The real heavy lifting this week in connection with area high school football isn’t being done on practice fields by teams preparing for playoff games,
It’s happening in the conference room at North Chicago, where the interviewing process reportedly is under way to hire a new coach.
Considering the program is an area-worst 1-17 during the past two seasons, there simply is no margin for error. But given the numbers, it’s also one of the toughest coaching spots in the county.
Here’s why:
* With school enrollment officially listed at 770, it’s about 500 students smaller than the next-smallest public school in the county. That means it has a smaller pool of students to draw from each season.
* As has been the case at many high schools, football has taken a participation hit at North Chicago due to issues regarding safety and concussions.
* If the school has 385 boys in it — that’s half of the 770 total — approximately 381 fancy themselves as varsity basketball players who are ready to run through the gym wall for coach King Coleman, but not so ready to run through the blocking sled on the football practice field.
This past season, Johnny Johnson started his second year as head coach, but he was suspended for the Week 2 game and again for the Week 6 game, and then was dismissed prior to the Warhawks’ Week 8 game.
Assistant coach Darrell King filled in as head coach for all four of those games. He also served as interim coach for an entire year nearly a decade ago between the coaching runs of Mike Grenda and Glen Kozlowski.
After his team was drilled 47-0 by playoff-bound Wauconda in the Week 9 game, King talked a bit about the players and what’s happening with the once-proud Warhawk football program.
“I think the kids did better than was expected, given the circumstances,” King said. “I am proud of each player who stuck it out through. “It was a roller coaster of a season for these kids.”
North Chicago had 21 players in uniform for the Wauconda game.
“The kids need to make an effort during the week,” King said. “They need to be committed and dedicated before games.”
He also talked about the need for a cohesive effort for North Chicago’s program.
“We need to have a strategic plan with the school, the community and the park district to get the football program back on track,” he said.
In North Chicago, the Flames youth program is run through the local Foss Park District.
“It will take an effort from everyone. I believe we can do it together,” King said.
“I am a Warhawk forever. The school asked me to finish up the season. I am proud to be coaching here and be a part of the program.”
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Next year, North Chicago will play in the North Lake County Conference with Grant, Antioch, Lakes, Wauconda, Round Lake, Grayslake Central and Grayslake North.
Mundelein: Although it finished its season two wins shy of making the playoffs, Mundelein (4-5) still won more games than it had since 2004.
First-year coach Larry Calhoun penciled in the season as a success, and so did his players.
Calhoun first: “We didn’t accomplish our goal of making the playoffs, but the desire, hard work and determination every one of these guys showed was remarkable. I wasn’t here the last three seasons when these guys struggled (a combined 1-26), but the fact so many of our players persevered through that kind of adversity says tons about their character.”
Senior Mike Skarzynski: “When I come back for my 20-year high school reunion, I’d love to look back at this season with my former teammates and be talking about how this is where it all started. How this is where Mundelein football first became something special in our community.”
Stevenson: The Patriots (6-3) have made the playoffs a county-record 27 straight years and have won their first-round playoff game six years in a row.
When they take the field against Conant (6-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Lincolnshire in a Class 8A first-round game, the visiting team will have to pay attention to senior running back Tyler Vincent.
Vincent scored on runs of 14, 55, 66, 68, 47 and 20 yards against Mundelein.
“That was by far the best game I’ve ever had,” Vincent said. “I had three touchdowns in a game as a sophomore, and two was the most I’ve ever had at the varsity level. But I have to give my offensive line credit. I couldn’t have put up those kinds of stats without their help. I just followed my blocking and used my speed.”
Twitter: @Jeff Bonato
Phillyp Bonato and Tim Froehlig contributed to this story.
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
5A: Vernon Hills (6-3) at Joliet Catholic (8-1) at Joliet Memorial Stadium, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
6A: Lakes (6-3) at Lake Forest (6-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
6A: Wauconda (5-4) at Montini (9-0), Saturday, 2 p.m.
6A: Hubbard (6-3) at Grayslake North (6-3), Saturday, 2 p.m.
6A: Deerfield (6-3) at Kenwood (7-2) at Gately Stadium, Saturday, 3:45 p.m.
7A: Downers Grove North (5-4) at Libertyville (9-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
8A: Warren (5-4) at Curie (8-1) at Lane Tech, Saturday, 3:45 p.m.
8A: Conant (6-3) at Stevenson (6-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m.