JACKSON - The 2024 season for Belhaven Football program is set to begin on September 5th at 7:00 pm as they travel to play their cross-town rivals Millsaps College at Harper Davis Field.
With the start of a new season, expectations run high, despite a new look team that features fresh faces on the field and on the sideline. Belhaven Football was picked second in this year's league preseason coaches' poll and the Blazers are hoping to surpass the league's expectations in defense of their USA South crown.
"Coming into the new year, we know the standard that has been set at Belhaven and what it takes to meet that standard", said first year Head Coach CJ Nightingale. "Early on in camp, our staff's goal was to reinforce our goals and expectations while we continue to establish the name of Belhaven Football as a household one in Division III."
The 2023 season saw the Blazers finish with a program-best 9-2 season record while also boasting a 7-1 conference record across 11 games. The Blazers capped off a historic season by clinching the USA South Conference Championship in the final home game, the first outright conference championship in program history and competed in the first round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs. A trans-formative year for the program, the hope is that it's only the start for the Green and Gold.
CJ Nightingale was named Head Coach of the program in December of 2023 and was tasked with rebuilding a staff after last year's departures. Nightingale brings in nine new coaches on his staff as well as new offensive and defensive schemes.. This staff looks to build on a foundation with ten total returning starters between both sides of the ball.
"We were blessed in being able to bring in really quality men to build out this coaching staff", said Nightingale. "Our goal was to build a team of coaches who make in impact on and off the field and we believe we have done that."
Belhaven's pursuit of a second conference title will present new challenges with revamped schemes and significant roster turnover on the offensive side of the ball. The offense returns two starters on the perimeter at receiver from last year in Cooper Tullo, and Jacobey James-Grace who earned a second team All USA South Selection.
Senior Blake Kirby has been named the Blazers' starting quarterback after a three-way competition this fall and is set to take the reigns on offense in his fourth season with the program while a returning trio of Devin Daniels, D'Ante Gallashaw and Caleb Gallashaw will shoulder the load out of the backfield. Daniels is the leader of the group in terms of production with 607 yards and eight touchdowns on 89 carries.
Among those eight starters returning on the defense, three were First Team All USA Selections. Linebacker Wyatt Beck, corner Dee Gray, and safety Josiah Raymond are leading the charge on the Blazers defense which will look to set the tone for the team this season as All-Conference returnees while mainstays like Jay'Den Jones, Tyler Miller, Icarius Hodgin and Jaheim Burkett will be asked to help anchor the defensive side of the ball.
"It's no secret that this year's team will be replacing a lot of lost production, especially on offense, from a season ago", continued Nightingale. "The good thing is, while a lot of these guys are being asked to take on bigger roles for the team, they are veterans already within the program. We have a lot of years of college football in the huddle despite maybe not having the in-game reps that previous players have had."
The Blazers open up their season on Thursday, September 5th in the annual Riverside Rumble against Millsaps. Kickoff at Millsaps is set for 7:00 PM and the Blazers will be looking to pick up a win against the Majors for a 4th straight season.
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