Mount Carmel vs. Downers Grove North: How to watch Illinois 7A football state championship game
The Mount Carmel Caravan and Downers Grove North Trojans will face off at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday in the Illinois Class 7A championship game at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
>> Follow live updates from Mount Carmel vs. Downers Grove North here <<
Chicago Mount Carmel is back in the 7A championship game after winning the title last year and the Caravan will be seeking to win their third championship in five seasons.
Downers Grove North is seeking its first state title since 2004 (8A) and just the second in school history and also has an opportunity to avenge last year's second-round playoff loss to Mount Carmel.
You can watch Mount Carmel vs. Downers Grove North live on the NFHS Network.
What: Illinois Class 7A football championship game
When: 4:00 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, November 25
Where: Hancock Stadium | Normal, Illinois
How to watch the live stream online: You can watch this game live on the NFHS Network
Live score updates: Follow the game on SBLive Sports for live score updates
More coverage: SBLive Sports features coverage of Illinois high school football including previews, team rankings, top player lists and much more. Follow your favorite teams on SBLive's live high school football scoreboard and download the SBLive Sports App.
Mount Carmel (12-1)
Coach Jordan Lynch's squad has been dominant in the playoffs since dropping its final regular-season game against Loyola Academy, 23-21. Mount Carmel has outscored its four playoff opponents 213-65 and has scored 61 and 64 points in its last two games.
The Caravan are averaging 39.1 points per game – they allow 13.9 per contest – with a balanced offense that has passed for 3,023 yards and rushed for 2,759 yards.
Junior quarterback Jack Elliott, a first-year starter, has passed for 2,861 yards and 32 touchdowns (with five interceptions) and has run for six TDs. Senior running back and Wisconsin commit Darrion Dupree has rushed for 1,056 yards and 16 touchdowns and has 704 receiving yards and eight scores.
The Mount Carmel defense has been led by junior inside linebacker Matthew Mucha (88 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions), senior inside linebacker Parker Startz (82 tackles, nine tackles for loss) and junior strong safety Zander Gorman (71 tackles, seven interceptions).
Downers Grove North (11-2)
The Trojans survived a tough second-round game against Hersey with a 24-21 win and then handled Lincoln-Way West 36-6 and Normal Community 42-0 the next two weeks to advance to the championship game.
Coach Joe Horeni's squad is averaging 32.1 points per game and allowing just 11.9 points per contest. The Trojans have a balanced offense, averaging 290 yards of offense per game with 1,953 passing yards and 1,817 rushing yards.
Sophomore quarterback Owen Lansu has passed for 1,929 yards and 25 touchdowns (with seven interceptions). Senior running back Noah Battle has rushed for 1,098 yards and scored 21 total touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Cael Brezina, a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder who has committed to Iowa State, leads the Trojans' defense with 100 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks.
ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEWS
Players to watch at the Illinois football state championships
Illinois 1A title game preview: Lena-Winslow vs. Camp Point Central
Illinois 2A title game preview: Athens vs. Wilmington
Illinois 3A title game preview: Byron vs. Mt. Carmel
Illinois 4A title game preview: Rochester vs. St. Laurence
Illinois 5A title game: Joliet Catholic vs. Nazareth Academy
Illinois 6A title game: East St. Louis vs. Cary-Grove
More coverage: Get live Illinois high school football scores on SBLive Sports. To follow your favorite teams check out the SBLive live high school football scoreboard and download the SBLive Sports App.
- Nate Latsch | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL
