By Bobby Narang
Three-peat.
Check.
One for the thumb, covered?
Check.
Entering Saturday’s Class 5A State championship game, Nazareth Academy had a lot of bullet points to check off with a big victory.
In a battle of familiar State powerhouses, Nazareth pulled out a thrilling 29-27 victory over Joliet Catholic at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium. The Roadrunners, led by a big group of seniors who had to play both ways earlier in their careers due to short numbers, won their third straight State championship.
Nazareth coach Tim Racki claimed his 10th career State championship, after winning four championships at Addison Driscoll.
Senior quarterback Logan Malachuk put his name in rare company by leading the Roadrunners to three consecutive titles. He completed 18 of 31 passes for 336 yards and four touchdowns. For his career, Malachuk finished with 11,184 yards passing, an IHSA record. Malachuk passed for 3,083 yards and 42 touchdowns this season.
“I was lucky enough to play four years for a great team under a great offense,” Malachuk said. “They put me in a great situation, and that’s all that you can ask for.”
Trenton Walker caught four passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, while James Penley had three receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Star senior linebacker Gabe Kaminski, a Stanford recruit, said the team battled tough in the second half to notch the win.
“State titles are nice, but you always want to leave the program better than why you found it,” Kaminski said. “We really achieved that. It all comes back to the brotherhood that (Racki) instilled in us.”
Joliet Catholic fell short of winning its 16th state title, just one behind Mount Carmel. The Hilltoppers (10-4) nearly tied the game in the final seconds of regulation but missed a two-point conversion after Vince Bremner’s two-yard touchdown run. Larry Stringham led the Hilltoppers with 148 yards rushing and Nate Magrini added 125 yards and a touchdown.
“It was a good football game between two of the top programs in the State,” Joliet Catholic coach Jake Jaworski said. “We just came up two yards short.”