Antioch slips past North Chicago
The wins haven't come easily lately for Antioch.
Yet the Sequoits (8-0, 6-0) are still unbeaten this season, both overall and in the Northern Lake County Conference.
Late in the most recent contest on Friday, night with the rain pouring down, Antioch had to pour it on with its defense, causing a key fumble for a touchdown.
And the Sequoits still needed a stand to stop a 2-point conversion after visiting North Chicago scored a TD of its own in the final minute.
Antioch slipped away with a 21-20 victory over the Warhwks, keeping North Chicago a victory away from the postseason while clinching a tie for the NLCC title.
"Our defense was always making (North Chicago) take another snap," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. "Then another snap, then the rain started coming down at the end there. It did make it a little slick, and that helped us out. We pinned them at the end and made the play."
The Sequoits' John Boyd recovered the North Chicago fumble after quarterback Deshawn Gales couldn't handle the snap in the rain. Boyd fell on it at the North Chicago 15.
Three plays later, Ben Nauman (10 carries, 48 yards) broke free on a 5-yard run that broke a long standing 14-14 tie and put the Sequoits up 21-14 with 1:44 left.
"I just tried to keep my head up ad I knew what the line was going to do," Nauman said. "I was able to find the end zone. I give all the credit to my team."
The Warhawks (5-3, 3-3) managed to go down the field quickly. Gales (22 carries, 191 yards and 3 rushing TDs) scored on a 52-yard burst into the end zone that brought North Chicago with 21-20 with 46 seconds left.
North Chicago wanted to go for the victory on the 2-point conversion. On the mishandled snap, Gales got it back but couldn't break free and was tackled in the backfield.
"We just had a mishap with the snap," North Chicago coach Addonte Adams said. "We knew if we scored, we would go for 2. We do have Lakes next week - we're going to get down to business to get this 'W.' I'm proud of the guys for fighting, but it was a tough loss.
North Chicago scored first in the opening quarter, as Gales went in on a 3-yard run for a 6-0 lead with 10:21 left.
Antioch took a 7-6 advantage with 5:39 left when Hunter Price (22 carries, 125 yards) scored on a 5-yard run.
The Sequoits went up 14-6 as Branden Gallimore scored on a 1-yard keeper with 7:12 left in the second quarter.
Gales found the end zone again for North Chicago before the half on a 4-yard scamper with 21 seconds left and he also ran in the two point conversion.
"The ultimate thing is that we came out with a win," Glashagel said. "It could be worse, but we found a way to win right there at the end. If we think we're going to do damage in the playoffs this way, it's not going to happen. I'm glad we found a way to win with how poorly we played. The result of this game is what the whole week of practice with guys taking it easy and being laid back. They thought we would show up. I hope the lesson was learned tonight. North Chicago did a nice job and they had playmakers."