Is Public League football on the rise? Checking in on the North, South and West sides of Chicago

No Public League football team has advanced to a state-title game since Phillips in 2017, and it’s unlikely one will do so this season. But Public League football seems to be on the upswing for the first time since COVID.

Here’s a look at the situation in the city:

North Side

Taft and Amundsen steadily have built more competitive programs. Taft, which has its own stadium and more than 4,000 students, has qualified for the state playoffs in three of the last four seasons and can hold its own with average suburban programs.

The Eagles are competing against Notre Dame, St. Patrick and even Loyola for players. They will have to attract some stars to take the next step.

Lincoln Park qualified for the playoffs in six consecutive seasons in 2014-19 and produced some talented players, including NBA guard Terrence Shannon Jr., who was an excellent wide receiver.

The Lions are on their fourth coach in seven seasons. If Andres Flores sticks around, the future might be bright. He led the Lions to an 8-2 record and the playoffs last season, and they are 3-1 so far this season.

Lane is a sleeping giant with more than 4,500 students and a stadium and is the best hope for a top-notch program on the North Side. But high-academic schools — even rich suburban ones — often struggle with football.

‘‘Lane has a lot to offer outside of athletics,’’ first-year head coach Deshon Conley told the Sun-Times. ‘‘Some kids are just more interested in all the other stuff at Lane. And that’s a great thing. This is an impressive place. But there is enough in the building for us to win.’’

Conley is off to a great start. The Champions are 4-0 and haven’t allowed a point in their last three games.

Conley was an assistant at Lane before taking over as head coach and said the school recently has lost potential stars to Brother Rice and Morgan Park.

‘‘Here and there, we lose some special kids because they aren’t able to test in,’’ Conley said. ‘‘But the first thing for us is the mindset. In years past, Lane Tech stood in its own way. This year, we have been finishing games.’’

Head coach Dan Finger has done a remarkable job at Young. The Dolphins didn’t have enough players and canceled the season in 2017. Finger took over in 2019 and has led Young to the playoffs three times, and now the Dolphins have a Missouri recruit in running back Max Warner.

Young faces many of the same academic issues as Lane but without the huge numbers. The school has about 2,000 students.

South Side

The next Public League state champion almost certainly will come from the South Side.

Morgan Park has been competitive in the state playoffs the last few seasons, and head coach Chris James attracts high-level players to the program and sends them to major colleges.

This is a bit of a rebuilding season for the Mustangs, but the future is bright as long as they hold on to James. He has expressed some frustration with Chicago Public Schools in the past and would be a top candidate for many suburban jobs.

Kenwood is the other Public League team that could make noise in the state playoffs this season. The Broncos lost to No. 18 St. Francis 38-34 in Week 1 and were just a penalty away from victory.

Chris Goffer, in his second season as Kenwood’s head coach, has kept the program at a high level after Sinque Turner left for Simeon.

Turner’s Wolverines were competitive in losses at Wheaton North and Bolingbrook to open the season and face a big test Saturday against Kenwood.

West Side

Football is in a severe downswing on the West Side, and it’s hard to see that changing soon. Westinghouse is the only school large enough to have a chance.

Head coach Julius Carter’s program is respectable, but it remains a level below the best teams on the North and South sides.