Adams, Antioch find their way past North Chicago

Antioch took a 7-0 lead to the second quarter against visiting North Chicago on Friday night, but coach Brian Glashagel noticed his Sequoits weren't even in the right spots to put on a punt return.

No worries, coach - senior Matt Adams had it covered.

Adams waited patiently for his blockers to find someone to hit. And he then calmly raced 58 yards, virtually untouched for a second-quarter touchdown.

It didn't look like a rout in Antioch, even after the Adams score. However, the running clock sped things up after a big third quarter, and the Sequoits breezed to a 53-6 win over the visiting Warhawks in North Suburban Prairie play.

"It was just great blocking,'' Adams said. "I spotted the ball and never gave it a thought that I would get a TD. It was really a key moment in the game."

Glashagel wasn't expecting to see a punt returned for a score.

"You just don't see that in high school,'' he said. "But that's Matt. His head is always in the game. He's a playmaker."

On paper, this certainly looked like a mismatch.

But on the field, North Chicago quarterback DyShawn Gates hooked up with wide receiver Jajuan Harris on a 67-yard scoring pass, and the Warhawks were down by 15.

Just before halftime, North Chicago had a first-and-goal at the Antioch 1-yard line.

But Antioch's Jacob Cloe picked up a Warhawks fumble on the next play, and that seemed to end North Chicago's chances at making this game close.

The second half was highlighted by sophomore Drew Porter's 48-yard scamper for the first touchdown of the third quarter. Porter filled in after back Nick Dorosan, came off the field with an injury.

"I wasn't going to so good to start with,'' Porter said. "But I saw daylight ... and I cut back and got into the end zone. It was my first touchdown on the varsity, and I'm excited about it."

Veteran back Griffin Hill (13 carries, 63 yards) scored on a pair of short touchdown runs. Quarterback Brandon Gallimore scored on runs of 4 and 17 yards.

Strong-legged kicker Ben Gutke nailed all his extra points and made good on a 37-yard field goal as Antioch improved to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the Prairie.

North Chicago slipped to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the Prairie.