Glashagel likes Antioch's attitude
As Brian Glashagel led his Antioch football team into Warren's Almond Campus stadium on a September Friday night last year, Antioch's sophomores were leaving it with tears in their eyes.
"They were bawling," Glashagel said, "because they had tied Warren."
The varsity head coach knew his sophomore squad wasn't used to being disappointed after a game.
"As a coach," Glashagel said, "you're like, 'That's great.' "
Antioch's current juniors went 9-0 as freshmen and 7-1-1 last year in winning the North Suburban Prairie. Their addition to a veteran varsity squad gives Glashagel optimism for this season, which starts tonight for the Sequoits when they host Streamwood.
"We might have 11 seniors starting on offense," Glashagel said.
The offense is led by wingbacks Josh Guadarrama and Vinnie Holm, quarterback Tom Sears, fullback Sam Green and wide receiver Brett Prather. Last year, Guadarrama was the Sequoits' second-leading rusher behind graduated fullback Steve Lorenzini (1,059 yards). Guadarrama rushed for 751 yards (7.4 average), and his 11 touchdowns were one fewer than Lorenzini's team-leading 12.
Holm enters his third season as a varsity starter. A standout kicker as well, he rushed for 498 yards and scored 8 TDs last season.
The 5-foot-9 back possesses a combination of speed (4.6 40-yard dash) and strength (355 bench-press).
"He's a man," Glashagel said. "When he benches, it's like, 'Hey, Vinnie's about to put up three plates.' "
Sears will direct the Sequoits' option attack for the second year in a row. He didn't throw often last year, but when he did, he looked to fellow senior Prather (18 catches in 2009). Green was named honorable mention all-NSC last year. Wide receiver Ryan Hartman is healthy after missing the last handful of games last season with a broken foot.
The offensive line includes Nick Dampf, Brian Read, Adrean Buster and Lee Shannon, who got called up from the sophomore team after last season started and became a starter.
The defense is where the juniors could make the most impact. Antioch allowed an average of nearly 29 points per game in 2009, but expect the defense to be much improved.
"We've always been pretty good offensively," Glashagel said. "We've been able to move the ball on anybody and put points up. But (this year) we've got really nasty defensive players."
Expect to hear the name Gonzalez frequently when the Sequoits are on defense. Defensive end Justin Gonzalez and outside linebacker Jason Gonzalez are twins. Safety George Gonzalez is not related to them.
Gregg Van Dycke moves to defensive end after playing O-line as a sophomore. Middle linebacker Sam Emanuelson also started as a sophomore. Junior outside linebacker Zack Epker qualified for the state wrestling meet last winter.
Senior Kurtis Vepley was honorable mention all-conference last year and will man a cornerback spot along with Colin Bennett.
Glashagel thinks the defense has the potential to be the best he's had at Antioch since he took over as head coach in 2007.
In 2008, when star running back Cameron White led Antioch to 12 wins and a berth in the Class 6A state semifinals, the Sequoits held four opponents to single-digit points but never recorded a shutout.
"They're old school," Glashagel said of his current defenders. "The '08 defense was real good. But the offense and Cameron got so much publicity."
This year, it might be the defense's turn to grab headlines.
ANTIOCH
Probable starters
OFFENSE
Pos. Name Ht/Wt Yr.
QB Tom Sears 6-3/190 Sr.
FB Sam Green 6-0/180 Sr.
WB Vinnie Holm 5-8/180 Sr.
WB Josh Guadarrama 5-9/175 Sr.
WR Brett Prather 6-0/168 Sr.
T Nick Dampf 6-3/237 Sr.
G Lee Shannon 5-11/210 Jr.
C Adrean Buster 6-1/262 Sr.
G Joey Lombardo 6-0/246 Jr.
or Conner Chelmecki 5-9/182 Sr.
or Ryan Christy 5-11/222 Sr.
T Brian Read 6-3/213 Sr.
WR Ryan Hartman 6-1/191 Sr.
DEFENSE
Pos. Name Ht/Wt Yr.
DE Justin Gonzalez 6-1/197 Sr.
DT Kyle Miller 6-1/257 Sr.
DT Noah Eves 5-8/200 Sr.
DE Gregg Van Dycke 6-0/215 Jr.
OLB Jason Gonzalez 6-0/175 Sr.
MLB Sam Emanuelson 6-1/240 Jr.
OLB Zack Epker 5-10/180 Jr.
CB Kurtis Vepley 5-8/156 Sr.
S Stephen Smith 6-1/166 Jr.
S George Gonzalez 5-10/153 Jr.
CB Colin Bennett 5-10/166 Sr.