Lemont and Antioch set to square off
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday
Up next: Lemont would face Providence Catholic or Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in the 6A state championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 at the University of Illinois in Champaign.
How they got here: Antioch won the North Suburban Prairie with a 6-0 record and has beaten Chicago Harlan 68-6, Highland Park 35-34 and Glenbard South 28-27 in overtime in the playoffs. Lemont won the South Suburban Blue and has beaten Lake Forest 39-14, Morgan Park 21-7 and Fox Lake Grant 35-14 in the playoffs.
Playoff history: Antioch is in the playoffs for the 12th time, the first since 2005, and is 10-11 in playoff games. The Sequoits are making their first trip to the semifinals. Lemont, the runnerup in Class 6A a year ago, is in the playoffs for the fifth straight season, 10th in all and is 12-9 in playoff games.
The rundown: Antioch has been living on the brink as it attempts to keep its perfect season intact. Last week against Glenbard South, running back Cameron White threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Matt Romani on a botched play for the decisive score in overtime. Moments earlier, White had hit his head on the ground when he was clocked, resulting in an instant headache. White rushed for 141 yards on 22 carries and scored a touchdown. For good measure, he added a 66-yard punt return. Glenbard South also scored in overtime but lost on a missed extra point. Antioch was 3-6 last season and winless in 2006, so the Sequoits have enjoyed quite a turnaround. They have scored points in droves, averaging 41.7 per game, so a Lemont defense that has been at or near the top of the Joliet area statistical charts all season figures to be challenged. To date, nobody has limited the Sequoits to fewer than 21 points. Meanwhile, their defense is allowing 18.3 per game. Their closest call in the regular season was a 38-35 win over playoff qualifier Vernon Hills in Week 7. There is a common opponent in the mix as Antioch beat Grant 28-14 in Week 6 and Lemont dominated Grant 35-14 last week. Indians defensive tackles Pat Driscoll (3 sacks) and Angel Cabral (fumble recovery), plus nose tackle Matt Anzalone (sack, 2 tackles for loss) were outstanding, and as usual, linebackers Kyle Cummins (sack), Connor Nagel (2 tackles for loss), Ryan Fejedelem (tackle for loss) and Luke Anderson (half-sack) chipped in with their share of big plays. Defensive back James Tuscher added an interception and 22-yard return that set up a score. Lemont ranks No. 1 in the area in rushing defense (52.2 yards per game), total defense (117.3), rushing offense (268.6) and total offense (366.9). The Indians are No. 2 in scoring offense (35.6) and scoring defense (7.8). Last week, Danny Hayes rushed for 154 yards in 28 carries as the offensive line of center Tim Ahline, guards Brian Motyka and Trevor Rothstein, tackles Eric Leadley and Jimmy Purvin and tight end Bobby Groselak turned in yet another solid effort. Hayes is up to 1,627 yards and is averaging 6.7 per carry. Senior quarterback Nick Lawrence hit 7-of-9 passes for 134 yards vs. Grant and scored himself on an 18-yard keeper. Lawrence has completed 63-of-116 passes, 54.3 percent, for 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns.
