Antioch's aim: More of the same
Well, there's only one thing Antioch can do to top last season's magical ride, and that's to come home from Champaign in November with a championship.
After winning the North Suburban Conference Prairie Division title, finishing the regular season undefeated, advancing to the Class 6A semifinals and setting all kinds of school records in the process, the Sequoits still have something to prove.
"People say, 'Are you going to be a one-hit wonder?'" Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. "We say absolutely not. We've got a little bit of swagger after last year and we expect to win. We're not going away. We're going to be (up at the top) for awhile and we have more we want to do."
It looks like the Sequoits will be well equipped.
Not only with they add players from the freshman and sophomore underlevel teams who went a combined 16-2 last season, they also return some of their best players from last year.
Sure, star running back Cameron White is now playing at Eastern Illinois, but fullback Steve Lorenzini returns and he put up superstar numbers, too.
Lorenzini, who is showing no ill effects from off-season shoulder surgery, rolled up more than 1,100 yards himself.
Vinnie Holm, another top back, made quite an impression last year as a sophomore and wound up with more than 400 yards.
"We have some very good backs and we're still going to mostly run the ball," said Glashagel, whose line features veterans Brandon Ginter, Craig Tanner and tight end Anthony Coappello. "But we'll also be a lot more balanced on offense."
That's because new quarterback Tom Sears has proven that he's got quite an arm.
Sears, a junior, had surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament over the winter when he hurt his knee playing dodgeball in gym class. But he seems to be at full strength now.
"He's getting around great and he's shown us a lot," Glashagel said. "He's the quarterback that if he went to a combine, he would turn everyone's heads. He's one of the best throwing quarterbacks I've seen. When he throws the ball, it's effortless. He can let it fly 70 to 80 yards. He has all the tools you could want."
To take advantage, Glashagel hopes to keep wide receivers Bret Prather and Jared Allen busy.
Defensively, the Sequoits return three starters: lineman Rolando Ortiz, linebacker Kevin Knutson and defensive back Sam Pimpo.
Glashagel is also excited about rookie linebacker Sam Emanuelson. He's the only sophomore on varsity.
"He's a very big kid," Glashagel said of the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Emanuelson. He was one of the strongest guys in the school last year as a freshman."
ANTIOCH SEQUOITS
Coach: Brian Glashagel (3rd season)
2008 record: 12-1
2008 playoffs: Lost to Lemont (38-14) in the Class 6A semifinals