Mount Carmel beats Downers Grove North to win Illinois 7A football championship

Caravan tie record with 15th state championship

Author:
Mike Clark
Updated:
Nov 29, 2023 11:12 AM EST
Original:
Nov 25, 2023

NORMAL, ILLINOIS – It was barely a month ago that Mount Carmel suffered its only loss of the season, 23-21 to Loyola.

But so much has changed. Just ask Caravan coach Jordan Lynch.

"We are a totally different team since we played Loyola and had that loss," Lynch said after the Caravan's dominant 35-10 win over Downers Grove North for the Class 7A title on Saturday. "We had a tough meeting on (the following) Monday and everyone was held accountable, myself included. ...

"And these teams that saw us in the playoffs, they saw a different Mount Carmel team. They saw a more explosive, dynamic offense and they saw a defense that was hungry and aggressive."

The rest of the state saw it too. Starting the weekend after the Loyola loss, the Caravan outscored five opponents by an average score of 50-15 en route to winning their second straight 7A championship. It's Mount Carmel's 15th title overall, tied with Joliet Catholic for the all-time lead.

Mount Carmel Illinois 6A football November 25 2023 Tim Vizer 24469

Junior quarterback Jack Elliott was 28-for-37 passing for 284 yards and two touchdowns – both to Kevin Gardner. Elliott also ran for 89 yards and a score. Wisconsin commit Darrion Dupree added 140 yards on 19 touches and Maurice Densmore had two short TD carries.

Meanwhile, the Caravan offense stifled the Trojans' dynamic ground game, holding it to 29 yards, while keeping sophomore quarterback Owen Lansu scrambling all game long.

"We just kind of knew from watching film that our D-line's one of our strengths (led by) Tavon Rice," Lynch said, "We knew we could stop the run. ... That's a young sophomore quarterback over there (whose) future is pretty bright. But we know if we can get pressure to a 15-year-old kid we're gonna be in a great position all night."

They were able to get pressure and they were in a good position all night.

It was 14-0 after one quarter on the two Elliott-to-Gardner touchdowns, 21-3 at halftime and 28-3 after three periods.

Elliott had a memorable moment as a sophomore backup last season, completing a first-down pass on a fake punt in a regular-season win over Loyola. But this is different.

"Obviously, winning a state championship is the greatest feeling there is," Elliott said. "But to win as a starter, it's a surreal feeling. And I'm so happy for the seniors that have worked their tail off from the week we came back from our state championship (last year)."

Jake Wander scored a late TD for Downers North (11-3), which played in its first state final since winning the 8A title in 2004.

Two-way standout Noah Battle, who ran for more than 1,100 yards and 17 touchdowns, knew early on this team could be special.

"I would say (from) our first day of summer camp," he said. "We all had to believe in ourselves. We had something to prove. ... Nobody really believed in us to start the season. I saw predictions (for us) were like three wins, two wins. It was just absurd. So we took that, we had a chip on our shoulder. And we went out there and played with all heart. Got us to the biggest stage you can be on in high school."