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Lakes, Antioch high schools to be featured on NBC 5 morning telecast

The homecoming game rivalry between Lakes and Antioch high schools hits the small screen early Friday morning as NBC 5 News Today's “Prep Destination of the Week”, officials announced Thursday.

NBC 5 will broadcast live from Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa between 6 and 7 a.m., celebrating the homecoming game between the Eagles and Sequoits scheduled at Lakes on Friday night.

The station also will show highlights of the prep game on the telecast of “High School Lites” on Comcast SportsNet this coming weekend, officials said.

“We are probably off to the best start — if not one of the best starts — our football team has ever had, so it'll be a great game,” Lakes Principal Steve Plank said. “Not only is it our homecoming game, but who ever wins the game Friday will take control of the Prairie Division side of the North Suburban Conference. So, there is definitely a buzz at the school.”

Plank said several hundred students from each Antioch and Lakes will appear on the early morning news program, as well as take part in the station's “Dance Friday” segment.

“This is a great way to highlight the great students, fans and communities,” Plank said. “We're going to have 600 students from Lakes High School, and 600 Antioch students, packed in the gym in the morning. That should be enough to create quite the buzz.”

The Lakes/Antioch game won the honor after receiving more top rivalry votes on NBC 5's Facebook page.

The games between Lakes and Antioch squeezed out 100 more votes than a game pitting Batavia against Geneva on Friday night, a difference of 0.6 percent of the total overall vote, officials said.

The Antioch/Lakes game totaled 7,449 total votes, while the Batavia/Geneva game received 7,349 votes. A game between Shepard and Eisenhower high schools totaled 647 total votes, officials from NBC 5 said.

“Prep Destination of the Week” and “Dance Friday” took place at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates last week, where more than 1,000 people came out to cheer.

Plank said students from both Lakes and Antioch are asked to appear at the high school about 5:15 a.m. in anticipation of being in place at 5:45 a.m. Cameras will go live starting at 6 a.m., he said.

Students should be prepared to scream, shout and dance during many live segments on the NBC 5 morning telecast, he added.

Students and faculty also are asked to bring a donation to benefit the Open Arms Mission Food Pantry. Students are not required to donate, but can give money if they choose.

Students are asked to bring signs, dress with school spirit, and cheer loudly for their teams. People watching on television are able to view the live telecast between 6 and 7 a.m. on NBC Channel 5.