What is wrong with Mount Carmel? The Caravan entered the season with a load of hype based on the team's 19 future college players. After losing to Brother Rice in Week 6, they are now 4-2, and neither loss was very close at the end.
“[Brother Rice] had a great game plan,” Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch said. “We got outplayed, outcoached, outcoached, and we got outhustled. It sucks. Losing sucks, but we will be fine.”
Caravan quarterback Brady Cloherty threw for 245 yards, and Nathan Samuels ran for 92 yards against Brother Rice. Mount Carmel moved the ball but fell short on key plays.
Lynch’s offenses generally score more than the 24 points the Crusaders allowed. Still, the Mount Carmel defense looked unspectacular against a freshman quarterback making the third start of his career.
“I have to watch film,” Lynch said after the game. “I don’t want to talk on emotions. Mount Carmel has always prided itself on defense. I don’t know how many stops we got. Unacceptable, and it starts from the top down. It starts with me.”
Crusaders coach Casey Quedenfeld clearly outlined his winning game plan.
“We just talked about four things, and they are very old school: turnovers, field position, scoring when you have the opportunity, and the most important thing is to limit their possessions.
“Mount Carmel is the Golden State Warriors. Lynch is the best offensive coach in the entire state, in the entire Midwest. He doesn’t care if his defense gives up points. He does; he is going to tell you something else. But from our perspective, he doesn’t care because that is one more time he is going to get the ball. And he has full confidence in himself, as he should. And his kids, because he has tremendous players.”
Brother Rice freshman quarterback Sam Holcomb is playing his first season of high school football and, at 15 years old, will be fully eligible to play four seasons according to Illinois High School Association rules.
That is older than a traditional freshman, but it is becoming more common for high-level quarterback prospects to enter high school later than normal. Holcomb's older age as a freshman is actually due to COVID and not any athletic decisions. According to his father, Greg Holcomb, Sam redid a grade back in elementary school after COVID hit and his parents were not happy with an e-learning program.
“I was always athletic, but I wasn’t very big,” Sam Holcomb said. “I put on 35 pounds this offseason.”
Holcomb is 6-2 and now weighs 200 pounds. He began the season sharing the starting job with senior Rocco Galasso.
“I was willing to do whatever I could to help the team,” Holcomb said. “Whether it was being a waterboy or whatever. I have definitely come out of my shell and grown a lot since the summer. I was able to step it up a little bit.”
Two undefeated teams made major moves in the rankings and both deserve further explanation.
Downers Grove North vaulted from No. 10 to No. 6. The Trojans blanked a good Oak Park team 41-0 in Week 6, and it is now clear they have been underrated in the Super 25 so far this season. Downers Grove North’s six opponents have a combined record of 21-15.
Prospect dropped from No. 11 to No. 14 despite beating Rolling Meadows. The Knights were a victim of circumstances this week. Geneva’s win against Batavia rippled through the rankings and moved Bolingbrook, Oswego, and Geneva up significantly based on head-to-head results so far this season.
Prospect has beaten every team on its schedule, but only Fremd has a winning record. The Knights’ six opponents are a combined 14-22 this season.
St. Rita has been in and out of the rankings all season and returns after beating Montini. Undefeated Huntley joins after smashing Jacobs to establish itself as the best team in the Fox Valley.
Wheaton North and Nazareth drop out after losing in Week 6.
With record and last week's ranking
1. Loyola (6-0) 1
Won 42-12 at Marist.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 15 St. Ignatius.
2. Lincoln-Way East (6-0) 3
Won 54-0 at Andrew.
Next: Friday at No. 22 Lincoln-Way Central.
3. Brother Rice (4-2) 4
Won 35-24 vs. Mount Carmel.
Next: Friday vs. Fenwick.
4. Mount Carmel (4-2) 2
Lost 35-24 at Brother Rice.
Next: Friday vs. No. 19 Providence.
5. Hersey (6-0) 5
Forfeit win vs. Wheeling.
Next: Friday at Elk Grove.
6. Downers Grove North (6-0) 10
Won 41-0 vs. Oak Park.
Next: Friday at York.
7. IC Catholic (6-0) 7
Won 28-12 at St. Laurence.
Next: Friday at Benet.
8. Maine South (5-1) 8
Won 56-0 vs. Niles West.
Next: Friday at Vernon Hills.
9. Bolingbrook (5-1) 14
Won 46-8 at Oswego East.
Next: Friday at Joliet Central.
10. Oswego (5-1) 15
Won 44-21 at Yorkville.
Next: Friday at Joliet West.
11. Geneva (5-1) 16
Won 56-49 at Batavia.
Next: Friday vs. Glenbard North.
12. Batavia (4-2) 6
Lost 56-49 vs. Geneva.
Next: Friday at Wheaton North.
13. Homewood-Flossmoor (4-2) 14
Won 14-10 vs. Lincoln-Way West.
Next: Friday vs. Stagg.
14. Prospect (6-0) 11
Won 56-14 vs. Rolling Meadows.
Next: Friday at Wheeling.
15. St. Ignatius (5-1) 17
Won 52-28 vs. Carmel.
Next: Saturday at No. 1 Loyola.
16. Sandburg (4-2) 19
Won 21-17 vs. Lincoln-Way Central.
Next: Friday at Lincoln-Way West.
17. St. Rita (3-3) NR
Won 39-38 vs. Montini.
Next: Friday vs. Leo at St. Xavier.
18. Montini (4-2) 9
Lost 39-38 at St. Rita.
Next: Friday at De La Salle.
19. Providence (5-1) 22
Won 28-21 at Fenwick.
Next: Friday at No. 4 Mount Carmel.
20. Kankakee (5-1) 20
Won 42-0 vs. Thornwood.
Next: Friday vs. Bloom.
21. Glenbard West (4-2) 21
Won 56-14 at Hinsdale South.
Next: Saturday vs. Hinsdale Central.
22. Lincoln-Way Central (4-2) 12
Lost 21-17 at Sandburg.
Next: Friday vs. No. 2 Lincoln-Way East.
23. New Trier (5-1) 24
Won 42-0 vs. Deerfield.
Next: Friday at Maine West.
24. Morris (6-0) 25
Won 76-0 vs. Ottawa.
Next: Friday at Sycamore.
25. Huntley (6-0) NR
Won 47-7 vs. Jacobs.
Next: Friday at Prairie Ridge.
