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: Phillips
Head coach: Troy McAllister
How they fared in 2015: 14-0 (5-0) CPL Illini Land of Lincoln Conference. Phillips made the Class 4A state playoff field. The Wildcats defeated Genoa-Kingston, Johnsburg, Geneseo, Marengo and Althoff to capture the title.
Biggest storyline in 2016: Can the Wildcats do it again and win a state title?
Names to watch this season: DT Chris Elmore (Western Michigan), RB Kamari Mosby
[PREPS: Edgy Tim's Countdown to Kickoff series]
Biggest holes to fill: Who steps up and replaces a very strong outgoing senior class this fall?
EDGY's early take: The Wildcats made history in 2015 in capturing the Chicago Public League's first ever IHSA football title. I also see Phillips as the preseason favorite in Class 4A to win another state title. The Wildcats have speed and talent waiting in the wings, and once Week 10 comes along this will be a dangerous state title-contending team.
Wildcats schedule:
Aug. 26 vs. Fenwick *Triton College* (7:30 p.m.)
Sept. 2 vs. Richards *Gately* (7:15 p.m.)
Sept.10 vs. Simeon *Gately* (7:15 p.m.)
Sept. 16 vs. Westinghouse *Gately* (7 p.m.)
Sept. 22 vs. Vocational *Gately* (4:15 p.m.)
Oct. 1 at King *Gately* (3:45 p.m.)
Oct. 8 at Raby *Lane Stadium* (12:30 p.m.)
Oct. 14 vs. Solorio *Mandrake Park* (7 p.m.)
Oct. 21 CPL playoffs first round (TBA)