A deep sense of certainty has surrounded the Phillips football team all season. It was there on the first windy, sunny day of practice at Mandrake Park in August and it was just as strong Saturday on the snow-covered field at Gately Stadium.
The Wildcats firmly believe they are going to win the Class 4A state title on Friday and put an end to the Public League’s state hardware drought.
“I have never doubted it for a second,” Phillips quarterback Quayvon Skanes said. “We have put in the work, we have the focus.”
A veteran high school team that has experience in a state title game is a rare thing. That’s what Phillips ran in to last year, a Rochester squad that knew everything about the routine that comes with advancing to the state finals.
“They were kind of a step ahead of us it felt,” Phillips coach Troy McAllister said. “I remember we were just kind of awestruck last year. We walked into the indoor practice facility all dressed and pumped up and Rochester was just kind of sitting there relaxed. They knew the routine.”
This year Phillips will play the role of the focused veterans.
“Last year we learned a lot, just as far as scheduling,” McAllister said. “The young men know that Thursday we will come in the morning and have a practice and a team meal and then send them home for thanksgiving and Friday we will play the state championship.”
The Crusaders (13-0) should not be underestimated. They knocked off Rochester, the five-time defending state champions, in the quarterfinals. It ended Rochester’s 27-game playoff winning streak that dated back to 2009.
Belleville Althoff and Phillips will play Friday at 7 p.m. at Northern Illinois University. Here’s a look at the 8A-5A title games:
Class 8A: Loyola (13-0) vs. Marist (9-4), 7 p.m. Saturday
It’s difficult to imagine any team beating the Ramblers. They’ve played just about as perfect of a season as is possible. Their offense is as good as the state has seen in a long while.
“I knew heading in to the season that our offense was the best we had in a long time,” Loyola coach John Holecek said. “I’d never seen an offense with so many weapons for us.”
Quarterback Emmett Clifford (174-for-247, 32 touchdowns, five interceptions) is poised and smart. Dara Laja (1,702 yards, 20 touchdowns) is the school’s all-time leading rusher.
The defense was supposed to be a work in progress throughout the season, but ended up being rock solid from the start.
Marist has roared into the title game behind a high-powered offense led by quarterback Brendan Skalitzky (38 touchdowns, 9 interceptions) and running back Darshon McCullough.
Class 7A: Glenbard West (13-0) vs. Libertyville (13-0), 4 p.m. Saturday
This should be an excellent game. Both teams are unbeaten, solid offensively and defensively, and both have massive, game-breaking stars.
Vanderbilt recruit Sam Brodner is the man for the Hilltoppers. He’s scored 39 touchdowns this season. The Wildcats counter with quarterback Riley Lees, a Northwestern recruit. He’s a major threat to run with 2,404 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns.
Glenbard West quarterback Brian Cochrane has turned in a sneaky good season.
“Cochrane is the best quarterback I’ve had in 9 years here,” Glenbard West coach Chad Hetlet said. “He’s thrown just one interception this season, very underrated.”
Class 6A: Montini (13-0) vs. Crete-Monee (11-2), 1 p.m. Saturday
The Broncos are loaded with Division I talent on both sides of the ball. Running back Prince Walker (averaging 8.2 yards per carry), quarterback Justin Blake (averaging 8.1 yards per carry( and receiver Tyler Millikan (averaging 14.3 yards per catch) are all breakout threats.
Montini also has a big advantage in the trenches, averaging 40 pounds heavier on both the offensive and defensive lines.
The Warriors, led by All-Area lineman Joe Ware, have relished the underdog role in the playoffs so far, knocking off favored Sacred Heart-Griffin and Hinsdale South in the last two rounds.
Class 5A: Nazareth (11-2) vs. Lincoln-Way West (11-2), 10 a.m. Saturday
The Roadrunners have the star power with Sun-Times Player of the Year Julian Love, a Notre Dame recruit, and junior Ivory Kelly-Martin. They can score points quickly, but during they regular season they surrendered them just as fast.
Running back Gabe Montalvo (2,274 yards, 38 touchdowns) and a large, talented offensive line is the key for the Warriors. The key to the game will be Lincoln-Way West’s defense, which will have to do a better job against Nazareth than it did against Thornton’s high-powered offense that burned them for 35 points in New Lenox.
