Conference: South Suburban Red
Head coach: Phillip Rossberg
2024 record: 5-5 (Lost 49-7 to Quincy in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs)
2025 outlook:
The Argonauts have flipped the script during Phillip Rossberg’s three-year tenure as head coach, reaching the postseason every season after earning just three total playoff berths before he took over.
The team trying to keep that run going will be almost entirely new. Twenty-seven seniors, including eight all-conference picks, graduated. Starters return at only five positions, though there is experience up front.
Seniors Jack Haines (6-1, 285) and Keshawn Hollis (6-2, 275) are both returning two-way linemen. Eli Ramirez (6-0, 235), another senior, also started on the defensive line last fall and will play on offense as well this season. Running back/linebacker Qassim Al-Jabri is another senior to watch.
Six juniors are expected to step up into bigger roles: receiver/defensive backs Oliver Krzanowski (5-9, 160) and Daniel Vazquez (5-9, 160), quarterback Chance Sanders (6-2, 170), tight end/linebacker Gabriel Drelich (5-9, 220), two-way lineman Tavin Ortiz Jr. (5-10, 245) and tight end/defensive end Angel Vazquez (6-1, 245).
“We’re young, we’re inexperienced, but we have great kids,” Rossberg said. “They’re coachable. They want to be here. They’re in it for each other, and that’s the big thing that we try to develop here. We might not have the most talent but we’re gonna play hard as all get-out together.”
Schedule
Aug. 29 Plainfield East, 6 p.m.
Sept. 6 at Bloom, 11 a.m.
Sept. 12 Eisenhower, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 at Reavis, noon
Sept. 26 Oak Lawn, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Richards, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 10 Shepard, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 at Evergreen Park, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 TF North, 7 p.m.