Team at a glance
Nickname Roadrunners
Colors Blue and white
Stadium Spirit Field, 1209 W. Ogden Ave., La Grange Park
Enrollment 770
Class 5A
Coach Tim Racki (3 years; 14-16)
2007 record 8-4
Conference 5-2, T-3rd

Top returners
LaSteven McKinney jr.RB
Antonio Miranda sr. LT
Mike Bartodziej sr. LG
Mike Reynolds sr. RT
John Nelson sr. TE/LB
Mike Dore jr. LB/WR
Kyle Borkovec sr. DL
Mark McDonald sr. DL
Steve Murphy sr. CB/WR
Mike Williams jr. LB

Promising newcomers
Adam Marske sr. QB
T.J. Jones jr. WR
Brennan Cerny jr. C
Matt Letcher sr. DE

Season schedule
Aug. 30 vs. Clark 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 6 vs. Riverside Brookfield 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 12 at Joliet Catholic 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 vs. Marist 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 26 at Benet 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 vs. Marian Catholic 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 10 at Notre Dame 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 17 vs. St. Joseph 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 23 vs. Carmel 12:30 p.m.

Games to watch
Sept. 6 vs. Riverside Brookfield Bulldogs out for revenge after Roadrunner thrashing last year
Sept. 12 at Joliet Catholic Solid performance in this game could propel Nazareth on to big things this season
Oct. 25 vs. Carmel Cosairs will always mark this game down after Roadrunners won two years ago

5-YEAR TREND
overall conference playoffs
‘07 8-4 5-2 Quarters
‘06 3-6 2-5
‘05 3-6 3-6
‘04 1-8 1-8
‘03 1-8 1-8

Top runner back
After a long hiatus, Nazareth found itself back in the postseason last year. The Roadrunners made it all the way to the Class 5A quarterfinals, but now they’re trying to avoid a playoff hangover. The Roadrunners return probably their most important player in McKinney. McKinney, now a junior, was the surprise player in the ESCC last year, rushing for more than 1,000 yards while scoring touchdowns more frequently than LaDanian Tomlinson.
“The great thing about kids like this is that it’s a treat to coach them,” Racki said. “He’s very coachable. He knows he’s going to be in every defensive player’s mirror and I think he’s ready for the challenge.”

Coaching counts
When Nazareth first joined the ESCC, it was a perennial doormat, going 1-8 their first two years in the league. Even in current Coach Racki’s first two years, the team posted consecutive 3-6 marks, despite Racki coming from four straight state titles at Driscoll.
Last year, though, proved how effective Racki is as he took a team that many had picked to finish in the bottom half of the league and turned it into a state quarterfinalist.
Nazareth even posted its best mark ever in the ESCC, going 5-2. In his career, Racki has a 90-29 record. Take away his first year at Driscoll and first two years at Nazareth and he is 79-13 in seven years.

McKinney not alone
Nazareth could boast the best player in the ESCC in McKinney. As a sophomore in 2007, McKinney burst on the scene and was a scoring machine. Now, as a junior, teams will be gunning for McKinney as several of the team’s key players from last year, like quarterback Phil Kaiser, running back Curtis Cannon, linebacker Ted Rosenberg and Jake Fuller and wide receivers Phil Moore and Kevin Johnson, have graduated.
McKinney won’t be alone, though, as he has returning players like Williams and Nelson back with him in the back field. He also has some of his blockers back in Reynolds, Miranda and Bartodziej.

QB newcomer
Marske has one varsity start under his belt — a 49-6 win over St. Joseph last fall. Despite that experience, he’s still looked at as a newcomer as Phil Kaiser started Nazaerth’s other 11 games at quarterback, seven of which were wins. He has several weapons back with which to work, and the hopes are he can lead Nazareth back to the playoffs. Marske isn’t taking anything for granted and, according to Racki, put in a ton of time in the offseason and has come into camp bigger and stronger.
“He has been working out and on a physical level has matured a ton,” Racki said. “I’m confident and everyone else is confident he’ll be able to get the job done.”

SENIOR SAYS
Antonio Miranda
Nazareth is coming off a good year. How do you carry that momentum into this year?
“We learned from last year that we have to put in hard work. It’s not about one person, you have to do it all for the team. It helps that we have a great running back, too, and he’ll help us keep that momentum going.”

What goals have you set this season?
“Of course, to win state. You have to take one game at a time and get to the playoffs first. Once we qualify for the playoffs, then we’ll take it from there.”

After last year’s success, how do you think opposing teams look at Nazareth now?
“We used to be just another win on someone’s schedule, but now they look at the calendar and know they have to play us. We use that as motivation, that lack of respect, especially last year, and look what it got us.”

You mention LaSteven McKinney in the backfield. What does he do for the team?
“All we have to do on the line is give him a little something and he turns it into a big gain. It’s nice. He’s very explosive and is a threat on every play.”

BY THE NUMBERS
22 Number of touchdowns La Steven McKinney had last year in his sophomore season

14-16 Nazareth’s record under Tim Racki after going 8-4 last season

1 Number of teams on Nazareth’s schedule with a losing record last year