Aug. 22--Phillips' defense welcomed Quayvon Skanes' move from wide receiver to quarterback with open arms.
Make that tackling arms.
Skanes and his offensive mates received a rude introduction to the new and improved defense early in fall camp. Things became so bad that Phillips coach Troy McAllister had to implement drastic measures.
"Every year we do a lot of No. 1's (offense) vs No. 1's (defense) in practice," McAllister said. "This year was the first year I wanted to shy away from doing No. 1's vs. No. 1's because our defense was so dominant. It gets frustrating when your offense can't move the ball in practice because your defense is so good.
"We did it a couple of times and I realized this wasn't good for confidence, and we backed away and have done a lot more with scout team."
A year after riding a big-play offense -- headlined by quarterback Dewayne Collins -- to the Class 4A state title game, the Wildcats will lean more on their defense this season. Despite allowing just 4.5 points per game prior to their 4A title game loss to Rochester, Phillips' defense remained in the background while the offense received the headlines.
That's no longer the case, and Skanes can attest to that.
"We have a lot of weapons on our defense," said Skanes, a Connecticut recruit. "It's kind of tough for our offense to move the ball right now, so I know it's going to be tough for other teams to move the ball. Our offense has done pretty well against our defense, but for the most part, they dominate almost every play. We can't do anything about that."
Led by middle linebacker Amani Jones, the defense returns five starters, and for the second straight season, its strength lies in the middle and along the defensive line. Jones, an Iowa recruit, is a 5-foot-11, 220-pound wrecking ball, while junior nose guard Chris Elmore and defensive end Xavier Nash are joined by highly regarded transfer Amir Watts on the line. Watts committed to Western Michigan, but recently reopened his recruiting.
"There's a new focus with Amani this year," McAllister said. "He has one goal and only one goal this year: To leave high school with a state championship. I really believe our defense is our strong point. They have looked dominant."
A transfer from De La Salle, cornerback Donald Gardner, who recently received an offer from Eastern Illinois, joins speedy David Munson and ball hawk Malik Brown in an improved secondary.
Elmore said the defense relishes the opportunity to atone for allowing 49 points to Rochester in the state title game last year. Phillips' first three games are against Fenwick, Carmel and Simeon.
"I've seen a tremendous change in our defense and how we've elevated our game from last year to this year," Elmore said. "We have some new players that understand the game and have the veterans from last year's team. I see a change in our defense. We're turning a new page and hopefully this year we can finish it. That's our goal, to go back and finish it."
Offensively, the Wildcats' have a wealth of experience on the line, with four of the five starters back to help Skanes' adjustment to quarterback. McAllister gleams with pride with another aspect of the program: A legitimate kicker. Senior Isaac Osei, trained as a soccer player, adds a new element to the program.
How Skanes can adapt to handling a heavier load on offense is one of the determining factors in whether Phillips can make history and become the first Public League team to make the state title game two straight seasons.
"I feel very calm at quarterback," Skanes said. "I have to play it now. I'm very confident now, and it will be fun to see how things go the first few games.
"We feel very confident. We know what it takes to get back to the state championship. We're just taking this season one game at a time. A lot of teams are doubting us because they don't know who the quarterback is, but I can do a lot of things at quarterback, so watch out."
Narang is a freelance reporter.
No. 11 Phillips Wildcats
2014: 12-2 (5-0, 1st in Chicago Public-Illini Land of Lincoln), lost 49-28 to Rochester in the Class 4A final.
Coach: Troy McAllister (32-20, in sixth year at Phillips).
Playoff history: 3 appearances, no state titles.
He's back: Quayvon Skanes, Sr., 5-10, 175, QB; Amani Jones, Sr., 5-11, 220, MLB; Chris Elmore, Jr., 6-0, 250, NG; Xavier Nash, Jr., 6-1, 235, DE.
He's new: Donald Gardner, Sr., 6-1, 175, CB; Amir Watts, Sr., 6-2, 260, DT.
Big name: Quayvon Skanes. The Connecticut recruit is moving from wide receiver to quarterback.
Big game: Sept. 12 at Simeon. Battle of two city powers early in the season.
Big question: How will Skanes handle the responsibility of running the offense while learning on the fly.
Breakdown: The Wildcats have experienced players hungry to show that last season's run to the Class 4A state title game was no fluke. An improved defense, which is filled with playmakers, should carry the team, but don't underestimate Skanes' athleticism and ability to make plays at quarterback.
Fast fact: Phillips' defense allowed just 12 points during an eight-game span last season that included six shutouts.
