Bessette leads Antioch's dominant D against Grant

George Bessette is one of many of the defensive leaders for Antioch's foootball team, a group that's suddenly getting so good they have their own cumulative nickname: The Bad Boys.

Bessette plays middle linebacker and was a key to keeping Grant off the scoreboard on Friday. He forced a fumble and led the unit that kept the Bulldogs to 3 first downs and 96 yards of offense.

Antioch made it four straight victories to start its season and two in a row in the Northern Lake County Conference with a 28-0 victory over Grant on homecoming in Antioch.

"The first three games we weren't looking so well," Bessette said. "We weren't reading the guards so well. We just weren't connecting. In this game, I think this game we really came together, brought it and really wanted to win. We wanted to shut them out."

Antioch made sure that the entire defense had a better showing this week.

"If you're going to win, you need all three phases," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. "If you're going to compete in conference and make a run in the playoffs . . . I think the teams that rest on one thing in a game usually get bounced early in the playoffs. We're trying to put it all together, in all phases. The defense, especially here tonight, played outstanding. It's tough to shut people out and it's not very often you get shutouts. We didn't play that well in the second half (against Wauconda). It was about as poor as we could've played. Our kids practiced hard all week."

Hunter Price and Brandon Lind each led the way offensively for the Sequoits by rushing for 2 touchdowns apiece.

Price broke free for a 37-yard scamper with 3:02 remaining in the opening quarter for an Antioch 7-0 lead.

Lind added a touchdown on a 3-yard run with 54 seconds left until the half for a 14-0 advantage.

Lind scored for a second time on a 6-yard run with 9:22 left in the third quarter for a 21-0 lead, and Price added the other from 5 yards out with 9:20 to go in the final quarter.

Grant played with out sophomore quarterback Matt McGraw, who was out with a leg injury. He could return next week but it's not yet clear, according to Bulldogs coach Vito Andriola.

"Our defense played very well," Andriola said. "But if you can't throw the ball, then its going to make it difficult for us. Antioch played well and they're a good football team. I still thought our defense played very good. We still have a long way to go."