With senior standouts, Vernon Hills pursues destiny downstate

Wednesday marked the start of official practice for high school football teams across the state of Illinois.

At Vernon Hills, it also marked the start of a long journey.

The Cougars are hoping for that anyway. They feel they have good reason to expect a season that lasts well beyond the standard nine-week schedule.

"We have high expectations," Vernon Hills running back Brian Palmer said during a quick water break. "The ultimate goal is to win a state championship."

Many teams say that in August, but with a roster full of superstars and veterans, the Cougars have the confidence to say it with conviction.

Vernon Hills lost just eight seniors to graduation last year.

On top of that, many of the Cougars' top skill position players are back, including two major Division I prospects.

It's a dream for most teams to have just one Division I player on their rosters in a given year. But Vernon Hills will be top-heavy in star power with both Evan Spencer and DaVaris Daniels primed to shine brightly.

Spencer, a senior wide receiver, has already committed to Ohio State while Daniels, ranked by some scouting services as the No. 1 senior wide receiver in the nation, has yet to decide. But he has heard from hundreds of schools and will have his pick of the most elite college programs when he is ready.

"We'll be pretty good," Spencer said after gulping some water. "We all feel like we're good enough to get downstate. We just have to keep putting in the work."

Spencer and Daniels have been putting in the work at the varsity level since they were freshmen. They say that this year is the long-awaited payoff.

"We're supposed to finish out strong as seniors. That's what we want," Daniels said during the break. "We're down for it."

Of course, along with the all big expectations could come big-time pressure.

But the Cougars seem ready for that, too.

"I think we are. I think these guys want that (pressure)," confirmed Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken, who will run double session practices over the next seven days. "There's no question the expectations are very high this year.

"Actually, we come into every year wanting - no, expecting, to be in the playoffs. And to compete for the Prairie (Division). That expectation is there again, but also maybe for even a little more because of what we have back.

"We won eight games two years ago and eight again last year. The expectation is to be that and more this year."