The end of daylight savings time altered Simeon’s football practice routine..
By losing an hour of sunlight, the Wolverines were forced to seek alternative practice venues away from its usual spot at West Chatham Park.
“Our home field has no lights and is basically mud with no grass and is lopsided,” said Simeon coach Dante Culbreath, a former two-way player for the Wolverines. “During the state playoffs we have to travel to other fields because we can’t end a practice at 4:30 or 5 p.m. It’s usually a 15-minute drive. You have to get all the players together, get on a bus or carpool. It’s a process.”
The usual 15-minute drive is “a process,” Culbreath said, during which players either get on a bus or carpool.
“It’s very tough for some CPS schools because we mostly practice at park districts,” Simeon senior quarterback Timon Watkins said. “Most of the places are basically dirt. There’s always a good chance you can injure yourself.”
Phillips coach Troy McAllister could share his own tales of frustration from playing at some ill-equipped venues.
But there’s no time for that now.
For the first time, two Public League teams are playing in state semifinals in the same season, making the extra hurdles more tolerable. No CPS has won an Illinois High School Association state football title, and Robeson (1982) is the only team to advance to a championship game.
Simeon defeated defending Class 8A state champion Naperville Central 34-20 in Naperville on Saturday to earn the school’s first semifinal berth. Phillips established a new standard for its program with a 14-13 victory against Rockford Lutheran in Class 4A.
“Two schools in the semifinals shows the progress that the CPS is making in football,” Culbreath said. “We’re starting to bridge that gap.”
About the time Culbreath was leading his team through repeated chants of “We got a machine” on Naperville Central’s field late Saturday afternoon, McAllister interrupted his team’s pregame routine to inform his players of Simeon’s victory.
“I told our team, ‘Let’s make it two teams to the state semifinals and put the Public League on the map,'” McAllister said. “We cheer for each other. We want to show that we can play more than just basketball.”
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Robeson lost 16-12 to Rockford Guilford in the Class 5A final in ’82.
Phillips (11-1) will take its 10-game winning streak into its 3:45 p.m. Class 4A semifinal against Coal City (10-2) on Saturday at Gately Stadium. Simeon (11-1) will try for its 12th straight victory at the same place against Homewood-Flossmoor (10-2) at 7:15 p.m. in Class 8A.
“It’s going to be a special night,” Simeon senior running back Dion Earls Jr. said. “It’s like a dream come true. We take a lot of pride in being the first (Simeon) team to make history. Us and Phillips are both striving to bring state titles back home to Chicago.”
Strong defensive play has been the hallmark of both teams this season. Most years, the Wolverines haven’t had problems scoring points, but stopping big-name suburban programs in the playoffs has been Simeon’s downfall.
The Wolverines allowed 44 points in playoffs wins over Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central and Naperville Central. Simeon is forcing turnovers and making key third-down stops, with linebackers Maurice Burton Jr., Antonio Crosby, Brandon Purnell and Qwentn Bolton making big plays throughout the playoffs. Watkins, Earls Jr., receiver Matt Fleming and tight end Jordan Reid have helped the Wolverines average 39.4 points per game.
“We like to play fast and take what the defense gives us,” Watkins said. “Our defense is playing really good.”
Senior quarterback Dewayne Collins, an Illinois State recruit, is the driving force for Phillips. He has thrown for 1,326 yards and 21 touchdowns and run for 1,721 yards and 18 touchdowns as the Wildcats are averaging 38.6 points per. Junior linebacker Amani Jones leads the Wildcats with 90 tackles and sophomore defensive tackle Chris Elmore has 12 sacks for the Wildcats, who have seven shutouts and are allowing 4.3 points a game.
“Our goal all season has been to win state,” Collins said. “Every game we have won in the playoffs, we get a standing ovation at school on Monday. It would be great to have two CPS schools win and make state.”