The Bellbrook High School football team hasn’t won the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division since 2004, but the Golden Eagles are predicted to win it this year, according to league coaches.

Bellbrook totaled 39 points and garnered three first-place votes in voting by league coaches.

“I think we learned a lot about ourselves from last year,” said Bellbrook coach Kevin Basinger, whose squad opened the season 4-0 before going 1-5 in league play to end the season tied for last in the division. “We’ve worked hard all offseason and I think we have a shot at winning our league.”

If Basinger, who is entering his 13th season at Bellbrook, is successful, he’ll do it with an experienced offensive line that has four returning starters — Zach Rogal, Evan Haarmeyer, Matt Longo and Colin Rogers — and a returning quarterback in Jay Bucher (6-foot-4, 220 pounds).

Eaton was a close second in the voting, with 36 points and three first-place votes.

“Our league is extremely balanced,” said Ron Neanen, who enters his 22nd year as Eaton’s coach. “There are no breathers. Everyone has a solid program. There is great tradition in this league and we talk to our players about that. You have to be prepared every Friday night.”

Eaton returns several top performers on offense, including running back Dalton Caudill, who rushed for more than 1,400 yards last season. Austin Fudge returns at quarterback, and he’ll be protected by three returning lineman in seniors Clint Shepherd, Mason Islamovsky and Cory McKinney, among others.

Valley View finished third in the voting with 29 points, followed by Franklin and Milton-Union, which tied for fourth with 18 points.

Brookville, last year’s champion, is sixth with 16 points, followed by Oakwood with 12 points.

At least three teams from the league have reached the playoffs in each of the last four seasons, with a total of five teams qualifying in 2007.

“Everyone is quite capable of beating each other in this league,” said Rodney Roberts, who guided Franklin to the playoffs last year for the first time since 1993.

“There are a lot of good coaches who show up ready to play and that makes it fun for the teams and the fans.”