Munster sophomore Sam Sudac has a passion for football.
The sport has appealed to him since he started playing Pop Warner as a 5-year-old with neighbor Owen Burns, who is a sophomore kicker for the Mustangs. So the team’s first win last week was significant.
“As the season’s progressing, we keep improving as a team,” Sudac said. “It just motivates me more because I’ve put a lot into this program already. I’ve been here my whole life, and it’s just been fun.”
Sudac, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound running back, scored two touchdowns as the Mustangs (1-4) beat East Chicago Central on Friday for their first win under first-year coach Romison Saint-Louis. Sudac has a team-high 285 rushing yards and a team-high nine catches for 64 yards this season.
Sudac, who also has seen some snaps at safety, has been surrounded by golf his whole life. So it wasn’t necessarily a given that he’d follow this path.
Sudac’s grandfather Jack is the former longtime pro at Briar Ridge Country Club; his father, Jim, is a former golf standout at Lake Central and Purdue; and his older brother Jack plays golf for Munster.
Sam Sudac shrugged when asked about that sport.
“I’m not much of a golf person,” he said.
Sudac’s aptitude for football stands out, though.
“He’s a good kid, just a hard worker,” Saint-Louis said. “He’s one of our toughest kids. We put a lot on his shoulders and expect a lot out of him. Mentally, he’s able to handle it. Physically, he’s able to handle it. And on top of it, he’s a kid people want to be around. That’s important to have on your team, and he brings that.”
Count sophomore fullback Zion Richards among the Mustangs who appreciate Sudac’s demeanor.
“He’s a nice guy overall,” Richards said. “He’s very athletic. He runs hard. He’s always positive. Even when things are going bad, he’s positive.
“He’s a little quiet. But he’s an all-around positive guy. He’s always happy. He brings the energy.”
Saint-Louis agreed Sudac could utilize his voice more but also reminds himself about Sudac’s youth.
“He doesn’t talk enough. He needs to talk more,” Saint-Louis said. “But he’s a leader by example. He’s one of those kids. He works tremendously hard, and he’s one who’s like, ‘Look at what I do.’ The next step in his growth is to get him to understand, ‘Look at what I do, but also hear what I’m telling you.’ It takes time. I didn’t expect him to have that right now. He’s a sophomore.
“But he’s a special kid, how much we put on him as a sophomore. Sometimes I forget he’s a sophomore because I put a lot on him.”
Sudac played at all three levels of the program last season, including holding for his buddy Burns.
Sudac, who was a hurdler for the boys track team in the spring, gained 20 pounds since last season.
“It’s hard, but I like the process,” he said. “It’s what you have to do to get better as a player. I feel like there’s always room for improvement. I’m putting my greatest effort out there on the field and just trying to make the team better now and in the future.”
Sudac likes the direction the team has been heading under Saint-Louis.
“I love his culture,” Sudac said. “His attitude toward the whole program is great. It’s been positive.”
With players such as Sudac in the fold, Saint-Louis has been encouraged.
“The record doesn’t show it, but it’s been a good process,” Saint-Louis said. “We understand it’s not an overnight thing. In spite of our record, it’s still fun to come to practice, and our kids are a joy to be around. Our kids do a good job of handling everything we throw at them. It’s tough for our seniors. But we’re building something special, and they know it takes time.
“At the end of the day, it’s a long process. Are we getting better? Are we meeting expectations? Are we setting a good foundation for our culture? And we are. There’s nothing our kids back down from.”
