Loyola Academy tops Mount Carmel in Illinois high school football showdown of 2022 state champs
The showdown between undefeated Loyola Academy and Mount Carmel lived up to the hype as one of the biggest games of the year in Illinois high school football on Saturday afternoon.
Ryan Fitzgerald ran for two touchdowns and threw for another and the Loyola Academy defense came up with several clutch stops as the Ramblers defeated visiting Mount Carmel 23-21.
Mount Carmel (8-1), the 2022 IHSA 7A champions and the No. 2 team in the SBLive Illinois Power 25 high school football rankings, had its impressive win streak snapped at 22 games.
No. 3 Loyola Academy (9-0), the 2022 8A champions, heads back into the playoffs aiming for another title still unbeaten.
Scroll down for a live thread recap of the game:
FINAL: Loyola Academy 23, Mount Carmel 21
Loyola Academy holds off visiting Mount Carmel's late comeback attempt to win, 23-21, and improve to 9-0.
Mount Carmel loses for the first time in 23 games and finishes the regular season at 8-1.
FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES
Loyola Academy leading Mount Carmel 23-21 with 3:13 left.
What a throw by Jack Elliott for his third touchdown pass of the day. Mount Carmel within two points with 3:18 left.
Can the Caravan complete the comeback?
Mount Carmel working to come back.
Jack Elliott finds Maurice Densmore for their second touchdown connection and the 2-point conversion gets the Caravan to within eight points, 23-15, early in the fourth quarter.
THIRD QUARTER UPDATES
RYAN FITZGERALD AGAIN!
The quarterback's second touchdown run of the afternoon adds to the Ramblers' lead. Loyola up 23-7 midway through the third quarter.
SECOND QUARTER UPDATES
MOUNT CARMEL ANSWERS!
Caravan get a 72-yard touchdown pass from Jack Elliott to Maurice Densmore to cut the deficit in half midway through the second quarter.
FITZGERALD! TOUCHDOWN!
Ryan Fitzgerald touchdown run puts Loyola in front, 14-0, early in the second quarter.
FIRST QUARTER UPDATES
LOYOLA ACADEMY TOUCHDOWN!
Ryan Fitzgerald to Michael Baker with 2:31 remaining in the first quarter.
Big fourth-down stop by the Ramblers defense!
PREGAME UPDATES
UNIFORM UPDATE
You can also watch dozens of high school football games live on the NFHS Network: WATCH LIVE ON NFHS NETWORK
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- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL
