Bicknase, Wauconda bust out a victory at Antioch
Even in the tensest of moments, Wauconda junior running back Jacob Bicknase still can find a way to relax and have fun playing the sport he loves.
Take, for instance, Friday night at Antioch. In a must-win game for both the Bulldogs and host Sequoits, Bicknase took a moment to lighten things up with his teammates.
During warm-ups prior to the start of the second half, with Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA" blaring over the loudspeakers, Bicknase engaged a few fellow Bulldogs in the finest of dance moves. First one, then another and before he knew it most of the Wauconda team was dancing in the North end zone.
It turned out to be rather fitting as that same North end zone hosted a bunch of dancing Bulldogs after a hard-fought 17-10 win over Antioch. The victory, the Bulldogs' third straight, moves Wauconda (4-4, 4-1) within 1 win of becoming playoff-eligible. Wauconda travels to North Chicago next week.
Antioch fell to 4-4 overall, 2-3 in North Suburban Prairie Division play. They will close out their season next week at Grant, also needing a win - and enough points - to become playoff-eligible.
"I've been practicing my dance moves a little bit," Bicknase said. "We like to stay real loose and get pumped up to good music - Miley Cyrus is good music."
Bicknase used some fancy footwork in the second quarter to give the visitors the lead for good. On a toss sweep, Bicknase followed his blockers into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown that gave Wauconda a 14-7 lead just before halftime. The score capped a clock-burning 14-play, 80-yard drive that chewed up the last six minutes of the second quarter.
Bicknase was one of a three-headed monster running the ball for Wauconda, finishing with 117 yards on 21 carries. As a team, the Bulldogs amassed 202 on the ground.
"These kids have been doing that kind of stuff all year long," said Wauconda coach Dave Mills. "Even in losses to Stevenson, Richmond-Burton, and Riverside-Brookfield, we've been putting together drives like that. Tonight we finished a drive like that like we want to."
Despite trailing the entire second half, Antioch did make things interesting late in the fourth quarter. A long drive stalled deep in Wauconda territory before Ben Gutke converted a 21-yard field goal to cut the margin to 7. The Sequoits then recovered the on-side kick but gave it back to Wauconda two plays later. Sophomore quarterback Brandon Gallimore was intercepted by Alex Machon with under a minute to play to seal it.
"This was really the story of our season," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel "Just about all the games we have played have come down to the very end like this. I told them we had a minute left and we were still breathing. I'm proud of how we battled until the end."
Once Wauconda took the lead, the defense, led by seniors Connor Mitchell and Grant Rodgers, made sure things stayed that way. Mitchell had 4 tackles for loss, including a sack and Rodgers had two key stops late to thwart an Antioch drive.
"Our coaches have done a great job preparing the kids every week and we have played great defense for the last 5 weeks," Mills said.
Antioch did strike first. After forcing a fumble on Wauconda's first possession, Griffin Hill took a pitch and went 48-yards for a score on the second play on offense for the Sequoits. Hill was held in check most of the night, rushing for 80 yards on 16 carries.