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: Morris
Head coach: Alan Thorson
Assistant coaches: John Courter, Greg Larsen, Keith Anderson, Derek Johnston, Danny Hoffman, Brandon Valentine, Justin Zink, Matt Seidel, Brian Kasher, Ryan Battersby, Ryan Clauson, Tyler Hartley and Kyle Enervold
How they fared in 2017: 11-3 (3-1 Northern Illinois Big 12 East Conference). Morris made the Class 4A state playoffs. The Redskins defeated Kewanee, Ridgewood, Rochelle and Raby before losing to Rochester in the state title game.
2018 Regular Season Schedule:
Aug. 24 @ Coal City
Aug. 31 vs Washington
Sept. 7 vs Crete-Monee
Sept. 14 vs Yorkville
Sept. 21 @ Ottawa
Sept. 28 @ DeKalb
Oct. 5 vs Sycamore
Oct. 12 @ Kaneland
Oct. 19 vs LaSalle-Peru
Biggest storyline: It’s all about getting back to state. Can the Redskins reload and make back-to-back title game appearances?
Names to watch this season: OL/DL Kyle Little and QB Mitch Mayberry
Biggest holes to fill: The Redskins will need to replace the production from RB Kam Dransfeldt (lost to graduation) along with finding some help at the wide receiver position.
EDGY's Early Take: Morris had a terrific run in 2017 and will return a very solid group of seniors. 10 starters return (six offense, four defense). This will also be the last season of the Northern Illinois Big 12 East conference. If the Redskins can survive the always-rough regular season schedule, they could very well play deep into November once again.