Catawba College’s football team had finished the season 10-1 with its 24-7 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne and had secured a berth — a home berth at that — in the Division II playoffs.

No. 2 Fort Valley State lost Saturday, paving the way for a move by Catawba to that spot. It was South Atlantic Conference domination in the South Region, with Carson-Newman at No. 1.

While everyone else celebrated Saturday, you had to wonder what Jamie Snider was thinking. The victory probably meant more to him than anyone.

Snider, a former Indian player, is now the offensive coordinator. He is one of eight — count ‘em, eight — assistants who is a former Catawba player.

And he remembers.

“In 1994, we walked into halftime of a game against (Lenoir-Rhyne) down 28-14,” recalled Snider. “The final was 63-19. I remember walking into halftime against Carson-Newman and we were down 56-17.”

Bennett was an assistant on that 1994 team as well. The next season, he was named head coach. Snider was the only assistant kept. And you know the rest.

“1994 was full of memories you want to forget,” Snider said. “Not seeing us go back to where we were — man, that’s great. I hope it’s something all of the alumni is proud of.”

How can the alumni not be? Catawba has a chance to tie the 1947 team’s 11-1 record with a win Saturday.

“You go through winter conditioning and lifting weights, then you run in 100 degrees, you don’t want to lose,” said Bennett. You want to win them all.”

He almost did.

Bennett gets emotional when talking about his assistants. He is loyal to the guys who are with him seven days a week.

Snider, Curtis Walker, Jim Tomsula, Jack Yelton, Rodney Goodine, R.J. Speaks,Kevin Brown and Carpaccio Owens have all suited up in Catawba blue.

Walker is quite a story. He came to Catawba as a noseguard and became an All-American linebacker. But he didn’t win much.

“I never participated in a playoff game,” Walker said. “So it means tons more now than it would’ve then.”

“We’ve seen the ups and downs,” Snider said. “I’ve seen the high points, like us winning the championship in 1988 against Lenoir-Rhyne and the low points like the 1994 season when we went 2-9 and were giving up 60 points per game. This has been a long time coming.”

Snider said to watch the respectability return to Salisbury may be the best part of all.

“It’s neat to see that,” he said. “We think back to 1995 when it started and we think about keeping it going.”

Snider points toward the head honcho, Bennett, the master motivator.

“We’ve gone 7-3, 9-2, 8-3, 6-4 and 10-1,” Snider said of Bennett’s tenure. “To watch this become a football program is great. Catawba hasn’t had five straight winning seasons since the 40’s.”

Bennett then points to Walker as the perfect example of a former player who becomes a coach out of loyalty more than anything else.

“Curtis could be making $40-50,000 a year selling cars,” Bennett said. “But he loves what he’s doing — coaching football at Catawba College.

“All of those guys have a personal interest in this football team and the young men and what they’re going to turn out to be when they graduate.”

As much as Bennett thanks his assistants, he also thanks Fred Corriher, the president of Catawba.

“He’s the one who hired me and gave me a chance to be a head coach,” Bennett said. “I was an assistant on a 2-9 team the year before. So I owe him a lot. And I owe the administration a lot for keeping this staff together.”

The only downside to Catawba’s berth is that Division II rules state playoff teams must cut their rosters to 52.

Bennett has 99 players, counting redshirts and he took almost 70 to Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday.

“The first thing I told the players was that we were proud of them,” Bennett said. “The next thing was that we have to cut down to 52. So I hope they’re going to be out there this week hopping and popping trying to win one of those 52 spots.”

And the ones who don’t make it? Snider and the rest of the coaching staff, along with those lucky 52, will be playing for them.

Out of loyalty. And because they all bleed Catawba blue.

Snider started reminiscing again.

“Last year, we finished 6-4 and were disappointed,” he said. “When I was playing here and when I started coaching here, we would’ve given our left arm for 6-4.

“So to be a part of this as a coach and know I went here is just icing on the cake.”