Team Within the Team: How St. Francis QB Brock Phillip became an instant team leader

Statistics back it up: There’s a lot St. Francis quarterback Brock Phillip has done well this season.

The 6-foot, 185-pound senior has passed for 2,212 yards and 26 touchdowns to only 8 interceptions.

He’s run the football for 509 yards and leads the Spartans with 10 rushing touchdowns, plus two 2-point conversions.

Against one of the toughest schedules in Class 5A, Phillip's senior season is a byproduct of hard work. He has focused on several aspects of his position since transferring from Geneva over the summer.

Plus, he brought intangibles.

“He’s been an unbelievable leader,” said Spartans coach Bob McMillen.

“For a kid that’s come in for one year and done everything that we’ve asked him to do … coming to a new school where he didn’t know anybody, he’s been an unbelievable leader and the kids have bought into everything he says, and it’s shown by his play and how the guys around him are playing,” McMillen said.

“He came in,” said assistant coach Kevin Hedrick, “he worked his butt off getting the respect of his teammates, and then it just carried forward to where the guys will do anything for him. You can see it in how excited our offensive linemen are when he scores, I think they’re more excited than Brock is.”

There may be more than one reason for that.

“He takes the linemen to Buffalo Wild Wings,” said Spartans receiver Tanner Glock.

The best way to a lineman’s heart is through his stomach.

So, Phillip is generous. Also, Glock said, “He’s a good kid academic-wise, a good kid to be around. He does a lot right. His parents raised him really well.

“He’s just a great dude to be around and you want to go play for him.”

Phillip would have liked to have played more last season at Geneva, but behind senior Anthony Chahino, who threw for 3,600 passing yards and scored 55 total touchdowns, it wasn’t in the cards.

Still, Phillip continues to use that as fuel as the ninth-seeded Spartans (9-3) prepare to travel to No. 2 Belvidere North (12-0) for a 5A semifinal game at 4 p.m. Saturday.

“I have a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “I like to play with one, so I like to get better every day.”

He’s focused on diagnosing defenses, on throwing the football on time, and on the footwork and speed that has helped him score those 10 touchdowns.

“I think the most improvement is just reading defenses and how they move, and everything in that nature,” said Phillip, who credited St. Francis offensive coordinator Lonny Stare’s guidance.

“I just dived in more in seeing the pre-snap movement of defenses, how linebackers move, how the safeties move, how the corners move, what techniques D-lines are in,” Phillip said.

Being more mindful of his internal clock and also taking coaching, Phillip feels he’s improved on “getting the ball out quick,” he said.

“In the beginning of the season I kind of held onto the ball a little longer, and over the weeks I feel like I’ve gotten better at getting the ball out faster. Timing is everything,” he said.

Phillip believed he lacked foot speed, so over the past several off-seasons he’s worked with trainers to improve that, and has continued his overall conditioning in the St. Francis weight room.

Especially over the last year he’s made progress with his agility in the pocket, escaping the pocket, and “making people miss,” Phillip said.

To McMillen, part of Phillip’s appeal is that undefinable special sauce winning players bring — a will to break tackles, an ability to fit the ball into small windows — when the chips are down.

“He’s a kid that wants the ball in his hands all the time, especially when the game’s on the line,” the coach said.

About those chips — Phillip will keep one on his shoulder while he works on improving different facets of his game.

“Just everything overall, to be honest with you,” Phillip said. “I try to get better every day.”