This conference championship game between Antioch and Wauconda was one of the closest games in Antioch’s recent history. The night started a little differently than usual as it was senior night and all the senior football players, dancers, and cheerleaders walked across the field with their parents. The Sequoit football team then did their warm-up before their game and prepared to face the Bulldogs.
As the game started, the Sequoits were on defense. The Sequoits were able to stop the Bulldogs on their first drive, but the Sequoits’ offense was then stopped on their drive. The Bulldogs got the ball back and scored a touchdown followed by an extra point putting the score 7-0 in favor of the Bulldogs.
As the game went on, the Bulldogs were able to find the endzone once again making the score 14-0. Before the end of the first half, senior running back Dino Kaliakmanis had a 92-yard kick return for the Sequoits to bring the score to 14-6. The Bulldogs followed by having an 86 yard kick return to bring the score 6-21 at the end of the half in favor of the Bulldogs. While many fans were nervous about the outcome of the game, senior defensive linemen Jackson Gutke was not deterred.
“Going into the game we all knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game,” Gutke said. “Sure enough once the defense got on the field in the second half we made sure to play our kind of defense and we didn’t let them score once in the second half.”
On the opening kickoff, D. Kaliakmais was able to find the endzone once again for an 84-yard kickoff return bringing the score to 21-14. Later in the quarter senior running back, Khalil Anderson was able to find the endzone for a 21-yard run to bring the score to 21-20.
Later in the 4th quarter, senior Athan Kaliakmanis was intercepted for a touchdown. The Bulldog cornerback taunted the Sequoits and received a personal foul. The Bulldogs missed the extra point, bringing the score to 20-27.
With less than five minutes on the clock, the Sequoits had to march down the field and score in order to win the game. A. Kaliakmanis threw a deep pass to senior Alexander Kutcher which gave the Sequoits a big jolt of energy. This pass gave the Sequoits a high chance to score a touchdown.
“The feeling was indescribable,” A. Kaliakmanis said. “I’ve never felt like that in my life. A. Kaliakmanis threw a pass to senior wide receiver Douglas Schultz to get the touchdown bringing the score to 27-26 still in favor of the Bulldogs.
“I felt ecstatic and extremely excited for the team,” Shultz said. “I’m glad I was able to help finish the drive for the win.”
A. Kaliakmanis then completed a pass to sophomore wide receiver Joseph Neuman for the two-point conversion making the score 28-27 in favor of the Sequoits. As the game came to a close, A. Kaliakmais intercepted the ball, finishing the game with a Sequoit win.
