If you’ve watched a Phillips football game in the past two seasons you probably remember Chris Elmore. He’s the kid with the long hair, the unquestioned leader, stalwart and tailsman for the Wildcats.
Elmore, a 6-1, 270-pound lineman, was the city’s dominant player the past two seasons. Last year he helped lead the Wildcats to the Class 4A state title, the first time a Public League school has ever won a football state championship.
Phillips’ season ended in the semifinals this year with a loss at Johnsburg.
“It was hard to swallow after being to state two consecutive years,” Elmore said. “We felt we let the school and city down.”
Elmore said he and his teammates learned quickly that wasn’t the case.
“[When we got home] the city was happy for us, for the run overall,” Elmore said. “They think we brought CPS football back to life.”
There is no question that Elmore and his Phillips teammates did that. Last season’s state title was a monumental accomplishment. Elmore isn’t sure it will be accomplished again anytime soon.
“Something like that might just come around one time,” Elmore said. “A lot of CPS schools don’t take football as seriously as we do. Chicago is built on a basketball tradition. To have a football tradition like we do at Phillips comes around once in a blue moon, it is amazing.”
Phillips, who has made an oral commitment to Western Michigan, is joined on the All-Public League team by five Phillips teammates: Kamari Mosby, Daurice Lee, his brother Chris Elmore and Malik Brown.
“This year for me, since I had already committed, was about getting better and making sure I took my game to another level,” Elmore said. “I need to be able to stop the run, pass and move well laterally to succeed at the college level.”
2016 Sun-Times All-Public League Football Team
Offense
QB Quincy Patterson, Solorio, Jr.
RB Joshua Land, Hubbard, Sr.
RB Kamari Mosby, Phillips, Sr.
WR Myles Davis, Payton, Sr.
WR Montrell Evans, Hubbard, So.
WR Jayshon Jackson, Simeon, Jr.
OL Angel Rivera, Curie, Sr.
OL Rahsul Katumbusi, Simeon, Sr.
OL Javon Wilson, Perspectives, Sr.
OL Daurice Lee, Phillips, Sr.
OL Jose Ballertros, Solorio, Jr.
KR Justin Members, Solorio, Sr.
KR Anthony Watson, Curie, Sr.
K Jaime Loeza, Hubbard, Jr.
Defense
DL Chris Elmore, Phillips, Sr.
DL Justeon Kimmons, Young, Sr.
DL Tierre Turner, Simeon, Jr.
DL Marquis Burks, Curie, Jr.
LB Montrel Kennedy, Perspectives, Jr.
LB Craig Elmore, Phillips, Jr.
LB Jalen Dora, Robeson, Sr.
DB Craig Bowman, Hubbard, Sr.
DB Robert Chayka, Solorio, Sr.
DB Malik Brown, Phillips, Sr.
DB Jalen Perkins, Simeon, Sr.
PR Savyheir Thomas, DuSable, Sr.
P Gabriel Ramos, Washington, Sr.
2016 Sun-Times All-Public League Honorable Mention Football Team
Offense
QB Darrion Lockett, Perspectives, Sr.
RB Arkalius Howard, Simeon, Sr.
RB Deshawn Thomas, South Shore, Sr.
WR Kevin Gniedziejko, Taft, Jr.
WR Jamarie Walker, Hubbard, Sr.
WR Brian Jones, Urban Prep-Bronzeville, Sr.
OL Tyrese Miller, Hubbard, Jr.
OL Jamari Mitchell, Goode, Jr.
OL Adam Gago, Taft, Sr.
OL Aaron Ruffin, DuSable, Sr.
OL Jamar Wilson, Urban Prep-Bronzeville Sr.
KR Jamari Johnson, Goode, Sr.
KR Abdullah Ahmad, Taft, Sr.
K Marek Klimek, Taft, Jr.
Defense
DL Marcus Stallworth, Orr, Sr.
DL Amari Brown, Kenwood, Sr.
DL Jawon Denton, Morgan Park, Sr.
DL Ethan Davis, Kenwood, Sr.
LB Rayshawn Fields, Urban Prep-Bronzeville, Sr.
LB Andre Thomas, Urban Prep-West, Sr.
LB Omar Owenah, Mather, Jr.
DB Marquell Peggs, Vocational, Jr.
DB Steve Jones, Hubbard, Sr.
DB Angelo Patterson, Raby Jr.
PR Monte Tillman, Raby, Jr.
PR Charles Dale, Lincoln Park Sr.
P Salavador Sandoval, Juarez Sr.
