Grand Rapids’ John Bonner among juniors tabbed to lead CSS football

Saints football came marching into their first practice of the season Thursday afternoon.

Joining the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) two years ago in 2021 the College of St. Scholastica’s (CSS) football team finished 0-8. They progressed last season picking up three wins to finish 3-7.

Now this year’s group, including Grand Rapids native John Bonner, is returning confident.

“Our freshman year, big learning curve moving to the MIAC. I think 18 out of 22 offensive and defensive starters were true freshmen that year. We’re really excited because finally now it’s like we’ve got some junior core team and so we’re all upperclassmen,” Bonner said, a junior linebacker.

“We have four total seniors and we have about 20 juniors. Almost all the juniors are returning starters, and if they weren’t returning starters they had roles in someway, somehow. It makes a huge impact because they are coaches all over, all the time,” head coach Mike Heffernan said.

CSS kicks off their season visiting a new opponent in Rockford University September 9. Their home opener is Saturday, September 16 against Crown College at 1 p.m. For their full schedule, Click Here.