CSNChicago.com preps reporter "Edgy" Tim O’Halloran spotlights 100 high school football teams in 100 days. The first 75 team profiles will focus on teams making strides across Chicagoland and elsewhere in the state. Starting July 31, we’ll unveil the @CSNPrepsTop 25 Power Rankings, leading up to kickoff on Friday, Aug. 25.
School: Maine South
Head Coach: Dave Inserra
How they fared in 2016: 11-3 (4-1 Central Suburban South Conference), made the Class 8A state playoff field, defeated West Aurora, Barrington, Lincoln-Way East, Palatine and Loyola Academy to win the 2016 Class 8A state title.
2017 Regular Season Schedule:
Aug. 26 @ Glenbard West
Sept. 1 vs Lincoln-Way East
Sept. 8 vs Fremd
Sept. 15 @ Palatine
Sept. 22 vs Evanston
Sept. 29 @ Niles North
Oct. 6 vs Glenbrook South
Oct. 13 @ New Trier
Oct. 20 @ Niles West
Biggest storyline: Can the Hawks reload and also survive a rugged regular season schedule in 2017?
Names to watch this season: Senior RB Fotis Kokosioulis (NIU), Senior WR/DB Cam Stacy, Senior QB John O'Sullivan
Biggest holes to fill: The Hawks return just five returning starters (two offense, three defense) this season.
EDGY's Early Take: No question the Hawks will have to fill several spots this summer, but Maine South always finds a way to get the job done. The Hawks will look towards it's leader in senior RB Fotis Kokosioulis, who is verbally committed to NIU, to get several touches this fall. Maine South also has a young but very promising offensive linemen group and the backs and receivers are never in short supply. The Hawks biggest foe in 2017 could be a schedule that includes two top ranked teams (No. 4 ranked Glenbard West and No. 5 ranked Lincoln-Way East) to start the season.