For prep football finalists, championship itinerary must be sound

At Montini it’s an annual team goal — to be able to practice football on Thanksgiving Day.

“That means one thing. It means you’re in a state final game,” said coach Mike Bukovsky, whose Broncos face Rochester for the first time in the Class 4A championship game, 7 p.m. Friday at Hancock Stadium in Normal.

Bukovsky is a veteran of Thanksgiving practices and downstate appearances. This will be his 11th time downstate, his third time as head coach in addition to eight times as defensive coordinator for retired Montini coach Chris Andriano.

Montini has played title games at the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and, last season, Illinois State University. Kickoff for those games has come at four different times depending on Montini’s enrollment class.

“We’re dusting off the 2004 Class 4A itinerary this week,” Bukovsky said Monday, referring to Montini’s first downstate trip, its prior 4A appearance, and its first football title.

Despite the late start time, it includes no overnight trip, though Bukovsky’s got itineraries for that, too.

Especially given Bukovsky’s experience coaching championship wrestling and softball teams, with help from athletic director Brian Casey and his assistants Eric Scott and Keeley Dooley, Broncos football moms on food detail, helpful alumni and a preseason fundraising effort to cover transportation and pregame meeting space in a Normal hotel, Montini has it down to a science.

“The coaches do a good job of trying to keep things the same for us throughout the whole year, so that nothing really comes as a surprise, which is nice,” said co-captain Laddie Asay, a senior linebacker and running back.

He appreciates the itinerary being posted numerous places in school athletic facilities, sent to players’ phones, and discussed in chats.

“Not only does that keep us routine,” Asay said, “but you have no time to be nervous because you’re always doing something, and preparing. That really keeps us focused on the game, I would say, which is something I really appreciate.”

Meanwhile, St. Francis is poised to make its first downstate football trip since winning the 2008 Class 5A title.

“We’re in uncharted waters. It’s brand new to us and very exciting to everyone,” said coach Bob McMillen, whose Spartans face Providence Catholic at 10 a.m. Saturday.

This prompts an overnight stay because, as Bukovsky said, no one wants to get up at 4 a.m. for a two-hour bus ride to make the early game. Even on a Coach bus.

It is exciting, and all hands are on deck to allow St. Francis players to “focus on controlling the things we can control,” McMillen said.

In addition to athletic director Dan Hardwick, Principal Raeann Huhn and President Phil Kerr, as well as the football moms and alumni all chipping in to coordinate things, McMillen said the Wheaton Police Department will provide an escort out of town.

St. Francis will hold its own Thanksgiving Day practice at 10 a.m. Thursday. The football field is where the Spartans are most comfortable.

“We’re just trying not to make it a distraction,” McMillen said of the change in protocol.

“We’re trying to focus on the work at hand and trying to make the community and alumni enjoy it just as much as we are, because it’s been a long time since a St. Francis football team has been downstate,” he said.

It’s obviously only been a year for Montini, and it’s got the routine down.

Chapel service at school before boarding the bus, the happy family and friends send-off, a meal and team meetings at a hotel after arrival, bus it to the Illinois State locker room, a helmet-only warmup at the college indoor practice facility, back to the locker room to dress, and onto the field again for final pregame exercises.

And one more thing.

“I think the biggest thing, going into this game, is knowing that we have one more game and we have a job to finish,” said Broncos senior co-captain Nico Castaldo, a receiver and defensive back.

“We’re undefeated, which is great, but that doesn’t mean anything if we don’t win this game,” he said. “We worked our whole year, our whole off-season for this moment and, to keep everyone’s mind in check, we have to get the job done and win this game.”