Antioch shuts out Lakes to secure playoff berth

Antioch got the victory it needed to clinch a playoff spot for another year. The Sequoits earned their sixth win of the season with a 24-0 shutout over host Lakes in the Northern Lake County Conference game on Friday night.

Going in it was a clash of rivals between both District 117 schools, but Antioch (6-3, 6-1) took over from the start and never looked back as Lakes (5-4, 3-3) had no answers.

"We felt confident with our (playoff) points," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. "Our week one and two opponents (Catholic Memorial of Wisconsin and Morris) haven't lost. We got as many points as we can get. With Wauconda unbeaten, our opponent losses are 27-0. We will be a high 6-3 seed."

The Sequoits were good not only on offense but on the defensive side of the ball.

"Our O-line and our backs are pretty good," Glashagel said. "Our defense was flying to the ball. Over the years we've been pretty fast on defense. That's the credit to the kids and the coaches."

Nick Day (29 carries, 159 yards) opened the scoring with a 10-yard run on a 7-play, 65-yard drive on the opening Antioch possession for a 7-0 lead with 6:47 left in the opening quarter.

"It was so great and I'm glad that I got the opportunity to carry the ball so many times," Day said. "The O-line did the job perfectly and executed so well. It's great to beat your rivals."

Joey Neumann caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Quade Moll that increased the lead to 14-0 with 4:09 left in the second quarter. Neumann was also on the receiving end of a halfback option pass by Andy Bowles for 33 yards that set up the score.

Then in the third quarter, Neumann, on a 4th-and-5 from the Eagles' 19, scored on an option run from the end that raised the lead to 21-0 with 7:16 left.

"It really was the run, because the O-line blocked great," Neumann said. "It was a wide open run for a touchdown. We thought it was a good play the way the defense set up."

Sequoits' kicker Remi Ivanovas added a 37-yard field in the final quarter.

Lakes still has an opportunity to reach the postseason with 5 victories but will have to wait until all the teams are determined for the playoffs on Saturday.

"We just got beat up everywhere," Lakes coach Jordan Eder said. "We didn't execute very well. We just have to clean things up, rebound and see who we get to see in the playoffs."

The Eagles were held to just 77 yards off offense throughout the game.