St. Norbert football looks for continued conference success

DE PERE – After a slow start last season, the St. Norbert College (SNC) football team was firing on all cylinders by season’s end. 

The Green Knights began the 2024 campaign with three straight losses before reeling off eight consecutive wins to finish 8-3 overall and 7-1 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC). 

St. Norbert was outscored 104-3 in its first three games, which included a 31-0 loss to Wabash College, a 24-3 setback to UW-Stevens Point and a 49-0 blanking at the hands of Aurora University. 

Despite the slow start, the Green Knights rebounded nicely, allowing only 47 combined points the rest of the way in posting three shutouts. 

In the process, SNC also won the Cousins Subs Lakefront Bowl by defeating Monmouth College, 20-14. 

“None of us expected to start 0-3, but that’s the hand we were dealt,” SNC Coach Dan McCarty said. “I challenged the guys to respond, and they did that. I told the guys [after our rough start] that we had to win eight in a row – a lot of teams wouldn’t respond like that. We showed a lot of resiliency.”

McCarty, who is entering his 10th year at the helm, said he doesn’t put much stock into conference polls, but the Green Knights were selected to finish second in the annual NACC preseason poll of the league’s coaches and sports information directors. 

SNC totaled 139 points for its second-place finish in the poll, while defending NACC champion Aurora University was picked first, receiving 162 points and 18 first-place votes. 

“No doubt – Aurora will be good,” McCarty said. “Last year, we played them early [in game three], but this year, we have them later in the season [on Nov. 8]. Is it better to play them early or late? I don’t know – I don’t really worry too much about that.” 

St. Norbert opens its season against Wabash College at Schneider Stadium on Sept. 6 at 1 p.m.  

The NACC opener will be played in River Forest, Illinois, against Concordia University Chicago on Sept. 20. 

This year’s homecoming game will be against Eureka College on Oct. 18.  

The 2025 Green Knights

Offensively, SNC will have to replace quarterback Peyton Lyon, who McCarty said transferred out of the program.

A quick online search shows Lyon – who threw for 1,366 yards and 21 touchdowns last season – transferred to Division I University of Central Arkansas. 

“Right now, quarterbacks Michael Meneguzzo and Tanner Hora are our top two guys battling it out,” McCarty said. “Michael put in a ton of work this offseason. I’m proud of him for putting in the time and effort. He’s got a good understanding of what we’re doing and has great control of the offense, but he knows he’s got other guys pushing him.”

The Green Knights also lost running back Patrick Oden to graduation. 

Oden rushed for 1,236 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

“Last year, Patrick was our main focus back, so that’s why we had a thousand-yard rusher for the first time in like 20-some years,” McCarty said. “We look for Will Darden and Jacob McVane [Ashwaubenon High School] to carry the load this season. I think we’ll have more of a two-back system this year.”

Defensively, McCarty said SNC returns only two starters. 

Among others, they’ll have to replace their leading three tacklers in Kyle Santos (79), Sam Barnett (74) and Brett Boelkow (44). 

Boelkow – who had a team-high six interceptions and forced four fumbles – was named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association's Private College Player of the Year. 

Boelkow was also named the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference’s linebacker/defensive back of the year, a D3football.com third-team All-American and was named to the conference’s first team list. 

“Right now, it’s trying to figure out who’s who defensively and bonding and jelling,” McCarty said. “When you have two of the four first-team all-conference linebackers [Santos and Barnett] no longer on your team, they will be tough to replace. Those two were calling a lot of our defensive calls – we gave them free rein. We’ll see who steps up in the leadership area.”

2025 St. Norbert College Football Schedule

Sept. 6 – Wabash College – 1 p.m. 

Sept. 13 – @ UW-Stevens Point – 1 p.m. 

Sept. 20 – @ Concordia University Chicago – 1 p.m. *

Oct. 4 – Concordia University Wisconsin – 1 p.m. *

Oct. 11 – @ Wisconsin Lutheran College – 6 p.m. *

Oct. 18 – Eureka College – 1 p.m. *

Oct. 25 – Rockford University – 1 p.m. * 

Nov. 1 – Benedictine University – 1 p.m. * 

Nov. 8 – @ Aurora University – 1 p.m. *

Nov. 15 – @ Lakeland University – 1 p.m. *

Sports Editor’s note: * equals NACC game