It was the marquee game of the first round, regardless of class, at least on paper anyway.
But on the Gately Stadium turf, Mount Carmel did what Mount Carmel so often does.
A.J. Lewis and Michael Kennedy combined for 260 yards rushing and five touchdowns Saturday afternoon and the Caravan defense stood up to a powerful rushing attack for a surprisingly easy 42-15 victory over Glenbard North.
The 12-time state-champion Caravan won their 12th straight first-round game to set up a clash of the Class 7A titans with Glenbard West next Saturday in Glen Ellyn.
“Watching them on film all week preparing for them, these guys are very athletic and they make some great plays,” said Lewis, who rushed for 111 yards in the first half and finished with 114. “These dudes can play football.
“Although we’ve had some upsets this year, some games we should have won, I feel like if we play Mount Carmel football, nobody can beat us.”
Mount Carmel (8-2) played exactly the way coach Frank Lenti has been drawing up game plans for three decades.
By the time Glenbard North ran its fourth offensive play, the Caravan had 16 and held a 14-0 lead.
Glenbard North (7-3) looked ready to make a game of it, driving 66 yards in 10 plays to cut Mount Carmel’s lead in half. But the Caravan demonstrated the biggest difference between the teams just before halftime.
Anthony Thompson completed his second pass attempt, a 38-yarder on a fade route to Steve Wirtel, to set up Lewis’ second short TD to give the Caravan a 21-7 halftime lead.
Alec Thomas made it 28-7 early in the third quarter on a 44-yard screen from Thompson, forcing Glenbard North out of its comfort zone and into the air in an attempt to rally.
“You do what you’re coached to do, you don’t turn it over much, keep the field tilted with the kicking game, keep the offense on the field, keep your defense off the field,” Lenti said. “It’s a formula that usually works.”
Plagued by turnovers much of the season — the Caravan committed five in last week’s 49-21 loss to Loyola — Mount Carmel benefitted from two by Glenbard North in the first half and didn’t have any until the outcome was in hand.
The Panthers trailed 14-7 in the second quarter but were gaining momentum when the Caravan recovered a fumbled punt in Panther territory.
Glenbard North’s defense held, but an interception by Phazione McClurge got the ball back for the Caravan and led to Lewis’ TD just before the half.
Lewis carried the ball just once in the second half as Kennedy (15 carries, 146 yards, 3 TDs) saw the bulk of the work.
Palatine 20, Sandburg 19 (OT): Sandburg QB Alec Fidan was stopped short as Sandburg (6-4) tried to win with a two-point conversion on the last play of OT in the 8A first-round game at Palatine. Fidan passed for 93 yards and a touchdown and ran for 85 yards, including a 9-yard score in OT. Patrick Brucki ran for a TD and Avery Verble caught a TD pass. Sandburg had two passing touchdowns wiped out due to penalties in the second quarter.
Oak Forest 51, Quincy 14: Zach Russell (124 yards rushing, 2 TDs) spurred Oak Forest (9-1) in Class 6A.
Lemont 27, Glenwood 0: Spencer Nagel (2 TD passes) steered Lemont (9-1) in Class 6A.
Lincoln-Way West 35, Dunlap 12: Jake Mauney (80-yard TD catch) boosted Lincoln-Way West (8-2) in Class 5A.
Local College Football
St. Xavier 34, Olivet Nazarene 23: Wide receiver Stephen Simms (96 yards rushing, 3 TDs) propelled St. Xavier (7-2, 4-0 MSFA Midwest).
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St. Francis 22, Trinity International 7: Running back John Magee (20 carries, 101 yards) threw a 3-yard TD pass to Adam Morrison for St. Francis (7-2, 3-1 MSFA Midwest).
Boys Soccer
Andrew 3, Bradley-Bourbonnais 1: Paul Harmann (2 goals) led Andrew (10-10-2) in the Class 3A Sandburg Sectional championship.
Boys Cross Country
Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional: Individual champion Sean Torpy (14:57) guided Sandburg (45) to the title.
Class 3A Normal Sectional: Runner-up Colin DeYoung (15:26) led third-place Illiana Christian (107). Lincoln-Way North (118) also advanced to the state finals.
Class 2A Normal U-High Sectional: Lincoln-Way West’s Evan Mitchell (15:27) finished fourth.
Class 2A Wheaton Academy Sectional: Richards’ Jason Mallo (16:23), Brother Rice’s Joe Sweeney (16:29) and Marist’s Kyle O’Farrell (16:41) qualified for the state finals.
Class 1A Lisle Sectional: Josh Nehmer (17:17) led fourth-place Beecher (142). Leo’s Sirlaurence King (16:27) finished second.
Girls Cross Country
Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional: Karlee Stortz (18:21) finished sixth for second-place Lockport (84).
Class 3A Normal Sectional: Lincoln-Way Central (113) and Lincoln-Way East (116) were second and fourth, respectively. Lincoln-Way East’s Jenna Couwenhoven (18:36) was the top area runner, finishing seventh.
Class 2A Normal U-High Sectional: Lincoln-Way West’s Teagan Lyke (18:57) earned an at-large berth to the state meet.
Class 2A Wheaton Academy Sectional: Lemont (105) finished third and Marist (135) fifth. Marist’s Maryclare Leonard (18:52) was 10th to lead all local competitors.
Class 1A Lisle Sectional: April van Ryn (20:18) was fifth for champion Chicago Christian (53).
Friday’s GamesHigh School Football
Eisenhower 32, Harlem 13: Rayshawn Graham (2 TD runs) lifted Eisenhower (8-2) in Class 7A.
Crete-Monee 40, Rock Island 0: Clint Ratkovich (172 yards rushing, 3 TDs) vaulted Crete-Monee (8-2) in Class 6A.
Hinsdale South 34, Thornton 23: Tionte McDaniel (2 TDs) starred for Thornton (8-2) in Class 6A.
Sacred Heart-Griffin 53, Shepard 6: Jack Carberry (TD run) led Shepard (5-5) in Class 6A.
Joliet Catholic 48, Vernon Hills 29: Michael Johnson (139 yards rushing, 3 TDs) sparked Joliet Catholic (9-1) in Class 5A.
Tinley Park 41, Payton 20: Eric Schultz (7 carries, 134 yards, 3 TDs) led Tinley Park (8-2) in Class 5A.
St. Rita 38, De La Salle 24: Shaun Rule (5 TDs) powered St. Rita (4-6) in the Catholic League playoffs.
Mike Helfgot is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown. Freelance writer Josh Krockey contributed to this story.