Rallying cries for defense eventually turned to the thunderous roar of victory for about 1,400 football fans cheering on the Nazareth Academy Roadrunners Saturday afternoon in La Grange Park.
As the last second ticked off the clock, the stadium erupted and students rushed onto the field as Nazareth decisively defeated rival Joliet Catholic Academy 35-21.
Even from the first quarter, a number of fans were confident the Roadrunners would prevail in the quarterfinal playoffs, despite an earlier 38-35 loss to the Hilltoppers during the regular season.
“I’m absolutely feeling good about today,” said Tom Mannix, a 1998 alumnus, who brought his 8-month-old son, John, to his first game.
Mannix said he was hopeful for a repeat of last year’s spectacular undefeated season and Class 6A state championship. He hosted a viewing party for about 50 alumni at his Forest Park home for the championship game last Thanksgiving weekend.
Following a moment of silence for victims of the terrorist attacks Friday Nov. 13 in Paris, students stood for the national anthem and never sat down. Foot-stomping cheers shook the stands from throngs of teens decked out in camouflage.
“We have a theme every game, and this one is ‘We’re going hunting,'” said senior Carol Frugoli of Chicago. “We’re hunting for the state championship.”
Frugoli said she sensed her school is even hungrier for a victory this year compared to last.
“Last year, we were undefeated, and we were like, ‘we got this,'” she said. “This year, we had a couple of losses. We’re fighting for it more.”
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Kelly and John McAuliffe of Burr Ridge, whose three daughters have attended Nazareth, said they’re thrilled the team is a contender again.
“We’re very excited just to be here, especially two years in a row,” John McAuliffe said. “After eight years, we’re lifelong fans now. Even after our daughter who’s a senior graduates, we’ll be back.”
Jimmie Daniels of Burr Ridge said he was proud to be rooting for his grandson, Christian Sampleton, a junior playing defensive end.
“So far, they’ve done a marvelous job,” Daniels said at half time when Nazareth led 21-14.
“The night games have been a pleasant change this year. I always grew up with Friday night games,” said Daniels, who played football in high school and at Alcorn State in Mississippi.
Students, parents and alumni said four Friday night games under new lights at the stadium made the home season more exciting than past years. La Grange Park officials granted approval for the lights with a number of parking and other stipulations to handle additional spectators.
Police Chief Ed Rompa said arrangements have worked out well for Nazareth’s night games, and he’s received no complaints from neighbors.
Public Works crews posted signs for home games restricting parking to one side of the street in the neighborhood east of the stadium, Rompa said. Additional parking has been available with shuttle buses to Park Junior High School several blocks away, he said.
“Everything has gone fantastic,” the chief said.
Nazareth President Dennis Moran, who paced the sidelines throughout the game, said he was pleased with the victory and grateful for a team effort from school officials to host 2,000 to 3,000 total spectators for the Joliet Catholic game.
The Friday night lights have been “a dream come true” with additional fans for each home game, Moran said.
“Sitting down and working it out, working together with the neighbors was important,” he said. “I do understand their concerns. We got it done jointly.”
Moran said he will miss home field advantage for the semifinal matchup.
“We’re now the Road Warriors,” he said.
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