NBCSportsChicago.com preps reporter "Edgy" Tim O’Halloran spotlights 100 high school football teams in 100 days. The first 75 team profiles will focus on teams making strides across Chicagoland and elsewhere in the state. Starting July 30, we’ll unveil the @NBCSPrepsTop 25 Power Rankings, leading up to kickoff on Friday, Aug. 24.
School: Rochester
Head coach: Derek Leonard
Assistant coaches: Steve Buecker, Jon Clarke, Tyson Corley, Tyler Mazzini, Rich McMahan, Derrick Nelson, James Rychel, Jim Smith and Brett Tackett
How they fared in 2017: 14-0 (9-0 Central State Eight Conference). Rochester made the IHSA playoffs and defeated Prairie Central, Althoff, Herrin, Highland and Morris to win the 2017 Class 4A state title. Rochester has now won state championships in seven of the past eight seasons.
2018 Regular Season Schedule:
Aug. 25 @ Springfield Southeast
Aug. 31 vs. U-High
Sept. 8 vs. Jacksonville
Sept. 14 @ Decatur MacArthur
Sept. 21 @ Sacred Heart-Griffin
Sept. 28 vs. Decatur Eisenhower
Oct. 5 @ Springfield HS
Oct. 12 vs. Lanphier
Oct. 19 vs. Glenwood
Biggest storyline: Can they win it all again? With a lot of 2017 starters lost due to graduation, can the Rockets reload and keep the state title train rolling along?
Names to watch this season: WR Cade Eddington and WR/DB Riley Lewis
Biggest holes to fill: The Rockets return just six returning starters (three offense, three defense) from last year’s state title team.
EDGY's Early Take: Year in and year out, Rochester, coached by Derek Leonard, is about as well coached and well prepared as any in the state. And they always have a very good Central State Eight conference slate. Look for the Rockets to work in some new faces. And if this past week's Red Grange Classic 7-on-7 is any indication, Rochester will be just fine this coming season. Look for Rochester's biggest test to come in the annual Leonard Bowl. It’s in Week 5 as they face rival SHG. The Cyclones are led by Derek Leonard's father, Hall of Fame head coach Ken Leonard.