Antioch’s Chance Verden makes the most of chance to play football again: ‘This is the happiest I’ve ever been’

Antioch senior Chance Verden is back where he’s supposed to be.

Verden, who didn’t play football last season, has returned to become a two-way standout for the undefeated Sequoits.

“Coming back to play was one of the best decisions I ever made,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun being back with everyone, and it’s nice that I’ve been able to help the team.”

That’s an understatement. The top-seeded Sequoits (10-0), who will play ninth-seeded Sycamore (7-4) at home in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs at 1 p.m. Saturday, already had a deep inventory of proven offensive playmakers. Senior quarterback Ethan Patel and the top three rushers from last season — senior Gavin Stone and juniors Logan Lennon and Kelen Wilson — all returned.

Adding the 6-foot, 165-pound Verden’s top-end speed and sure hands on the perimeter provided yet another puzzle piece to confound opposing defenses.

“It’s like getting a brand new toy,” Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. “We already had a great bullpen of running backs and saw right away in the summer that he would be a pass threat.

“You can never have enough athletes, and we’ve tried to come up with different ways to get him the ball.”

On offense, Verden has been used almost exclusively as a receiver, and he has 16 catches for 474 yards and six touchdowns. Averaging nearly 30 yards per reception, Verden is a home run threat whenever he gets the ball.

“We do have a lot of weapons, and I’m definitely another player to worry about,” he said. “When I have the ball in my hands, I tend to make a lot of people miss. I’m shifty. It’s been like that ever since I was a kid.”

Verden has also been deployed in the return game. He took a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown against Lakes in Week 6.

Verden, who even ran on a sweep during the Sequoits’ 48-13 win over 17th-seeded Glenbard South in the first round last week, plays on the other side of the ball too.

“By the end of the summer, he was getting reps on defense, where being in open space is also valuable,” Glashagel said. “By Week 3 or 4, he became a regular on defense, and he’s a genuine two-way player who’s basically on the field all the time.”

Verden’s athleticism has allowed him to float between cornerback and safety. He has 36 tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a score against Grayslake North in Week 7.

“If the other team has a really good receiver, I can guard him all game, and if not, I can play safety and help look over everything,” Verden said. “I love playing both ways. They depend on me to do a lot.”

Known for his speed, Verden isn’t solely a finesse player.

“I like hitting people,” he said. “I like the contact. A lot of people who play both ways try to shy away from hitting so much, but I’m not like that.”

Verden’s emergence isn’t a great surprise for the Sequoits. He was one of three sophomores who played on the varsity team in 2024, along with lineman Ben Anderson and defensive lineman/tight end Harrison Victor. But Verden has impressed his teammates all the same.

“His speed is definitely the biggest factor,” Antioch senior linebacker Mason King said. “Whenever he catches a pass, you see that he can really move. He’s just a natural athlete, and playing both ways shows how willing he is to help the team.”

Being unable to help the team last season weighed on Verden, who had suffered a broken wrist during lacrosse season and said he “just wasn’t in the right mental space to play.”

“It hurt so much not being out there,” he said. “I remember watching the game in Week 2 versus Lake Zurich on TV, and it made me want to be playing.

“As soon as the season ended, I was 100% committed to playing. I went to 7-on-7 last winter and went to a training coach with Ethan. Luckily, everything came back to me pretty quickly.”

Verden is also a standout lacrosse player — he was an all-state nominee last season — and he intends to play both sports at the next level. Clarke University, which competes in the NAIA, has offered him that opportunity, and he has received interest from other schools in both sports.

Verden hopes college coaches will have a few more football games to watch. The Sequoits were eliminated in the second round in each the past three years.

“Not a lot of kids get the opportunity to play two sports in college, so I realize how blessed I am to have that option,” Verden said. “We know this is a special team, the best football team I’ve ever been on, and this is the happiest I’ve ever been.”

Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.