By Jack Hart
A new season brings a new opportunity for the St. Teresa Bulldogs, and heading into 2026, the message surrounding the program is clear: this team is ready to grind.
With Head Coach Brit Miller leading the way, St. Teresa enters the season believing its demanding schedule will prepare the Bulldogs for what they hope will be a deep playoff run.
Senior linebacker Landric Cox believes the team is entering the season more prepared and better conditioned than a year ago.
“We look good. I think we’re a lot in better condition. I think we’re more prepared for this year,” Cox said.
Cox also believes the Bulldogs have made improvements defensively, particularly in tackling and overall aggression.
“Just aggression. More aggression. Being able to tackle better,” Cox said. “You got to tackle to win games.”
That defensive mentality will be tested immediately when Quincy Notre Dame comes to town to open the season. St. Teresa has spent the preseason studying film and preparing for the different offensive sets QND can bring.
For sophomore linebacker Tanner Cox, the difficult schedule is exactly what St. Teresa needs.
“I think it really exposed our flaws,” Tanner Cox said. “It exposed our flaws before the playoffs so that we know what we need to fix.”
Tanner enters the season with personal goals as well, hoping to lead the Bulldogs in tackles for the second consecutive year while helping St. Teresa reach the playoffs.
He also believes the Bulldogs are a team that could surprise some people this fall.
“We are ready to play. We’re different this year. We changed our mindset. Got good coaches. I think we’re really going to beat some butt,” Tanner said.
Offensively, the Bulldogs are looking to take another step forward.
Wide receiver and safety Tommy Peter said the offense has looked significantly better during the preseason, including improvements in the wide receiver group, offensive line and running game.
“We’re looking a lot better than last year,” Peter said.
Peter is also hoping to make a bigger impact at wide receiver after seeing limited action at the position last season.
“I’m just hoping, you know, more targets, more catches,” Peter said.
At quarterback, Gavin Paul enters the season confident in the players surrounding him. Paul pointed to Lucas Cleary as an important piece along the offensive line and highlighted Brett Cleary and Reed Douglas as key targets in the passing game.
Paul also believes facing bigger schools throughout the season will benefit the Bulldogs when the playoffs arrive.
“When 1A playoffs come, we’re going to be dangerous because we play all these tough teams,” Paul said.
One game Paul is particularly looking forward to is the matchup with Monticello, a game he believes St. Teresa has a legitimate chance to win.
At the center of it all is Coach Brit Miller, who believes this year’s Bulldogs have the personnel to compete.
“We got great skilled players,” Miller said. “I got enough linemen. I think we’ve got 10 guys that can really play at the varsity level.”
Miller wants St. Teresa to become a balanced football team, emphasizing the importance of running the football while continuing to develop the passing game.
Defensively, Miller expects Tanner Cox to be a leader in the middle of the defense.
“I’ve had him since fourth grade. I know his pedigree. I know what he can do,” Miller said.
Miller’s philosophy is built around competition. Rather than looking for an easy path, St. Teresa intentionally schedules difficult opponents to challenge its players and prepare them for the postseason.
“I believe in competition,” Miller said. “It’s learning how to compete. It’s learning how to create toughness in these young men.”
That philosophy extends beyond the football field. Miller believes the lessons learned through football — toughness, teamwork and perseverance — can help shape the young men in his program long after their playing careers end.
The Bulldogs also enter 2026 with a coaching staff that Miller believes can help take the program forward. Nick Walkerwill lead the offense, while Mike Goodwin brings experience and an offensive-line focus. Andrew Cox has also returned to help with the defensive secondary.
When asked to describe the culture at St. Teresa in one word, Miller didn’t hesitate.
“It’s a grind.”
That grind will begin immediately against a challenging Quincy Notre Dame squad, but the Bulldogs aren’t backing away from the challenge.
From Landric Cox’s focus on defensive aggression, to Tanner Cox’s leadership, Peter’s expanded role, Paul’s confidence at quarterback and Miller’s belief in competition, St. Teresa enters 2026 with plenty of reasons to believe this season can be different.
And the Bulldogs have one simple message for their supporters: show up.
“Just come out to games,” Landric Cox said.
For St. Teresa, the road to 2026 starts with a tough schedule, a determined team and a program ready to embrace the grind.
