teamwork while helping each player reach his full potential. It’s all about getting everyone in the program players, coaches, parents, community members and even admins on the same page. If we can do that then we’ll right the ship.”
Blaker knows that the job will not be easy. Apathy has set in around Bellmont football. Kids do not want to be part of a losing program because of what their peers might say, let alone the effects on themselves falling short game after game, 42 times in a row.
But the similarities between Bellmont and Southern Wells could prove to be a positive for both Blaker and the football program. Two wins at Southern Wells in 2025 doesn’t sound like much, but it meant everything for those in and around the team, and has fostered momentum for the Raiders for the first time in forever with new (and former) coach Jeff Sprunger taking over for Blaker.
“Every program has its challenges,” Blaker said. “At Bellmont, it’s about getting everyone aligned with the culture we’re building, developing depth across the roster, and competing in a tough conference.
“Beyond wins and losses, the goal is to create a sustainable program where kids are engaged, challenged, and proud of what they contribute. The biggest challenge will be our mindset, it was our biggest hurdle at Southern Wells as well. We have to get kids and the community to believe in themselves. Bellmont High School is a football school and has a history of success. It’s my job to remind people of that history so that we can get back to it.”
The hope is that this is a perfect match for both coach and team. Blaker and his wife lost a baby last summer, and he promised her that he would stop making the 58-minute drive to Southern Wells and focus on being home more. When the Bellmont job opened up, it made perfect sense, as it is less than half the distance from their home.
“For a guy who loves to be a head coach thinking that I was going to lose that and be able to continue it at Bellmont has been an emotional roller coaster,” Blaker said. “I can’t be more thankful and appreciative of the opportunity.”
There is hope in Decatur. Support has been “overwhelmingly positive” since he was hired, said Blaker. There is no doubt a lot of work to do, from off-season conditioning to recruiting not only current players and students to commit to the program, but also putting a focus on the youth league and making sure that future Braves become actual Braves, and don’t end up elsewhere.
There isn’t a quick fix, much like at Southern Wells. But incremental steps, no matter how small, will mean a lot to a community that has grown accustomed to losing.
Accustomed to losing, but not comfortable with it.
After all, 2008 wasn’t THAT long ago.
“There’s a sense of excitement about the direction we’re heading, and it’s energizing to be part of a program where people truly care about their kids and the team,” Blaker said. “I’m looking forward to building something meaningful that the entire community can be proud of.”
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