DE PERE – If the St. Norbert College football team is to improve on its 5-5 overall record during the 2025 campaign, it will need to replace its starting quarterback and four offensive linemen.

Coach Dan McCarty, who is entering his 11th season at SNC, said anybody in the program would say last season was “disappointing.”

“We didn’t perform at the end of the season like we wanted to,” he said. “We were looking for answers for what happened, but I think there was a lot that contributed to it. We’ve put 2025 behind us, and now it’s time to focus on this season.”

The Green Knights carried a 5-3 record into their final two games of the season but dropped consecutive Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) contests to Aurora University (37-14) and Lakeland University (35-25) to finish even overall and 5-3 in conference play.

A new year

McCarty said running backs Jacob McVane (717 yards, seven TDs) and Will Darden (476 yards, six TDs) return offensively, with a pair of transfers also in the mix for some carries.

“All four of those guys will get carries in different situations,” he said. “Jacob is what you’d call our ‘utility knife.’ He’s a guy that can play in a lot of positions and is learning his third position right now. You might see two or three of those guys on the field at the same time.”

SNC must replace graduated quarterback Michael Meneguzzo, who threw for 1,315 yards and 15 TDs.
“Tanner Hora was our backup last year,” McCarty said. “We’ve got a few other guys in the mix as well.”
Bailey Turenne – a Merrill native and graduate – led the Green Knights in receiving with 455 yards on 39 catches with six touchdowns but has also graduated.

McCarty said his team’s biggest concern entering the season is the loss of four graduated offensive linemen, including Logan Erchull and Lucas Tappy, the NACC Offensive Lineman of the Year.

“Having said that, I’m really happy with what I’ve seen from the o-line throughout training camp,” he said. “We have guys stepping up, including senior tackle Deacon Carroll. He’s a team captain and provides a ton of leadership.”

One of the changes on the offensive line for the team was the hire of assistant coach Knox Christopher, who hails from Georgia.

Realizing there are many factors in what determines offensive/defensive scoring averages, McCarty said he expects his defense to take steps forward this year.

“We put this defense in two years ago, and by the end of the [2024 season], we were the No. 1 [Division III] defense in the country,” he said. “Then last year, we only returned two starters. There was a lot of inexperience last season on that side of the ball, so we’re looking for the guys to step up this year. Last year wasn’t our standard of what we’re used to when it comes to defense.”

SNC scored at a 29.9 points-per-game clip last season while giving up about 26 per contest.

Before jumping into their NACC schedule at Eureka College on Sept. 19, the Green Knights open their nonconference season at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at home vs. Carroll University at Schneider Stadium in De Pere.

The following week, Sept. 12, SNC travels to Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“This is only year four of their program, but [Calvin] is really good for a new program,” McCarty said. “That is a longer trip for us as well. We’ve always tried to challenge ourselves with our nonconference schedule.”

2026 St. Norbert College Football – all games at 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted

Sept. 5 – Carroll University

Sept. 12 – @ Calvin University – noon

Sept. 19 – @ Eureka College – 2 p.m.

Sept. 26 – Wisconsin Lutheran College

Oct. 3 – @ Rockford University

Oct. 10 – Lakeland University (Homecoming)

Oct. 17 – @ Benedictine University

Oct. 24 – Aurora University

Oct. 31 – @ Concordia University Wisconsin

Nov. 7 – Concordia University Chicago