If ever there were a great time to end a playoff drought for Belmont, now would be it. The Bison haven’t been to the postseason since the Covid year of 2020 when every school got into the tournament. With a schedule that has just one opponent that ended up with a winning record a year ago and experience returning at key positions you have to like this team’s chances of doing big things.
Belmont will play teams that were a combined 26-74 (.260 winning %) in 2025. Eight foes lost at least seven games and North College Hill was the only squad that made the playoffs. The Bison could accrue a lot of “W’s” by the time October ends. If they don’t, the only ones to blame will be themselves.
Division II, Region 8
2025 RECORD: 5-5, 2-2 DPS
COACH: Marcus Vaughn (9-19 at Belmont, three years; 10-28 overall, four years)
TOP RETURNEES
Bariyus Allen, Sr, OL/DL, 6-5/300
Committed to: Iowa
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division II Third Team All-Ohio (DL) & DPS Defensive Player of the Year
2025 Stats: 73 Tkls, 6.0 sacks, 19.5 TFLs, 2 FRs, 41 RuYds & 2 RuTDs
Career Stats: 148 Tkls, 8.0 sacks, 42.5 TFLs, 2 FRs, 41 RuYds & 2 RuTDs
Aaron Dandrea, Sr, QB/DB, 6-2/200
2025 Honors: OPSMA Division II Honorable Mention All-Ohio (QB)
2025 Stats: 1,731 PaYds, 16 PaTDs, 894 RuYds, 7 RuTDs, 16 KRYs, 32 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 7.0 TFLs & 2 FRs
Career Stats: 2,780 PaYds, 28 PaTDs, 1,431 RuYds, 13 RuTDs, 16 KRYs, 34 Tkls, 2.0 sacks, 7.0 TFLs & 2 FRs
Reggie Gardner, Sr, WR/DB, 5-7/165
2025 Honors: Division II Second Team All-Southwest District (ATH) & TriState Football Dayton Offensive Player of the Year Finalist
2025 Stats: 43 rec., 1,016 ReYds, 23.6/rec., 10 ReTDs, 239 RuYds, 2 RuTDs, 286 KR/PRYs, 1 KRTD, 1,593 APYds, 37 Tkls, 1.0 TLs, 4 Ints, 52 IRYs & 1 IRTD
Career Stats: 61 rec., 1,363 ReYds, 14 ReTDs, 239 RuYds, 2 RuTDs, 539 KR/PRYs, 1 KRTD, 1 PRTD, 19 TotTDs, 2,173 APYds, 88 Tkls, 0.5 sacks, 2.0 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 5 Ints, 52 IRYs & 1 IRTD
Gavin Bradley, Sr, WR/DB
2025 Stats: 46 Tkls, 2.0 TFLs & 2 FRs, 14 RuYds,31 KRYs, 23 rec., 298 ReYds & 3 ReTDs
CareerStats: 14 RuYds, 23 rec., 298 ReYds, 3 ReTDs, 31 KRYs, 84 Tkls, 4.0 TFLs & 3 FRs,14 RuYds, 31 KRYs, 23 rec., 298 ReYds & 3 ReTDs
J’Andre Jordan, Sr, DE/LB, 6-0
2025 Stats: DNP
2024 Stats: 51 Tkls, 1.0 sacks & 3.0 TFLs
Jordan Walker, So, 5-10/165
2025 Stats: 37 Tkls, 3.0 TFLs, 14 RuYds & 12 KRYs
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(four appearances, 0-4) – 2020, 2017, 2016, 2015
2026 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/21/26 – at Woodward (0-10 in 2025) – 7:30 PM
Fri – 08/28/26 – at New Miami (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/04/26 – at Columbus South (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Th – 09/10/26 – STIVERS (2-7) – 6:00 PM
Fri – 09/18/26 – DUNBAR (3-7) – 7:00 PM
Th – 09/24/26 – NORTH COLLEGE HILL (8-3) – 6:00 PM
Fri – 10/02/26 – at Lockland (0-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/09/26 – THURGOOD MARSHALL (1-9) – 7:00 PM
Th – 10/15/26 – at Meadowdale (5-5) – 6:00 PM
W – 10/21/26 – at Ponitz (1-9) – 6:00 PM
