Belvidere North looking to be atop NIC-10 once again in 2026

BELVIDERE, Ill (WTVO/WQRF) — Belvidere North had its best season in school history last year, going undefeated in regular-season play before getting knocked out in the State Semi-finals to Wheaton St. Francis. All in all, it is a group that is special to head coach Jeff Beck. With coach Beck saying, "When you're playing in week 13, and you're still excited to go out to practice every day, looking forward to it at the end of the school day. I think that just shows how special your group is." Key parts of the 12-1 season were NIC-10 offensive MVP Ben Bucher along with NIC-10 Defensive MVP Erick Roman, two cogs of many in the Blue Thunder Machine. One that also included quarterback Andrew Bucci and Nathan Alexander. All of them are now out of the Belvidere North system, allowing new players to find their way into the spotlight. "I think it's just this group kind of forging their own path, you know?" Coach Jeff Beck stated, "They're kind of out of the shadows of some of those guys, and we got to find ways to be successful with the guys we have now." Players who are looking to forge their own path include quarterback Wyatt Treadway and running backs Kayden Malone and Zavian McElroy, as they are stepping into more prominent roles in the Belvidere North System. Leading the way for them is a veteran offensive line core. "We're pretty excited about those guys - Finley Tuckley, Caleb Gallano, Carter Deutsch - having that returning experience coming back. I think it's a good thing to have those kids kind of solidify what we do up front," said Coach Beck. For Caleb Gallano and Finley Tuckley, they are excited to help lead the team up front, but also return to some more smash-mouth football this year. "I think we're all just really excited to get back out there and show what we can do." Said Finley Tuckley "I think this year we can get back to just regular Belvidere North Football. Running it down the middle and everything," said Caleb Gallano The one major thing they are taking from last year's group? Intensity and leadership of the whole group, one they already have a good handle on. "We definitely have the leadership part covered. With play style, we're all a little crazy, but no, we have everything covered so far. We're looking pretty good," said Tuckley. Belvidere North is looking forward to this year for one thing: to show that no matter who comes or goes, it is still going to be Belvidere North Football. "Just show what we can do, you know?" Said Tuckley, "People have us as the underdogs here, which we don't think makes sense considering that we're still going to be really good." Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO WQRF News, Weather and Sports.