Nazareth Roadrunners football season preview

2014 record: 14-0 overall, 7-0 East Suburban Catholic

2014 playoffs: Defeated Lemont 26-7 in Class 6A state championship game

Coach: Tim Racki, entering 11th season

Returning stats leaders

QB: Sr. Carson Bartels, 37-for-56, 772 Yds, 7 TDs, 4 Int.

RB: Sr. Julian Love, 71 Att, 749 Yds, 12 TDs

RB: Sr. Joey Muscolino, 34 Att, 282 Yds, 6 TDs

WR: Sr. Christopher Simmons, 27 Rec, 605 Yds, 7 TDs

WR: Sr. Love, 20 Rec, 547 Yds, 8 TDs

Team outlook

After winning the school’s first state championship in any sport, the Roadrunners will look for an encore, but it will have to come after the graduation of all five offensive linemen who cleared the way to the state championship victory. Nazareth is counting on contributions from two-way linemen Bryan Behrendt, Devonte Dunn, Matt Prendergast and Mike Carpinelli to fill in. Sophomore Gavin Smith is the new center. Backup quarterback Carson Bartels will look to pass more this season with targets Simmons and Love returning. Nazareth’s running-backs-by-committee will include Ivory Kelly-Martin, Cameron Weems, Love and linebacker Joey Muscolino.

Did you know?

Nazareth’s Tim Racki became the state’s first coach to lead two different schools to state football championships. He won four consecutive titles with now-defunct Driscoll from 2001-04.

Getting to know …

Christian Davis

Nazareth’s top basketball player will start as a defensive back this season after serving as a part-time DB last season. The Burr Ridge resident and senior basketball guard formerly played three sports, but quit baseball after the eighth grade.

Q: Who has been the most influential person in your life?

A: My mom (Elizabeth). She has been there for everything. She helps with homework and takes me to all the places for my practices.

Q: What job do you think you’ll like when you get older?

A: Something like a sports analyst or journalist. I would like to be ones like (NBA coach) Steve Kerr. He worked for TNT and was a GM for the Suns (before coaching Golden State)

Q: Which do you like more, basketball or football?

A: I like both sports. I can say I’m a little better at basketball. At this point, I like them both. I watch and I know the history of both sports. It depends on what season I’m in.

Bryan Behrendt

At 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, he’s Nazareth’s largest player. He becomes the new leader on the offensive line after serving as a backup last season. His older brother Matt, a 2011 graduate of Nazareth who directed Wisconsin-Whitewater to back-to-back Division III national championships, recently signed as a quarterback for the Green Bay Blizzard of the Indoor Football League.

Q: What advice has Matt give you now that you are entering your senior year?

A: I have a favorite quote from him, “Work hard. Dream big. Stay humble.” He might have come up with that. I’ve committed it to memory.

Q: What is your favorite electronic device?

A: It’s my cell phone. I wouldn’t go anywhere without it. I have an iPhone. I have a “Watch ESPN” app that I shouldn’t admit, but I’ve watched it in school during study hall.

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: Probably to the south Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands. My brother went there and told me some fun stories. He was there one week with some friends and they went sailing around the island.

Schedule

Friday, Aug. 28 at Bloomington 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 5 VS. LEO 1:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 11 VS. ST. PATRICK* 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 18 at Marian Central* 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 25 VS. MARIAN CATHOLIC* 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 2 VS. BENET* 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 9 at Joliet Catholic* 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 16 VS. MARIST* 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 23 at St. Viator* 7:30 p.m.

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

* indicates East Suburban Catholic conference game