NORMAL, Ill.— Mount Carmel’s defense was solid throughout the season, but it became a brick wall during the Class 7A state playoffs.
The Caravan beat Downers Grove North 35-10 in the Class 7A state championship game on Saturday at ISU’s Hancock Stadium. It’s the school’s 15th title, which ties Joliet Catholic for the most in state history.
Mount Carmel wasn’t challenged in the playoffs, scoring more than 60 points in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. Dynamic running back Darrion Dupree and junior quarterback Jack Elliott were practically unstoppable and the defensive line, led by Tavon Rice, bottled up Downers Grove North’s offense.
“We are a totally different team from that Week 9 loss [to Loyola],” Elliott said. “It kind of woke us up as a team. We had a tough Monday morning, talked as a team and let everything out and we haven’t looked back.”
Elliott was 28-for-37 for 284 yards and two touchdowns. Dupree had 12 carries for 78 yards and seven receptions for 60 yards for the Caravan.
Elliott connected with senior Kevin Gardner for two TDs in the first quarter. Maurice Densmore rushed for the third TD and Mount Carmel (13-1) led 21-3 at halftime.
Gardner had five catches for 82 yards. Densmore made six receptions for 55 yards. Elliott connected with six different receivers.
Elliott took over at quarterback this season for Blainey Dowling, who led the Caravan to the Class 7A title last year. Mount Carmel didn’t miss a beat, with Elliott throwing for 34 TDs and rushing for six.
“Winning state championships is the greatest feeling there is but to win as a starter, it’s a surreal feeling,” Elliott said. “I’m so happy for the seniors. They worked their tails off.”
Linebacker Parker Startz finished with four tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss for Mount Carmel (13-1), which held Downers Grove North (11-3) to 161 total yards and 29 rushing yards.
“We all love each other,” Startz said. “We’re a family and we just believed in each other.”
Mount Carmel’s Alex Pholik (73) celebrates the state championship.
Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times
Downers Grove North wasn’t ranked in the preseason but proved to be one of the state’s best teams. The Trojans, led by sophomore quarterback Owen Lansu and senior running back/defensive back Noah Battle, had a challenging road to the title game, winning games against Kenwood, Hersey, Lincoln-Way West and Normal.
“We had a lot of guys step up that didn’t play a lot of snaps last year,” Downers Grove North coach Joe Horeni said. “I’m really proud of our guys. They’ve set the standard as leaders for what we need to be going forward.”
