62 Days to Kickoff: Rochester

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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 Aug. 5, we’ll unveil the @NBCSPrepsTop 25 Power Rankings, leading up to kickoff on Friday, Aug. 30.

School: Rochester

Head coach: Derek Leonard

Assistant coaches: Steve Beucher, Derrick Nelson, JC Clarke, Rich Mcmahon, George Weed, Tyson Corley, AJ Hill, Erik Warren, Tyler Mazzini, Brett Tackett, Jim Smith, Jim Rychel and Emanuel Minter

How they fared in 2018: 11-2 (8-1 Central State Eight Conference). Rochester made the Class 4A state playoff field and defeated Breese Central, Pontiac and Taylorville. They lost to Bishop McNamara in the semifinal round.

2019 regular season schedule:

Aug. 30 vs Springfield Southeast
Sept. 6 @ Normal U-High
Sept. 13 @ Jacksonville
Sept. 20 vs MacArthur
Sept. 27 vs Sacred Heart-Griffin
Oct. 4 @ Decatur Eisenhower
Oct. 11 vs Springfield
Oct. 19 @ Lanphier
Oct. 25 @ Glenwood

Biggest storyline: Rochester isn’t coming off a state championship season. That’s a rarity. Can the Rockets get back to their state title-winning ways in 2019?

Names to watch this season:  QB Clay Bruno (Sr.) and OL/DL Chris Koerwitz (Sr.)

Biggest holes to fill: The Rockets will have experience on both sides of the football but have to replace some graduation losses at receiver and on the defensive line.

EDGY's Early Take: Rochester head coach Derek Leonard has simply built a Class 4A powerhouse. In his 14 seasons leading the Rockets, he’s guided the program to a 144-31 record. They’ve also won seven state championships over the past nine seasons. The 2019 Rockets will have their usual high-octane spread offense, led by QB Clay Bruno and a solid cast in the skills department. Keep an eye on the offensive line. They have really good size up front and will give opposing defensive coordinators headaches. Will it be enough for another 4A trophy?

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