The Loyola football team shouldn’t need much motivation to play Mount Carmel.
But there is more riding on the Catholic Blue game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, in Wilmette than just a showdown against a rival.
A victory will give the Ramblers (8-0, 3-0) their first undefeated regular season since 2011 and will earn them the outright conference championship, their first since 2012. A 9-0 record also assures Loyola will be one of the top seeds for the Class 8A playoffs.
“This always is a game that is circled on our schedule,” Loyola senior quarterback Emmett Clifford said. “All the offseason stuff you go through is for games like this.”
According to Loyola coach John Holecek, Mount Carmel (7-1, 2-1) is the “gold standard” of the conference. He’s 5-5 against the Caravan, but the Ramblers have won three of the last four games. The last five meetings have been decided by seven points or less, and two of them have gone to overtime.
“It’s always a battle,” Holecek said. “We go back and forth with each other. It should be fun.”
In Loyola’s 56-14 road win over St. Rita in Week 8, Holecek said he liked how the offense played. He wasn’t so enthused by the defense’s performance.
“Our offense was amazing,” he said. “They could do no wrong. I think we asked the punt team to get ready once. That’s it. The defense gave up 14 points. It was not our strongest game, but it was good to be tested.”
Both Loyola and Mount Carmel have three shutouts this season. The Caravan also beat Hales Franciscan via a 1-0 forfeit in Week 8. The Ramblers have scored more than 40 points four times, while the Caravan have surpassed that mark twice.
“Everybody will be ready,” Clifford said.
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Loyola vs. Mount Carmel during Ramblers coach John Holecek’s tenure
2014 — Mount Carmel 10, Loyola 7
2013 — Loyola 24, Mount Carmel 17
2012 — Loyola 30, Mount Carmel 27 OT
2011 — Loyola 12, Mount Carmel 7
2010 — Mount Carmel 31, Loyola 24 OT
2009 playoffs — Loyola 24, Mount Carmel 7
2009 — Loyola 28, Mount Carmel 15
2008 — Mount Carmel 35, Loyola 14
2007 — Mount Carmel 31, Loyola 24 2OT
2006 — Mount Carmel 32, Loyola 14
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