White gives Antioch potent weapon

Imagine what Cameron White would have done last year had he been able to run the ball in a game against his own team's defense.

Thanks to the speedy and elusive White, Antioch was able to score plenty of points a year ago, but the Sequoits also gave up their share. Too many, in fact.

Which helps explain why the team went 3-6, losing six of its last seven games.

Antioch averaged nearly 25 points per game thanks to its newly employed triple option, but gave up an average of more than 27 points per contest.

"Defense, that was a big address in the off-season," coach Brian Glashagel said. "We got to be able to stop people. Offensively, we're going to put points up on the board."

They should thanks to White, who might be the most exciting running back in Lake County. As a junior, the 5-foot-9, 164-pounder rushed for 1,166 yards with an average of 11 per carry. He earned all-conference, all-area and honorable mention all-state recognition.

"Even in my years at Carmel (as an assistant), if he's not the best running back I've ever coached or seen, he's definitely in the top three, and that includes going up against the Joliet Catholics and Richards," Glashagel said.

"He's amazing. He does at least something every day in practice where you're like, 'How does he get out of that?' "

White isn't the lone returnee on offense. Also back are quarterback Matt Romani, who got off to a promising start last season before suffering a high ankle sprain, and running back Steve Lorenzini.

Both starting guards, Jake Anderson and Louis Schultz, also started last year.

Defensively, the returning starters are junior tackle Rolando Ortiz, cornerbacks Tyler Woolard and Alex Pechauer, and safety Travis Kwielford, linebacker Tom Gerstner and end Alec Paramski. Gerstner and Paramski were the team's top two leading tacklers last year, but neither will play tonight at Grayslake Central.

In fact, six potential starters will miss the game for the Sequoits.

Fortunately for the Sequoits, they have more than 60 players on their roster.

"The cool thing is that we're very deep," Glashagel said. "The kids filling in are very good players."

While the Sequoits' roster has grown slightly since last year, so has their coaching staff. Glashagel was able to add four coaches, and he thinks those added football minds will help the defense solve its problems.

"Fundamentally," Glashagel said, "we've gotten better."