Vernon Hills 42, Antioch 38
Vernon Hills has been in more than a few close games this football season. So when the Cougars were faced with the same tight finish in a North Suburban Prairie road contest at Antioch, they knew just what to do.
"We just knew that five minutes were more than enough time," said Vernon Hills junior quarterback PJ Marsek. "We have been in that spot so many times before; we knew just what to do."
With 5:26 remaining and 80 yards to go, instead of relying on veteran experience in the clutch, the Cougars relied on a very talented freshman to get them over the hump.
Davaris Daniels had his No. 82 called on several occasions in the waning minutes. And the last call turned out to be the biggest.
On second-and-goal from the Antioch 4, Marsek rolled to his right, threaded a pass between three Antioch defenders, eventually finding Daniels. It was his second score of the night, but it was the biggest of the game for the Cougars as it lifted Vernon Hills to a wild 42-38 win over Antioch, eliminating the Sequoits from playoff consideration.
"(Davaris) is a huge upgrade for us at wide receiver and you know that every time you get him the ball he can make plays," Marsek said.
Vernon Hills (5-3, 4-1) was put in the unenviable position of having to come back after another magnificent performance by Antioch junior Cameron White.
White was a one-man wrecking crew as he shredded the Cougars' defense both on the ground with runs that would make Devin Hester and Barry Sanders jealous' to a sensational touchdown pass that would make Tony Romo envious.
White rushed for 188 yards on only 13 carries. He also tossed a 67-yard touchdown pass to Lamarr Pottinger just before half that brought Antioch (3-5, 1-4) within 21-12 at halftime.
"I don't know if he is the best all-around running back I have ever seen, but all he does is make amazing plays," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. "He is just an incredible player."
It was the pass by White to Pottinger just before halftime that started a furious Antioch comeback. The play came as Antioch scored twice in just 18 seconds to close the half.
On the first play from scrimmage to open the second half, White went one way, and then another finally spinning away to a 62-yard touchdown run and Antioch was within 21-18.
Vernon Hills went right along with the offensive slugfest, and Cougars senior running back Larry Guerrero wasn't about to be outdone. Though he didn't hit the end zone, it was his pounding running that softened up the Antioch defense. Guerrero led the Sequoits with 197 yards on the ground on 28 carries.
Antioch finally took the lead away from the Cougars on a short run by Steve Lorenzini at 32-28 at the end of the third quarter. It capped a 20-point outburst by the Sequoits in the third quarter.
Vernon Hills answered once more, but after White scored his third touchdown of the night from 11 yards out, it put the Cougars in comeback mode one last time.
"We knew that it was going to come down to that last drive," Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken said. "I'm just glad we burned so much time off the clock."