Failed two-point conversion is the difference

Antioch’s football team grabbed a 14-point halftime lead, then hung on to edge visiting Lake Forest Academy 14-12 on Friday in the season-opening game for both teams.

The Sequoits scored three times in 5 minutes 31 seconds in the second quarter to turn a 0-0 battle into a 14-0 halftime lead.

Quarterback John Antilla produced the first six points on a 19-yard run with 8:42 left in the half.

On the ensuing possession, a penalty backed LFA up, and Jeff Freundt sacked QB Seamus Finnegan in the end zone on 3rd-and-15 from the 14 for a safety and an 8-0 lead.

After LFA’s free kick, Antioch drove 55 yards for another touchdown, with Danny Arden (24 carries, 141 yards)taking it 33 yards to the house for a 14-0 lead.

But in the second half, the turned.

With 7:21 left in the game, the Caxys scored on a 56-yard pass from Finnegan (12-of-25, 162 yards, 2 TDs) to Charles Harris — a resident of Antioch who attends LFA

The PAT kick was blocked, leaving Antioch ahead 14-6.

After Antioch’s drive stalled, LFA took possession on its own 20 with 2:04 left.

The final drive was a bit controversial. On fourth-and-1 at its own 29, LFA’s running back was stuffed for a loss. However, a ref’s inadvertent whistle caused the down to be replayed, and LFA got the first down on a pass-interference penalty.

Eventually, with 13 seconds left, Finnegan found a wide-open Branden Glaze down the middle for a 27-yard scoring strike.

But on the two-point conversion play, the low pass hit the ground and Antioch survived.

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