An all-time great team was so special for Antioch

Antioch Community High School is 93 years old, and Norm Hahn has been teaching and coaching there for nearly half that time.

So when the wise old coach says, as he did to Antioch's football varsity on Lemont's frozen artificial surface Saturday night after the Sequoits' 38-14 loss, that this is the best team he's been around in his 43 years at the school, you don't take his words lightly.

Never mind that the first-ever 13th game for Antioch proved unlucky. As Hahn noted, the 12-1 Sequoits posted the best-ever record in nearly 100 years of Antioch football.

And to think players such as Eric Smith, Ken Karagiorgas, CJ Kanya and Zach Morrison nearly missed it. Head coach Brian Glashagel says each of those players - all of whom played integral roles in the Sequoits' success - considered not coming out for the team this year. Morrison was one of several players who didn't play football at all last year.

"We had about seven or eight new faces - guys that came out as juniors or seniors for their first time," Glashagel said. "And good players."

As coaches and players - mainly coaches - tried summing up the season while Lemont's players were busy celebrating their second straight state-final berth, an Antioch senior spoke about how he wasn't going to play football this year because he didn't have any friends on the team.

As he spoke, he was surrounded by his new shoulder pad-wearing friends - dozens upon dozens, many of whom had tears in their eyes, overwhelmed by the reality that their perfect season was over.

"It's OK to cry," said assistant coach Del Pechauer, the former head coach whose kid Alex started at defensive back.

Pechauer, who's been at Antioch forever, though not as long as Hahn, had strong words of wisdom, too.

He reminded the Sequoits to remember the good times, the fun. He pointed out that they were on TV, on the radio and in the newspapers this year. He told them that they brought pride and excitement to the town of Antioch.

And to think, two years ago the Sequoits went 0-9. Glashagel told his players they were picked to finish fifth in the North Suburban Prairie Division this year.

Instead, they won a dozen games and went to the state semifinals.

"Our senior leadership was just incredible," said Louis Schultz, who was a two-year starter on the offensive line. "The more guys you get on the team, the better the whole experience is going to be. You get closer with all of them. They just made (the experience).

"I'll remember this for the rest of my life."

Senior quarterback Matt Romani limped off the field at game's end. Lemont's rough-and-tough defenders hit him harder than he's ever been hit in his life, he said.

But his body wasn't hurting him the most.

"I'll never forget it," Romani said of the season. "It's probably the last time I'm ever going to play. ... But it was awesome."

So was his team.