Team Preview: Nazareth Academy

EDGYTIM.com previews the 2018 Nazareth Academy Road Runners here. For more in depth year long IHSA football team and recruiting coverage make sure to subscribe to the EDGY Nation today.

School: Nazareth Academy

Mascot: Road Runners

Conference: East Suburban Catholic Conference

Twitter: @FootballNaz

Head Coach: Tim Racki

Assistant Coaches: Casey Moran Joe Reynolds Rudy Luna Brody Budmayr Jeff Tumpane Joe Battaglia Steve Gray Tom Minogue Matt Letcher Larry White Jonathon Bittle Joe Felice

2017 results: 12-2 (6-1) ESCC. Nazareth Academy made the Class 6A state playoff field. The Road Runners defeated Springfield, Danville, Sacred Heart Griffin and Providence Catholic before losing to Prairie Ridge in the IHSA state championship game.

2018 Nazareth Academy Road Runners schedule

Fri. Aug. 24 LUTHERAN NORTH HOME 7:00 PM SPRINGFILED, MISSOURI

FRI. AUG. 31 LAKE ZURICH AWAY 7:00 pm

FRI. Sept. 7 MARIAN CENTRAL AWAY 7:00 pm WOODSTOCK

Fri. Sept. 14 ST. PATRICK HOME 7:00 pm

FRI. Sept. 21 BENET ACADEMY AWAY 7:00 pm

FRI. Sept. 28 CARMEL AWAY 7:00 pm

Fri. Oct. 5 Marist HOME 7:00 pM

FRI. Oct. 12 JOLIET CATHOLIC HOME 7:00 pm *HOMECOMING*

FRI. OCT. 19 MARIAN AWAY 7:00 PM

Returning Offensive Starters

Name	Position	Grad Year	Height	Weight

Devin Blakley	RB	2019	5-foot-11	185
Diamond Evans	WR	2019	6-foot-1	190
Michael Love	SLOT	2019	5-foot-10	165
David Oglesby	WR	2019	6-foot-0	185
Elijah Moscinski	OL:	2019	6-foot-6	320
Louie Stec	OL	2019	5-foot-11	245
Matt Keeler	OL	2019	6-foot-6	285

Returning Defensive Starters

Name	Position	Grad Year	Height	Weight

Jermaine Baker	DB	2019	6-foot-3	215
Diamond Evans	DB	2019	6-foot-1	190
Michael Love	DB	2019	5-foot-10	165
David Oglesby	DB	2019	6-foot-0	185
Cameron Leach	DL	2019	6-foot-3	280
Nathan Lugo	DL	2019	6-foot-3	255
Louie Stec	DL	2019	5-foot-11	245
Marcus Griffin	LB	2020	5-foot-10	220
Riley Theobald	LB	2020	6-foot-2	230

Newcomers to Watch

Name	Position	Grad Year	Height	Weight

Jeremy Puckett	DL	2019	6-foot-4	215
Dylan Smith	RB	2019	5-foot-10	180
Cole Verceli	WR/DB	2019	6-foot-0	185
Devon Wall	DB	2019	5-foot-9	160
Breven Seifsteck	WR/DB	2020	5-foot-10	165
Alex Carrillo	RB/DB	2020	5-foot-10	165
Teddy Olander	QB/WR/DB	2020	6-foot-1	170
JJ McCarthy	QB	2021	6-foot-2	170

2018 Nazareth Academy Road Runners Summer/7on7 plans

ALL WEDS. AT NAZ 8:30AM: 6/20,6/27, 7/11

TEAM CAMP AT IL. WESLEYAN JULY 15-18

Did you know...that Nazareth Academy head coach Tim Racki, who has now been a head coach for 20 seasons has posted an overall record of 172-61 while leading his teams to 6 IHSA state football state titles. Racki coaches at Driscoll Catholic for 7 seasons (76-13 record) while also coaching at Nazareth Academy for 13 years (96-48 record).

EDGYTIM's Way Too Early Take on the 2018 Nazareth Academy Road Runners? The Road Runners came up just short in 2017 losing to Prairie Ridge in the Class 6A state title game. The 2018 Road Runners have been projected to be a state title contending team since the soon to be senior class entered the building. Nazareth Academy will also move "up" to Class 7A this season and does Nazareth have the overall depth and numbers to win a state title up in 7A? I would not count out this program this season in any class.

Keep an Eye on: Nazareth Academy is loaded with senior talent and could wind up having at least 8-10 names sign letters of intent later this year. Yet sophomore QB JJ McCarthy could very well become a huge factor and key for the Road Runners offense this fall. McCarthy, who already has landed a handful of Power 5 scholarship offers before playing any substantial varsity level football has all the tools to develop into a potential game changer.

EDGYTM's Way Too Early Regular Season record prediction for the Nazareth Academy Road Runners? 9-0/8-1