Flag football: Antioch rolls in sectional final, earns berth at this weekend’s state tournament

It took Antioch to the end of the first quarter of Tuesday’s McHenry sectional final against Machesney Park Harlem to shift its offense into drive.

But once the gears meshed, the Sequoits pushed the pedal to metal and scored on five consecutive drives to take an insurmountable 32-0 lead early in the third quarter on its way to a 32-7 sectional championship win.

With the victory, Antioch (19-5) advances to Friday’s state tournament at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park. The Sequoits will face Whitney Young (20-4) in the last quarterfinal game at 9 p.m.

Sophomore Reese Queensland crossed the goal line for three of Antioch’s five touchdowns, all on passes from quarterback Tanner Ludwig. Classmate Evie Baronello scored the other two, one on a rushing TD and the other on another Ludwig pass.

Antioch’s defense stymied Harlem’s offense until late in the fourth quarter. The Sequoits ended three Huskies drive with interceptions. The Huskies avoided the shutout by scoring on their last drive of the game.

“We watched a lot of game film. We picked up on their key players,” Antioch coach Tammy Johnson said. “We made sure that we had a team out there that could get the interceptions and cover their receivers.”

Queensland also intercepted a Harlem pass.

“I just try to see where the quarterback's trying to throw the ball and try to intercept it or at least get a hand on it or something because being back, it's like a lot easier to do that,” the sophomore said.

Antioch took the lead on its last possession of the first quarter, scoring on Baronello’s 1-yard run up the middle with 51.4 left in the frame. The one-point conversion was good on a Ludwig to Queensland pass.

The Sequoits need time to adjust to the playoff atmosphere.

“I believe it was jitters. We have a young team, which is great, but they haven't been in any big series in their other sports,” said Johnson.

All three Antioch second quarter drives ended in the end zone.

Baronello’s interception of Giada Nowling’s pass started Antioch’s first possession of the second quarter The sophomore also ended the drive five plays later by hauling in a 20-yard Ludwig TD toss.

Queensland ended the Sequoits’ second drive by scoring her first touchdown with 1:25 left in the first half. The sophomore connected with Ludwig on a 12-yard throw.

Abbigal Fuesting started Antioch’s last possession of the half by catching a Harlem (15-4) punt at midfield and racing down the sideline to the Huskies’ 4-yard yard line before her flag was pulled. On the first play from scrimmage, Ludwig connected with Queensland for a 4-yard TD.

Queensland scored her third touchdown of the night on the team’s first drive of the second half when the sophomore pulled in a 9-yard Ludwig scoring toss.

Harlem’s defense hit its stride during Antioch’s last two second half possessions ending the drives by sacking the quarterback and stopping a fourth down conversion attempt.

“We saw they were doing a lot of cover two, so we switched our coverage and switched up our blitzing a little bit,” Harlem coach Nate Dodson said.

Nowling prevented the shutout by scoring one a one-yard scamper with 1:14 left in the game.