IHSA Playoffs: Three Public League Teams Advance to Second Round

The Chicago Public League set a record with 24 football teams qualifying for the 2021 IHSA Playoffs. As we move onto round two, only three Public League teams remain on the road to DeKalb—Clarke, Morgan Park, and Phillips. Phillips is the only Public league team ever to win a state championship, Morgan Park made it to the state semi-finals back in 2005, and Clark earned their school its first-ever playoff victory last week against Elmwood-Brimfield. So without further ado, let's get to know the three Public league teams who are still rolling down the road to DeKalb... <hr /> <h4></h4> <h4>(9) Morgan Park Mustangs | 5A</h4> <strong>Head Coach</strong>: Chris James <strong>2021 Fall Record</strong>: 7-2 <strong>PF/G</strong> 36.3  <strong>PA/G</strong> 20.1 <strong>Second Round Matchup</strong>: 11/6 vs. Kankakee (10-0) <strong>Matchup Key</strong>: I’ve gotten a chance to watch the Mustangs in person on multiple occasions, and I’ll be the first to tell you that this team is not lacking in the talent department. The Mustangs are led by their ultra-talented quarterback <strong>Aaron Warren</strong>, a prospect who’s more than capable of carving up a defense through the air and is even more dangerous when he decides to break the pocket. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="130591" first="Tysean" last="Griffin"]</strong>, arguably the most talented player in Illinois’ C/O 24’ is another prospect on the Mustangs with game-breaking ability. But it’s the Mustangs’ defensive backs who will be tested by Kankakee’s aerial assault, led by quarterback<strong> Tamele Staples</strong> and receiver <strong>Pierre Allen</strong> who caught 43 passes for 905 yards and 14 touchdowns. Luckily for the Mustangs, they have one of the best cornerback duos in the state with <strong>Kiwaun Davis</strong> and <strong>Donta Hayes Jr.;</strong> Not mention, [player_tooltip player_id="130591" first="Tysean" last="Griffin"] is also a pretty good defensive back. <strong>Prospects to Know</strong>: Aaron Warren | QB | ’22 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-215221" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/10/aaronw0-e1633968628561-282x300.jpg" alt="" width="282" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="130591" first="Tysean" last="Griffin"] | ATH | ’24 Kendall Sprouts | WR | ’22 [player_tooltip player_id="141369" first="Devan" last="King"] | OL | ’22 Ahmad Grayer | LB | ’25 Kiwaun Davis | CB | ’22 |  <em>X-Factor</em> Donta Hayes Jr. | CB | ’22 |  <em>X-Factor</em> [player_tooltip player_id="160515" first="Chris" last="Durr"] Jr. | ATH | ’24 [player_tooltip player_id="213605" first="Jovan" last="Clark"] | ATH | ’25 Shawn Harris | WR | ’22 &nbsp; <h4>(6) Phillips Wildcats | 4A</h4> <strong>Head Coach</strong>: Joe Winslow <strong>2021 Fall Record</strong>: 7-2 <strong>PF/G</strong> 32.6  <strong>PA/G</strong> 16.5 <strong>Second Round Matchup</strong>: 11/6 @ Kewanee (9-1) <strong>Matchup Key</strong>: Phillips got off to a rocky start to the season by dropping their first two games, but the Wildcats have since gone on an 8-game winning streak as one of the hottest public league teams heading into the playoffs. It’s also worth noting that Phillips is the only Public League team ever to win a state championship—so at least they have history on their side. Kewanee averaged nearly 40 points per game this season but only averaged 21 points per game over their last three games, which is quite a drop if you ask me. If Phillips can hold Kewanee around that 21-point mark, they’ll put themselves in a great position to advance to the next round. Keep an eye on Phillips’ quarterback Tyler Turner and receiver [player_tooltip player_id="170603" first="Avante" last="Savage"]; they could be in line for a huge day along with Phillips’ versatile linebacker Armani Conway. <strong>Prospects to Know</strong>: Tyler Turner | QB | ’22 | <em>X-Factor</em> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-36914" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/07/tyler-turner-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Armani Conway | LB | ’22 [player_tooltip player_id="170603" first="Avante" last="Savage"] | WR | ’22 | <em>X-Factor</em> Jahon Walker | CB | ’22 Keontay Taylor | OL | ’22 Damian Thomas | OL | ’22 Kameron Hoard | TE | ’22 DMarion Green | DB | ’22 &nbsp; <h4>(5) Clark Eagles | 3A</h4> <strong>Head Coach</strong>: Kevin Simmons <strong>2021 Fall Record</strong>: 8-1 <strong>PF/G</strong> 47.8  <strong>PA/G</strong> 12.2 <strong>Second Round Matchup</strong>: 11/6 @ Reed-Custer (9-1) <strong>Matchup Key</strong>: For the first time in school history, the Clark Eagles got their first-ever IHSA Playoff victory with a 28-16 win over Elmwood-Brimfield in last week’s first-round play. Clarke plays an old-fashioned brand of football, they’re going to line up and run the ball down your throat and dare you to stop them, and so far, no one has really been able to come up with a recipe to contain their rushing attack. Their O-line is massive and is led by 6’5" 335lb senior <strong>Elijah Edwards. </strong>Clarke’s<strong> Quadrell Hill </strong>is by far one of the most underrated running backs in the state and one of three running backs on the team to rush for over 500 yards this season. If I were a betting man, I would say that Reed-Custer is going to get a heavy dose of Clarke’s rushing attack, and if they’re unable to contain it, then the Eagles will be making more history by advancing yet another round in the IHSA playoffs. <strong>Prospects to Know</strong>: Willie Taylor | ATH | ’23 | <em>X-Factor</em> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-128953" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/04/IMG_5228-e1618925300704-258x300.jpeg" alt="" width="258" height="300" /> Quadrell Hill | RB | ’22 | <em>X-Factor</em> Keondre Pitts | RB | ’24 Dontrell Starks | ATH | ’23 Jassani Freeman | ATH | ’22 Elijah Edwards | OL | ’22 | <em>X-Factor</em> Adrian Clayton | ATH | ’23 Johnny Taylor | OL | ’23 Avion Ellis | OL | ’23 Yafae Cotton | ATH | ’22 Lamar Phillips | WR | ’22