NEWBERG, Ore. -- The 2024 football season marks the 10th full season of George Fox football since returning to play in 2014.

After showing signs in 2015, the George Fox football team broke through in 2016, recording their first winning season since the program returned. The Bruins went 5-4 overall and finished 5-2 in the Northwest Conference, good for second in the conference.

The Bruin season started slow — with Fox beginning the year 0-3 with losses to No. 12 Wisconsin-Platteville, Redlands, and Whitworth. Despite the losses, the growth the Bruins had made in their third year was obvious. Fox, who had lost to Whitworth by 23 points in the last two seasons, held a 23-15 halftime lead over the Pirates, ultimately falling, 23-28, in a homecoming thriller.

That growth came to a head in a massive 52-13 victory of Lewis & Clark, as the Bruins scored the most points in program history. Quarterback Grant Schroeder appeared to be in top form, throwing for 209 yards on 22-of-33 passes, while defensive end Caleb Dalzell recorded the Bruins' first pick-six of the year. Dalzell ran one back for a 20-yard score early in the third quarter.

Fox would piggyback off of these wins by embarking on a three-game win streak, with home wins over Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran. The home crowd showed out yet again for the Bruins in the wins, as well as the entire season; the Bruin faithful showed up in droves to Stoffer Family faithful, averaging 2,394 fans per game.

Over 2,000 fans saw the Bruins defeat PLU for the first time in program history, rallying from a 7-15 halftime deficit to win, 22-18. Defensive stars Charles Riga, who recorded 13 tackles and a sack, and Ryan Russo, who ended with an interception and a pass breakup. After the game, Bruin head coach Chris Casey called the win a "tremendous victory for the program."

After a hard-fought loss to Linfield, the Bruins made sure to finish with a bang to earn their first winning season of all time. Fox took down Pacific on Senior Night, 15-12, before recording four interceptions in a 21-7 victory over Willamette. In the final game of the season against the Bearcats, Riga was named NWC Defensive Athlete of the Week after recording a program-record 19 tackles — a record that stands today.

With winning comes individual recognition; thanks to the 5-2 conference mark, the Bruins put a record number of people on the all-conference roster. Nolan Schuler was named First Team Offense, while Charles Riga earned First Team Defense. Trevor Daniels made Second Team Offense, while Caleb Dalzell and Tanner Krahel were both named Second Team Defense. Grant Schroeder, Wesley Riddell, Nathan Corliss, Justin Kruse, Steven Lindstrom, and Caylen Clardy were all named All-NWC Honorable Mention.

Rounding out the individual awards was Nolan Schuler, who became the first offensive lineman and George Fox athlete to garner a spot on the D3football.com All-West Region Team.

The 2016 season was a season of firsts for Fox. Schuler was the first of many All-Region athletes. It was the first of many winning seasons. And there would be much higher levels that Fox could aspire for in 2017.

Stay tuned each Wednesday of the football season as George Fox Athletics looks back at each of the past 10 years of Bruin football.