It feels like a special season for Antioch football

The vibes are all good at Antioch.

"When you've been coaching long enough, you kind of get a vibe or a feeling about where your team is (this time of year)," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. "There are some years where you know you still have a lot of work to do.

"Right now, I kind of feel like we have it figured out. I feel really good about our personnel and where we have people. That's big."

Glashagel especially likes the players in his senior class, who have been restless since getting unceremoniously bounced from the playoffs at home last year in the first round.

"This senior class is a very good group, very competitive, a lot of leadership," Glashagel said. "These guys are just always thinking football. From our last game last year, until now … football never really leaves the discussion for them.

"They are hungry and ready to go and when kids are motivated, everything is easier."

There's an easy two-word answer to Antioch's offensive focus this season: Griffin Hill. The senior running back will again be one of the toughest in the area to stop. He rushed for 942 yards and scored 23 touchdowns last season. His career numbers include 1,631 rushing yards and 30 TDs.

Hill, a three-year varsity starter, is well within striking distance to finish as Antioch's all-time leading rusher. He's about 1,500 yards shy entering the season.

"Every once in a while, you get kids like Griff who just understand everything and are in such a great place that it's like talking to a kid in college," Glashagel said. "He's a great runner and has always been kind of shifty, but he's added 30 pounds since his sophomore year and now he's more willing to take on tacklers. He can still juke and run away from people but he's also so thick that he can (run over them), too."

Nick Andre and Nick Dorosan also return to the backfield and will try to take some of the attention off Hill, who is receiving all kinds of looks from college coaches.

Quarterback Danny Meade returns after passing for 500 yards and 7 touchdowns last season.

On defense, Antioch will be fast. Cornerback Matt Adams sets the tone. He ran up a team-high 79 tackles last season. Also back are linebackers Pete Tognarelli, Ben Gutke and Jake Cloe. Lineman George Bessette is back after fighting injuries last year.

"This is as good of a team as we've had," Glashagel said. "Some of our guys say one of their goals is to be 9-0 and that's OK, but we always want to make a run at a state championship. We have a lot of potential with this team. We just need to stay healthy."