Kaneland running back Corey Phillips surging into lead back role for Knights

MAPLE PARK - Through two games, the season was a slow build for Corey Phillips as the Kaneland running back was getting the ball more and more.

In Game 3, he made his mark very quickly - going 72 yards on the first play from scrimmage.

The junior had a breakout game against Rochelle with 188 yards on eight carries, including three touchdowns as the Knights won their second straight game after losing the season opener at Sycamore in overtime.

“We were trying to go undefeated, now we’re just trying to win out the rest of the year,” Phillips said. “We’re trying to make the most of the six games.”

The Knights (2-1) host Plano (1-2) at 6 p.m. Friday in the team’s senior night. Kaneland heads into the game on a two-game winning streak, beating Sandwich 45-7 and Rochelle 41-6 after falling 12-6 in overtime to the Spartans.

“We’re doing pretty well,” Phillips said. “We had a tough game Week 1 but we’ve been playing really well lately, having a two-game win streak. We’re doing really well on both sides of the ball. Defense is making stops and the offense is scoring a lot.”

Phillips said his main offseason goal was to develop into the best teammate he could be.

Coach Pat Ryan said Phillips has been emerging as the go-to guy in the backfield since the start of the year.

“The first week we had a rotation of guys, then the second week he got a few more carries,” Ryan said. “He really stepped up this last game.”

His performance on Saturday validated all aspects of his game, Ryan said, from his explosiveness to his ability to make guys miss - something Ryan said h improved a lot from last year.

It all came together on the first play of the game against the Hubs, helping the Knight seize momentum.

“He’s so explosive,” Ryan said. “At the point of attack, he makes kids miss in the box. Then when he’s out in the open he’s hard to catch. One of the things we talked to him about working on was making people miss at the second level, and he showed he could do that.”

Phillips said he doesn’t have any college offers yet but has been talking with Drake, Columbia and Cornell.

But he still has not only three more scheduled games this year but his senior year as well, something Ryan said he’s looking forward to given how senior-heavy this year’s squad is.

“He has excellent vision at the line of scrimmage,” Ryan said. “He definitely has a burst, and he can gain yardage so quick with that speed he has and that elusiveness. He’s got good vision too. He really sees the hole well and can recognize the cutback.”

Phillips said the biggest part of any of his runs is the blocking of his line, which includes all-state selection Sam Pryor.

“The offensive line with Sam Pryor, John Davis, Justin [Jamrowski], Miles [Ripper} and Matt [Slou], they blocked amazing up front,” Phillips said. “They gave me huge gaps to run through. I wouldn’t be able to get that many yards without them.”