An autumn evening in Bellevue feels less like a Kentucky suburb and more like a step back in time, anchored by the Ohio River, the tight-knit feel of the town and venerable Gilligan Stadium, home of the Tigers. As the sun begins to set over the neighborhood, Bellevue settles into a cozy, communal rhythm with residents walking dogs and greeting neighbors. Because the houses sit so close together, the town has a distinct front‑porch charm.
A Friday night transforms it even more when local high school football fans drift toward the 90‑year‑old home stadium. The street grid acts like a funnel, channeling people down the sidewalks toward the bright stadium lights. Because the field is among neighboring homes, the sounds of the evening change completely. The night air fills with woodsmoke from backyard firepits and the sharp crack of plastic pads. The brassy echoes of the pep band and the collective roar of a crowd far too big for a town under one square mile carry to the edges of Bellevue.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” senior Blake Fryman says. “I love playing football at Bellevue. It’s awesome.”
His coach, Chad Montgomery, knows the feeling. He grew up in Bellevue — walked the streets, walked to school, played football for the Tigers and left the program as the fourth all‑time leading rusher with nearly 2,600 yards. He returned to coach the team when it hit its lowest point, after forfeiting the final two games of 2022 due to lack of players. The Tigers went 0‑9, opponents outscoring them 348‑26 that season.
The next year with Montgomery at the controls, the Tigers were remarkably 3‑1 after the first four games. In the second win of the season, they scored 32 points — more than they had the entire previous year. They took a step toward respectability with a 4‑7 record. Following that was an improbable breakeven mark of 5‑5 that flipped the script as the Tigers outscored their opponents overall.
They won five of their first seven games last season on the way to a 5‑6 finish. The defense was stellar, limiting opponents to 17 points per game. The Tigers held five foes to single digits and posted two shutouts, offsetting a sputtering offense. Each of the last two seasons has ended with a first‑round playoff loss at Bishop Brossart.
Because of Bellevue’s microscopic enrollment, the Tigers almost always walk onto the field outnumbered. But they are rarely outmatched in spirit. This is a program built on a legacy of punching above its weight — a place where a small roster is expected to battle into the Class 1A playoffs and shock larger programs. It’s not easy, but it’s Bellevue’s challenge.
Here are five things to know about the Tigers as they ramp up to the 2026 season:
How big is the roster?
Bellevue lost 10 seniors and several underclassmen but will field 12 new seniors. Coach Montgomery believes the total number of football players will settle around 33.
Considering Bellevue typically enrolls around 120 boys, this number — virtually a quarter of the male student body — is a victory in itself.
The coach would love to see more kids in the program, but having 30 players at a school his size is like having 300 at a school with 1,200 boys.
“You take the wins where you can get them,” Montgomery says.
Get to know the returning starters
Speaking of close‑knit communities, there are just four returning starters on the team. Only one is on defense: senior end Lucas Walton. After watching his team lose seven of its top nine stoppers, he’s the leading returning tackler with 47. No one on the roster recorded a sack or an interception last season.
“This was the strength last year,” Montgomery says. “We do have capable players who return on defense. We just don’t have many with experience.”
Returning on offense in the re‑engineered Wing‑T are three starters — and that’s stretching it. Running back Kayden Brown, a nice athlete with upside, averaged nearly six yards per carry as a sophomore. He ran for 45 yards and a touchdown in limited duty, including a handful of starts. Quarterback Evan Brooks earned three starts as a freshman. He was 6‑of‑14 passing for 39 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns, adding 79 yards on 30 carries with four scores. Meikel Richards rushed 24 times for 62 yards and two TDs as a freshman in minimal action. He ranked seventh on the team in carries and had a couple of late‑season starts.
Senior running back/defensive back Reggie Roland arrives from Newport after a year‑long wait. He’s never played football, but he did play basketball and run track for Bellevue before hitting the gridiron. Seeking a new level among holdovers are juniors Avery Gramer and Bosley Lasita. Gramer is the leading returning receiver and the second‑leading returning ball carrier and tackler from his running back and safety positions. Lasita plays linebacker and is the third‑leading returning tackler.
Strengths and goals evolving
Not only is player turnover high at Bellevue, but the coaching staff is also undergoing changes this year. Montgomery replaces four assistants with four new ones and has new offensive co‑coordinators and a defensive coordinator. He says his entire team is hungry and eager, so he’s going to let them eat.
“This group is very coachable, and they have a chance to be special with our coaches,” Montgomery says. “We just have to work really, really hard and avoid injuries.”
Having been a prolific running back himself, Montgomery has a special eye for backfield talent. Without revealing too much, he believes he could unleash a breakout player in the near future. It all depends on who buys in, who steps up and who outworks.
“You know I’m always looking for a running back,” he reminds. “I’ll tell you this — I like our skill and speed back there.”
Effects of artificial turf
Gilligan Stadium first showed off its new turf field last September against St. Henry as part of a larger‑scale upgrade, but the official debut is this season. One of the last two local high schools along with Dayton to play on natural grass, Bellevue won state titles in 1977 and 1979 and finished state runner‑up four times.
The coach says irrigation issues have been resolved and admits it’s nice to play and practice on a surface that’s more absorbent. “All the upgrades, including fencing, are complete,” he says. “The kids are all for the turf. It looks great. We should be faster on it.”
Montgomery’s wish is seeing his team find a new gear while avoiding injuries. “Injuries really hurt small teams,” he says. “The turf traps heat, but the upkeep is a lot easier.”
Even with the new sheen, the historic stadium continues to serve as the town’s living room on Friday nights.
Unsung hero
There are many underdogs worth rooting for at Bellevue. Any kid who wants to play football for the Tigers is a school hero, says Montgomery. He was “The Man” when he was ripping it up as a runner years ago, and he remembers coaches and leaders hailing every team component as essential. He’s seen plenty of hard‑working kids suit up in black and gold and pull themselves up by their bootstraps — kids like Blake Fryman.
“This is a guy I really like. He’s just had some bad luck, kind of like the team. He was in one game last year after breaking his fibula in the first game,” Montgomery explains. “He’s 6‑foot, 210 pounds. I expect him to start at tight end and defensive end because of his skills, toughness and smarts. He left the program a few years ago to play elsewhere when things weren’t great because he didn’t know if we were going to have a team. When we got things straightened out, he came back — then got hurt. He may not know just how good he is, so we hope he and the whole team have a huge year.”
Fryman was 6 years old when Bellevue last won a playoff game. “It’d definitely be worth the hard work,” he says. “All the guys want to have a good year. We like keeping things low key. Some people may not think we’re going to be any good because they’re not hearing about what we can do.”
Fryman knows every player on the sideline is essential. Linemen regularly play nearly every minute, and a single injury can reshape an entire season’s trajectory. Yet that stark reality only fuels Bellevue’s fierce, blue‑collar identity, represented by Fryman and others. As the 2026 season kicks off, the Tigers once again embrace their role as the gritty riverside underdog — ready to prove that on any given night, heart, history and pride can outlast an opponent’s depth chart.
We’re previewing all 22 NKY football teams from July 27-August 17. Check out five things to know about each team below:
