Cam-do attitude evident at Antioch
He might be yet another Cameron who captivates at Antioch, where Cams can do.
All in due time, however.
"Some of our Camerons have been our best athletes over the years," said Sequoits coach Brian Glashagel, noting running back Cameron White (the captain of the 2008 Daily Herald Lake County All-Area football team), defensive back Cameron Ayers and, most recently, fullback Cameron Corey.
Cameron Walter Glashagel is due to arrive soon - minus a helmet and pads.
"Week 3," Glashagel said of his wife Sara's due date.
Cameron Walter will be the couple's first child. And dad won't be far from the crib, with the exception of a road game here or there.
A lifelong resident of Elk Grove, Glashagel, now in his eighth season as Antioch's head coach, finally calls Antioch home.
"I moved into town in July, so I'm like three minutes (west)," Glashagel said during a recent practice.
While the Glashagels wait for the arrival of Cameron, the coach nurtures his other kids.
A playoff qualifier a year ago, the Sequoits will look to several juniors to help compensate for a strong senior group that graduated. This year's juniors went 9-0 as both freshmen and sophomores. Last season's feat was accomplished without running back Griffin Hill, who rushed for 638 yards (second most on the squad behind's Corey's 754) on varsity, while putting together an all-conference campaign.
"He's a beast," two-way lineman Jon Haeffele said of Hill. "He's a hard worker. The kid runs himself into the ground."
"We got a lot of (the juniors) contributing and plugging in - plugging in well," Glashagel said. "And the way we structure practice, they've been practicing varsity the last two years, because we practice sophomores and varsity together. They know what we're doing."
The returnees include seniors Haeffele and Alan Taylor, both of whom have started on varsity since they were sophomores. Taylor played quarterback two years ago, before moving to running back last season as Zach Andre ran the offense. The 6-foot, 195-pound Taylor, who earned all-conference honors as a junior, is back at QB this season.
"I'm kind of rusty going back to quarterback," said Taylor, adding Andre helped him a lot with the position last year.
Besides Taylor, Hill (5-9, 188) and Haeffele (6-3, 275), who will play center, the returning players on offense include senior guard Tim Christian (5-9, 207) and senior Jake Lanahan (5-10, 165), who moves from wide receiver to running back.
The only veterans back on defense are linemen Haeffele and Julio Ramirez (5-10, 213) and linebacker Grant Hackeloer (5-9, 210). Taylor will rotate in the secondary with Hill and senior Destiny Dickson (5-11, 165).
"I'd say we're fast," Glashagel said. "We're deep at the skill positions on both sides of the ball. We don't have size on our O-line, but they're tough. And you know high school ball. Those guys are sometimes the hardest to block - the 200-pound wrestler. We got a bunch of those types of kids."
The Sequoits have tweaked their defensive scheme, switching from a 4-3 to a three-man front.
"Because we have a strong and fast line, it helps with our run (defense)," Haeffele said.
"Half the teams that we're playing this year run spread," Taylor noted. "Our safeties will definitely help out."
The Sequoits got into the state playoffs last year after a five-win regular season. It was their fourth postseason berth in Glashagel's seven years.
"I think if everyone does what they're supposed to and works hard enough, we'll do just fine," Haeffele said. "We could do better than last year. We have the speed and technique at every position."