With the start of official preseason practices a week away, the St. Bede and Mendota football teams got together for a joint practice Wednesday in Mendota. Members of the St. Bede and Mendota football teams scrimmage on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in the Jeff Prusator Athletic Complex at Mendota High School. St. Bede had a different defensive scheme than Ottawa used against Mendota in a joint practice last week. Eustice was happier with his team’s effort against St. Bede compared with the joint practice with Ottawa. Eustice, who took over Mendota last year after 10 seasons leading St. Bede, said he pared down the summer for the Trojans this year.