NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The 2023 season came to a close on Saturday as the Belhaven Football team fell to top-ranked North Central inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The Cardinals used 35 first-half points and a stifling defensive effort to earn the win over the Blazers who finish a historic season with a record of 9-2.

The 2023 campaign was a historic one for the Green and Gold. The Blazers won a single-single record nine wins. Belhaven also earned their first conference championship since 2006 and first in the USA South to earn the program's first bid to the NCAA DIII Playoffs.

14 players earned All-USA South honors with the Blazers sweeping the superlative awards. Head coach Blaine McCorkle was named the Coach of the Year, Kolbe Blunt was the Offensive Player of the Year, and Carlton Brown was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Year.

The Blazers' rushing attack finished ranked in the top five nationally, while the offensive unit as a whole led the conference in scoring. Not to be outdone, the Blazers' defense finished the regular season as the top scoring defense in the league.

Coach McCorkle became the winningest coach in Belhaven history following the Blazers' win over Greensboro earlier this season. Running back Kolbe Blunt etched his name into the record books by becoming Belhaven's all-time rushing yards, touchdown, and single-single rushing leader during the season.

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