CSNChicago.com preps reporter "Edgy" Tim O’Halloran spotlights 100 high school football teams in 100 days. The first 75 team profiles focus on teams making strides across Chicagoland and elsewhere in the state. Starting Aug. 1, we’ll unveil the @CSNPreps Top 25 Power Rankings, leading up to kickoff on Friday, Aug. 26. View Edgy Tim's other football previews here.
School: Maine South
Head coach: Dave Inserra
How they fared in 2015: 8-3 (5-0) Central Suburban South Conference. Maine South made the Class 7A state playoff field. The Hawks defeated Plainfield North then lost to Normal Community in second-round action.
Biggest storyline in 2016: Can the Hawks survive a brutal early regular season schedule?
Names to watch this season: OG Kevin Jarvis, RB Fotis Kokosioulis
[PREPS: Edgy Tim's Countdown to Kickoff series]
Biggest holes to fill: Can the Hawks replace graduated three-year varsity starting quarterback Brian Collis?
EDGY's early take: The Hawks return 13 starters (six offense, seven defense) and the offense will be just fine this season as senior quarterback Nick Leongas steps in for Collis. The running game for the Hawks will also be strong with Kokosioulis and Jarvis (Michigan State) leading the way. You'll be hard pressed to find any team in Chicagoland with a tougher first three games this season than Maine South.
Hawks schedule:
Aug. 26 vs. Montini Catholic (7:00 p.m.)
Sept. 3 at Loyola Academy (1:30 p.m.)
Sept. 9 at Barrington (7:30 p.m.)
Sept. 16 vs. Conant (7:30 p.m.)
Sept. 23 vs. Niles North (7 p.m.)
Sept. 30 at Glenbrook South (7:30 p.m.)
Oct. 7 vs, New Trier (7 p.m.)
Oct. 14 vs, Niles West (7 p.m.)
Oct. 21 at Evanston (7:30 p.m.)