Dangerous duo
The Spartans return a healthy dose of players from an offense that averaged nearly 25 points a year ago. None of them are bigger than the running back duo of Kachmer and Bobowski, who combined to average 6.5 yards per attempt while finding the end zone 23 times.
Kachmer topped the squad with 934 yards and 12 touchdowns on 119 carries while Bobowski accumulated 718 yards on 135 attempts with 11 scores.
With an improved offensive line and a refurbished passing game to keep defenses honest, those numbers could go up this fall.

If by air
If there was one concern for the Spartans on offense a year ago, it was the lack of productivity in the passing game. Thanks in large part to an offensive line that was wet behind the ears, quarterback Reckards completed only 63-of-135 passes for 913 yards and four touchdowns to go along with nine interceptions.
Look for vast improvement this season as Reckards gains a year of experience and Lombardi and Olver lead an offensive line that is considerably better.
“The big thing offensively,” Purnell said, “we have to be able to throw the ball better than we did a year ago. Reckards has improved and our wide receivers have improved. We just have to be more consistent throwing the ball.”

Patching up the defense
A glaring weakness for the Spartans a year ago was on the defensive side of the ball where they yielded 296 points in just nine games. They gave up 26 points or more in every game but one with Montini notching a season-high 51 points in Week 3.
That unit should improve immensely this fall with a veteran cast returning to the field. Ferguson, a linebacker, and Lombardi, a defensive lineman, spearhead the unit while O’Donnell patrols the secondary.
“The key is we have to have a good defensive football team,” Purnell said. “We were averaging 25-26 points a game (a year ago) with a team that couldn’t stop anybody. Our whole emphasis in camp has been about playing defense and hopefully we will be much improved.”

Strength of schedule
The Spartans are hoping to make it back to the postseason after falling short the last two years. But that task, again, won’t be easy as St. Francis must wade its way through a rugged Suburban Catholic Conference. Driscoll is a seven-time defending state champion, Montini has reached the postseason in 15 consecutive years and Marian Central Catholic features Division I quarterback recruit Jon Budmyar.
With those games lurking on the horizon, the nonconference affairs with Yorkville and DeKalb take on added importance to start the season. Both are bigger schools out of the Western Sun Conference, though they combined to go 5-13 a year ago.


Team at a glance
Nickname Spartans
Colors Blue and White
Stadium St. Francis High School, 2130 W. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton
Enrollment 759
Class 5A
Coach Greg Purnell (2nd year)
2007 record 3-6
Conference 2-5, 5th

Top returners
Ryan O’Donnell    sr.    RB
Stanley Bobowski    sr.    RB
Mark Kachmer    sr.    RB
Jeff Reckards    sr.    QB
Jason Lombardi    sr.    OL
Nate Olver    sr.    OL
Ryan Ferguson    sr.    TE/LB
David Sufranski    sr.    LB/RB
Brett Robinson    sr.    SE

Season schedule
Aug. 29    Yorkville    7 p.m.
Sept. 5    at DeKalb (@NIU)    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 12    Driscoll    7 p.m.
Sept. 19    at Montini    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 26    at Aurora Central Catholic    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 3    Marmion    7 p.m.
Oct. 10    St. Edward    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18    at Immaculate Conception    1 p.m.
Oct. 24    at Marian Central Catholic    7:30 p.m.

Games to watch
Aug. 29 vs. Yorkville Playoff aspirations start with the opener under the lights against the Foxes which went 2-7 in ’07
Oct. 3 vs. Marmion Always a swing game for the postseason — Spartans lost 7-5 last year
Oct. 10 vs. St. Edward Revenge is on the mind after Green Wave got only win of ’07 against St. Francis

5-year record
    overall    conference    playoffs
‘07    3-6    2-5   
‘06    3-6    3-4
‘05    6-5    4-3    2nd Rd.
‘04    5-5    4-3    1st Rd.
‘03    1-8    1-6       


SENIOR SAYS
Ryan Ferguson
What is the mindset of the team in the second year under head Coach Purnell?
“We have a better understanding of the offense and we have a new 3-5 scheme on defense. We have a lot of seniors coming back and we have a lot of leadership. We are just going to go one game at a time. Every game, we think we can win.”
 
How do you turn the defense around?
“This whole summer we really concentrated on tackling. With the new scheme, hopefully it will better fit our personnel. The goal is to be one of the top defenses in the area.”

What is the feeling as you await the season opener under the new lights at your school?
“We are all super-excited. We saw them put the lights up. When you hear about high school football, you think Friday nights. It should be a way better atmosphere.”

BY THE NUMBERS
3 Number of games the Spartans lost by 10 points or less last fall, keeping the squad out of the postseason for the second consecutive year

41, 31 Number of freshmen and sophomores, respectively, that came out for the football program at St. Francis. The varsity roster has 24 juniors and 12 seniors

1,652, 23 Combined rushing yardage and touchdowns, respectively, between running back duo of Mark Kachmer and Stanley Bobowski