CSNChicago.com is your top destination on the road to the 2015 high school football season. CSN preps contributor “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran will take a look at 100 teams in 100 days, counting down to the opening night kickoff on Aug. 28.
No. 10 Phillips Wildcats
2014 record: 12-2 (5-0) won the Chicago Public League Illini Land of Lincoln Conference. The Wildcats defeated Plano, Johnsburg, Rockford Lutheran and Coal City before losing to Rochester in the Class 4A state title game.
Why did the Wildcats make the @CSNPreps Power Rankings? The Wildcats still have plenty of top talent on hand. Expect Phillips to once again make a deep run in the 4A state playoff field.
Areas of concern heading into the 2015 season? Who will play quarterback? Senior wide receiver Quayvon Skanes is making a position move to quarterback, but expect the Wildcats to develop one or two others this season.
[MORE PREPS: CSN Preps Power Rankings - No. 11 Loyola]
It will be a good season if: The Wildcats win out early in a tough schedule that includes games against Fenwick, Carmel and Simeon.
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Headliners? Skanes (UConn), senior linebacker Amani Jones (Iowa), senior defensive tackle Amir Watts (Western Michigan) are just a few of the names to watch this season.
Biggest game of 2015? Sept. 12 vs. Simeon at Gately Stadium. No question this will be the unofficial Chicago Public League championship game. Expect a huge crowd at Gately for this one.
Did you know? In 2014 Phillips was only the second team in Chicago Public League history to play in an IHSA state title game? Robeson, under Hall of Fame head coach Roy Curry, played in the Class 5A state title game in 1982.