Scouting: Antioch at Lemont
No. 2 Antioch (12-0) at No. 1 Lemont (12-0)
Game time: 6 p.m. today
Radio: WKRS 1220 AM (stream broadcast www.wkrs.com), WRLR 98.3 FM, (stream broadcast at www.wrlr.fm)
How Antioch got here: defeated Harlan 68-6, defeated Highland Park 35-34 (overtime), defeated Glenbard South 28-27 (overtime).
How Lemont got here: defeated Lake Forest 39-14, defeated Morgan Park 21-7, defeated Grant 35-14.
Antioch's playoff history: The Sequoits are making their second appearance ever in the state semifinals, but this is the first time they're playing a 13th game. They lost to Robeson, 18-16, in the Class 5A state semifinals in 1982, when teams played a maximum 13 games. This is their 12th time in the playoffs overall (1979, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008). Their 10 wins in 1982 stood as the school record until this season.
Lemont's playoff history: The Indians are making their 10th state playoff appearance (1980, 1985, 1990, 1991, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). They advanced to the Class 6A state final last year, losing to Joliet Catholic.
Antioch suspensions: Eight Antioch players (2 juniors, 5 sophomores, 1 freshman) will serve a one-game suspension tonight for violating of an athletic code. None of the eight players is a starter.
Head coaches: Antioch's Brian Glashagel is in his second season, after guiding the Sequoits to a 3-6 record last year. Lemont's Eric Michaelsen is in his seventh season for the Indians, and owns a career record of 58-20.
When Antioch has the ball: Michaelsen calls Antioch's Cameron White "the most talented player we have faced - a game-breaker, a difference-maker." White, a 5-foot-10 senior running back, is putting together one of the best seasons for any player in Lake County history. He's drawn interest from - among other schools - Tennessee, Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Texas. Voted to the IHSFCA Class 6A all-state team this week, White has rushed for 1,718 yards (11.8 average) and has scored 35 touchdowns (31 rushing). Against Glenbard South last Saturday. he even threw a TD pass to quarterback Matt Romani for the winning score in overtime. Fullback Steve Lorenzini has carried the ball a team-high 184 times for 1,123 yards and 8 TDs, but the Sequoits have relied more heavily on White the last two weeks. White is coming off a season-high 26 carries (141 yards). Michaelsen calls Antioch's other skill kids "outstanding as well." Those players include Lorenzini, Romani (347 rushing yards, 10 TDs) and running back/kicker Vinnie Holm (312 yards, 5 TDs). The offensive line features a pair of all-conference players in Louis Schultz and Jake Anderson. "They are successful because of an outstanding O-line," Michaelsen said. The Sequoits have scored exactly 500 points (41.7 per game) but now face a Lemont defense that has yielded only 94 points all season. Connor Nagel and Ryan Fejedelem are the Indians' leading tacklers. "Their three down linemen are big dudes," Glashagel said. "Then they got linebackers and DBs who fly all over the place. They're real good athletes."
When Lemont has the ball: Of the 32 remaining teams in the state playoffs, only Breese Mater Dei (221 points) in Class 4A has allowed more points than Antioch (219). The Sequoits have given up 49 points in regulation the last two weeks in overtime wins over Highland Park and Glenbard South. They'll have to stop a Lemont offense led by junior running back Danny Hayes (1,627 yards, 6.7 average, 25 TDs), all-state lineman Trevor Rothstein (6-1, 270) and quarterback Nick Lawrence (1,180 passing yards, 11 TDs, 7 interceptions). Hayes rushed for 153 yards and 4 scores against Grant last Saturday night. "He's very fast," Glashagel said. "He's small and shifty. ... He just needs a little bit of a seam and he's through it before you're done blinking. Tough, tough runner." Defensively, Antioch is led by linebacker Tom Gerstner. Defensive back Travis Kwielford has a team-best 3 interceptions.
Turf test: Lemont's field features artificial grass. Antioch played its season opener at Grayslake Central but hasn't competed on an artificial surface since then. To prepare for tonight's game, the Sequoits practiced on Wilmot High School's artificial turf on Wednesday, then at Grayslake Central on Thursday night. "It was cold, but the kids got used to (the turf)," Glashagel said. "We had a real good week of practice."
Advancement: The winner will play for the Class 6A state championship at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign against the winner of today's 1 p.m. game between No. 1 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (11-1) and No. 7 Providence Catholic (8-4).