Grant coach analyzes Antioch, Lemont game

Antioch running back Cameron White (5) was the major ground gainer for the Sequoits 28-27 during their overtime win against Glenbard South on Saturday, Nov. 15.
(Jon Cunningham/Sun-Times News Group)

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Tonight's football foes -- the Antioch Sequoits and Lemont Indians -- have more in common than their Native American nicknames.

Both teams, who clash at 6 p.m. for the right to play in the IHSA Class 6A state-championship game, are 12-0. Both are big, physical, and feature breakaway running backs.

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And both have defeated the Grant Bulldogs (8-4), with Lemont taking Grant out of the playoffs for the second straight year last week by a 35-14 score, and Antioch besting the Bulldogs 28-14 in the sixth game of the year.

That puts Grant coach Kurt Rous in the unique position of being the county's only coach able to contrast and compare the two unbeaten squads, which he did for us this week.

  *Q) What are the similarities of the two teams? A) Offensively, they're both very explosive and both teams can score at any time, and from anywhere on the field.

And both teams have plenty of weapons. Lemont and Antioch will throw when they need to, but both mostly run the ball.

Lemont has tremendous play-action. They trap a lot and do a lot of play-action off of that. They had our linebackers confused a lot. And on those plays, they always seemed to have their fullback in the flat and their tight end open all the time if they wanted to pass to them.

  *Q) Their tailback, Danny Hayes (a junior), had four touchdowns against you. How does he compare with Cameron White of Antioch? Who's faster?

  *A) Hayes is fast, but his speed is more straight ahead. But Cameron is pretty fast ... probably faster. And he's got shiftier moves to make you miss.

  *Q) Which is the more physical of the two teams?

  *A) By far, Lemont. They're big and fast and their defensive backs just come flying up against the run.

Antioch is physical on defense too, but Lemont brought it at us even more so than Antioch.

  *Q) Who in Lake County would you compare Lemont's defense to?

  *A) They're similar in aggressiveness and style to Lake Zurich. They play three down-linemen with very active linebackers and safeties against the run.

  *Q) So who do you like in this game? Who's going to win?

  *A) My gut says Lemont, but I'm hoping Antioch wins it.

I haven't seen Antioch play since Week 6, so I can't really be completely accurate on them. I do know that against Antioch we were in the game pretty much to the end. Against Antioch, I thought we had a chance.

But against Lemont we were losing 21-0 very quickly and never really had a chance.

  *Q) Did you give your scouting report to (Antioch coach) Brian Glashagel?

  *A) Yeah. I talked to him right after our game with Lemont. He was watching. And I gave him nine films of Lemont that I had. I'd sure like to see the Sequoits win. It would be nice to see somebody from our conference advance to the championship game.