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: Hoffman Estates
Head coach: Tim Heyse
Assistant coaches: Brennan Carroll (DC), Paul Moersch (DL/strength coach), JP Moore (secondary), Andrew Pettit (OLB), Jeff Mandel (WR/special teams), Eric Gdowski (RB), Joe Garofalo (OL) and Doug Dannewitz (OL)
How they fared in 2017: 10-3 (3-2 Mid Suburban West Conference). Hoffman Estates made the IHSA 6A playoff field. The Hawks defeated De La Salle, Lake Forest and Belvidere North before losing to Prairie Ridge in the state semifinal round.
2018 Regular Season Schedule:
Aug. 24 @ Elk Grove
Aug. 31 vs Prospect
Sept. 7 @ Glenbrook North
Sept. 14 vs Maine East
Sept. 21 @ Schaumburg
Sept. 28 vs Palatine
Oct. 5 @ Barrington
Oct. 12 vs Fremd
Oct. 19 @ Conant
[MORE: 88 Days to Kickoff - Antioch]
Biggest storyline: Momentum. After a 10-win season last year, can the Hawks keep the momentum going which has built up over the past two seasons?
Names to watch this season: DB Cameron Kindred and WR Jordan Lane
Biggest holes to fill: The Hawks graduated 18 starters from last year's Class 6A semifinalist team, including several key multi-year starters.
EDGY's Early Take: No one in and around the Hawks football program will deny that they just graduated an elite senior class that made significant school history (the 10 wins tied a school record back in 1988). But don't count this program out. Head coach Tim Heyse and his staff have developed a fine winning culture. While the 2018 Hawks will be young, they will also have talent to watch this fall.