By Bobby Narang
A year after erasing a 1-3 start to win the Class 5A State championship, Nazareth followed the same script this Fall.
Nazareth closed out last season with eight straight victories, but took an even difficult road to the state title game this season.
The Roadrunners opened the 2023 football season with four consecutive defeats, including a 42-13 loss to York in Week 2. Yet, the Roadrunners regrouped to win four straight games before falling to St. Francis 35-17 in their regular season finale.
Nazareth mounted another strong playoff push by defeating Prairie Ridge, Glenbard South, Carmel and knocked off St. Francis to reach the 5A title game. Against Joliet Catholic, Nazareth rode a sterling performance from quarterback Logan Malachuk to a thrilling 38-20 comeback victory over the Hilltoppers in Saturday’s 5A title game at Illinois State’s Hancock Stadium.
Malachuk led the way with a 23-for-34 performance for 414 yards and four touchdowns.
“We had our backs against the wall every single week and everyone was doubting us,” Malachuk said. “It just goes to show how we stick together.”
The Hilltoppers (10-4) missed a chance to win the program’s 16th state title despite leading 20-10 at halftime. Running back HJ Grigsby ran for 285 yards on 34 carries. The Roadrunners (9-5) picked up a monster game from James Penley, who had seven catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns to hand Nazareth coach Tim Racki his fifth state championship at the school and ninth overall after tallying four state titles in a row at Addison Driscoll.
In the 6A title game, Cary-Grove defeated East St. Louis 23-20 behind a strong rushing game and stout defensive effort. Logan Abrams scored the winning touchdown, a two-yard run with 1:19 left in the game for the program’s fourth state title. Meanwhile, Mount Carmel ended Downers Grove North’s storybook season in a 35-10 rout in the Class 7A title game. The Caravan captured the program’s 15th state championship. Still, the Trojans (11-3) cherished the program’s first state appearance since winning an 8A state crown in 2004.
“We had a lot of guys step up that didn’t play a lot of snaps last year,” Downers Grove North coach Joe Horeni said. “I’m really proud of our guys. They’ve set the standard as leaders for what we need to be going forward.”
In 8A, Loyola won its second straight state title in a 26-15 battle against Lincoln-Way East to end the football season. The Ramblers notched the program’s fifth state title by beating the Griffins for the second consecutive season in the championship game.