SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – There’s a big difference between a football team and a football program — whereas a team has success in one year, a program sustains it.
At South Bend Saint Joseph, head coach Ben Downey is building a program. And this year’s big, experienced senior class is proof.
“This class has been really fun. They were a talented group. They had very high expectations as freshmen,” Downey says. “They were an ornery group, so we’ve had a fun ride trying to get things on track with these guys, but I could not be more proud. They’ve really stepped their games up. They know the urgency of being seniors. They know this is their last chance to kind of leave their mark on the program. So, they want to have a good season for themselves, but they also want to have a good season to set the program up for future success.”
Last year, the Huskies went 6-5 and made it to the sectional semifinals. But senior Charlie Grewe was on the sideline for that after tearing his ACL and missing the whole season.
“I was super hyped for the guys. Watching them play and watching them get after it,” Grewe says. “You really need to take advantage of these moments right here. Playing with your friends, playing with the guys that you love. Just playing the sport. There’s nothing better than getting out here and competing.”
Now this year, he’s back healthy and ready to hit the field.
“I want to say that I never took a play off. Or that I never gave up when it’s tough because I can’t afford to do that,” Grewe says. “You know what I mean. No one can afford to do that, especially at a small Catholic high school. I want to look back and say that I was proud, I was OK with what we did.”
Because at Saint Joseph, even if you miss a whole year, you’re still part of something bigger.
“These guys are amazing. I’ve been running with them since grade school and everything,” Grewe says. “They’re a bunch of hard workers. . . We’ve got a bunch of great, hard-working guys that actually care about this program.”
The Huskies have the senior class to win in 2025 and the underclassmen that are learning how to carry that success forward for this program.
Saint Joe opens the season at home against Lakeland on Friday, Aug. 22. Kickoff at Leighton Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
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