Complete effort helps Antioch stop Moline

Dan Meade hobbled out of Antioch's stadium at halftime using crutches, leaving behind his white left football cleat, which rested alone on a trainers table.

Meade and his teammates were determined to leave it all on the field in their home opener since, after all, the Sequoits were debuting their new artificial turf. They did just that, overcoming an injury to their starting quarterback, Meade, to beat Moline 30-6 Friday night.

Griffin Hill rushed for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Antioch (2-0) got a pair of defensive scores, after getting a Pick 6 in its season opener against Kenosha Tremper.

"The defense works hard every day, and the sophomores come out and run a good look for us," said senior outside linebacker Dale Trusky III, who forced 2 fumbles and recovered one. "Every man just does his part. It's a team game. Every man hustles to the ball. We double-whistle all the time (in practice). We run lots of gassers. Lots of conditioning. And it pays off."

Meade was injured after throwing an interception - his only pass of the night - early in the second quarter. His left ankle remained rapped as he watched the second half from the sideline.

"I was trying to get the defender (Poodie Ollie) that caught (the interception)," Meade said. "I think it was a D-lineman who was blocking me. He was driving me back and just gave me one extra really hard shove. It felt like my tendon popped over the bone. It was instant pain."

With second-string QB/starting defensive back Brandon Gallimore sidelined after hurting his collarbone against Kenosha Tremper, Antioch coach Brian Glashagel called on 5-foot-9 senior Nick Hairrell, who's listed on the roster as a running back. Hairrell didn't attempt a pass but ran the offense efficiently and didn't turn the ball over.

"We 'repped' him at 'Q' (during the week) and thank God we did," Glashagel said. "He did a great job. What a great story for that kid. He busts his fanny."

Down 14-0 at halftime, Moline (0-2) seemed to catch Antioch's defense off-guard by finally throwing a pass - the Maroons' first of the night. It resulted in quarterback Noah Mosher's 60-yard TD pass to a wide-open Trevor Cook with 3:07 left in the third. Moline started its next possession at the Antioch 8, early in the fourth, but the Sequoits' defense came up with another big play just two plays later. Middle linebacker Peter Tognarelli forced a fumble, Mardochee Kamanga scooped it up and raced 9 yards into the end zone.

"He's 4-foot-nothing, but he's a beast," Trusky said of Tognarelli. "He works harder than anybody I know."

Ben Gutke boomed a 41-yard field goal, and the junior then scored on a 46-yard fumble return after Trusky forced a fumble while sacking Mosher.

Antioch had opened the scoring in the first quarter, as Hill capped a 13-play, 83-yard drive when he rambled into the end zone from the 4 with 43 seconds left. Trusky had given the ball to Antioch, recovering a fumble at the home team's 17.

Antioch took advantage of a low snap on a Moline punt attempt to score its second touchdown. Starting at the Moline 26, the Sequoits needed just 2 plays to score. Hill carried a couple of tacklers into the end zone, as his 10-yard run made it 14-0 with 3:10 left before halftime.

"I thought our defense played great. I thought our special teams played great," Glashagel said. "With a limited offensive attack, we had to move the ball. We did just enough to keep control of the clock."