Antioch rallies to knock off North Chicago

THE SKINNY

Not known as a passing team, Antioch (1-2) went to the air when it mattered most as Zach Andre’s two touchdown passes keyed a come-from-behind 28-27 win over error-prone North Chicago (2-1) in the North Suburban Prairie opener for both teams.

TURNING POINT

A fourth-quarter 47-yard punt by Andre pinned North Chicago at the one-yard line and an ensuing safety (Rob Ritacca and Grant Hackeloer dropped the running back in the end zone) made it 27-22 in favor of the Warhawks. After the free kick, Andre drove the Sequoits for the winning score, which came on a 21-yard pass to Alan Taylor with 6:21 left.

THE STAR

Andre opened the scoring with a 63-yard pass to Griffin Hill in the opening minutes, and tied the game at 20-20 with a quarterback sneak with 4:44 left in the third quarter, capping a 25-yard drive after a botched Warhawk punt. He finished 8-for-13 for 141 yards and two touchdowns. He also averaged 38 yards on three punts.

BY THE NUMBERS

Antioch ran the ball 51 times for 145 yards to go with Andre’s 141 passing yards. Cameron Corey had 21 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown. Griffin Hill had 7 carries for 37 yards and caught two passes for 78 yards, including the opening score. North Chicago lost three fumbles, failed to cover the second-half kickoff by Antioch for a turnover, snapped the ball over the punter’s head, and had eight penalties for 85 yards. Arnold Shead rushed 13 times for 150 yards and three touchdowns (4, 15 and 7 yards) and caught a five-yard pass. Quarterback Jay Amos-Mays was 4-for-14 for 109 yards and a touchdown.

QUOTABLE

“It’s the win we’ve been waiting for since week one. We lost two heartbreakers (by a total of four points). To get a win in another close game feels great.” — Andre