SOUTH BEND -- The Saint Joseph Huskies practiced under the lights on Tuesday, 72 hours before a new season begins.
And it's a season that starts with high expectations for the Huskies.
Saint Joe snapped a streak of five straight losing seasons last year, and while the team is breaking in a new quarterback, head coach Ben Downey thinks he'll have a talented line and running game to lean on.
"I'm hoping everything starts with the run game," Downey told WSBT Sports. "We really like our offensive linemen and (senior RB) Franco Biffle is quite a handful to bring down. If those guys are making some things happen it opens some things up for our other skills guys that we like as well, so I'm hoping that's out identity"
"I love that identity," admits senior offensive lineman Nick Ortiz. "That's the identity I've wanted for this team for awhile. With (David) Waite and Franco (Biffle) and (Matt) Champlain in the backfield, its a very dynamic backfield."
"I know the O-line talks about winning every single rep," Ortiz adds. "That's how we win games."
Saint Joe opens up at home Friday night against Lakeland.
You can watch highlights from that game and many, many more on the season-premiere of WSBT's Friday Night Football Fever.