Bellaire head coach Herb Kunz and his football team can’t wait for this fall.
Not only will it signal the heart of the Texas high school football season, but it will also bring with it the completion of their on-site football practice field at Bellaire High School.
The past four years, the Cardinals have been forced to bus off-site for football practice as a new wing of Bellaire High School was built on the land that used to house the athletic practice fields.
That construction brought significant improvements, providing the Cardinals with a new locker room, weight room, gym and coaches offices.
Bellaire Volleyball sweeps Fort Bend Austin in their inaugural game in our new competition gym! #CardinalProud pic.twitter.com/vIYLXd4fCy
— Bellaire High School (@BellaireHigh) August 11, 2021
But with that new wing completed, attention has turned to rebuilding the practice field on a plot of land at the school.
Kunz said the finished product will have a big impact on the Cardinals program.
“When it’s all said and done, it’s going to be really nice,” Kunz said. “It’s going to mean more practice time. In the offseason, we’ll be able to get out there and do football stuff. It’s going to be a magnificent place, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Without an on-site practice field, the past four years have been a mixed bag for the Cardinals. After missing the playoffs back in 2018, the Cardinals made it in back-to-back years in 2019 and 2020.
However, last year was an off year as Bellaire finished 3-7, missing the playoffs for just the second time in Kunz’s seven seasons at the helm.
As the Cardinals look to bounce back this season, they have some experience returning to lean on.
At the forefront is a strong offensive line led by junior Jordan Wright, who earned second team all-district last year for the Cardinals, and senior Kevin Henry, who Kunz described as “tenacious and a great competitor.”
Out at the skill positions, junior Josh Burrell returns after leading the Cardinals with 253 receiving yards a year ago.
Defensively, Henry is also expected to contribute on the defensive line, while Kunz said senior Michael Neal will be an experienced presence in the secondary as he heads into his third season on varsity.
Even with these key returnees, Bellaire will have its work cut out if it wants to get back among the playoff places in District 18-6A. Kunz said he believes the teams in the district continue to improve year after year.
“Every year it gets tougher,” Kunz said. “We face good teams. We face good coaching staffs. But we have a good team and a good coaching staff, and we’re going to do what we need to do to be successful.”
For the Cardinals this season, Kunz said his team’s core values of class, character, teamwork, work ethic, and unity will be the key to success.
And after a long offseason of hard work, Kunz is excited to see what his Cardinals have in their arsenal when they take the field this fall.
“I’m very proud of the efforts that the players have put in this summer,” Kunz said. “They’ve worked extremely hard, and we’re looking forward to what they do on the field on Friday nights.”
2022 Bellaire Cardinals Football Schedule
(Bold designates District 18-6A Matchup)
8/26 at Fort Bend Elkins
9/2 at Baytown Goose Creek Memorial
9/9 vs. Alief Elsik
9/16 at Montgomery Lake Creek
9/29 vs. Houston Heights
10/8 at Houston Westside
10/13 vs. Houston Westbury
10/21 at Houston Sam Houston
10/29 vs. Houston Chavez
11/5 at Houston Lamar
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