NBCSportsChicago.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 30, we’ll unveil the @NBCSPrepsTop 25 Power Rankings, leading up to kickoff on Friday, Aug. 24.
School: Woodstock North
Head coach: Jeff Schroeder
Assistant coaches: Matt Polnow, John Fredericks, Chris Jackowiak, Dave Rose and Kirk Cagle
How they fared in 2017: 5-5 (1-5 Kishwaukee River Conference). Woodstock North made the Class 5A state playoff field and lost to Lemont in opening round action.
2018 Regular Season Schedule:
Aug. 24 @ Westosha Central Wisc.
Aug. 31 vs Antioch
Sept. 7 @ Richmond-Burton
Sept. 14 @ Johnsburg
Sept. 21 vs Burlington Central
Sept. 28 @ Marengo
Oct. 5 @ Lincoln
Oct. 12 vs Woodstock
Oct. 19 vs Harvard
[MORE: 88 Days to Kickoff - Antioch]
Biggest storyline: Can the Thunder reload and make another state playoff run in 2018?
Names to watch this season: DE Derek Freeman and OL/LB Matt Stevens
Biggest holes to fill: The Thunder will need to fill some holes this summer including replacing graduated standout QB Collin Mergi.
EDGY's Early Take: Woodstock North started the 2017 season with an early 0-2 hole and found their way to the state playoffs behind a good read-option run game and a strong defense. Look for the Thunder to continue to move forward this season with eight returning starters (four offense, four defense) in the fold. Interesting schedule for the Thunder, in that they have to travel north to Westosha Central HS (Salem, WI) for the opener. And in Week 7, they'll travel nearly 200 miles south to take on Lincoln.