What’s wrong with Mount Carmel? The Caravan entered the season with a load of hype based on their 19 future college players. But after losing to Brother Rice in Week 6, they are 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 and outhustled. It sucks. Losing sucks, but we will be fine.’’
Caravan quarterback Brady Cloherty passed for 245 yards, and Nathan Samuels ran for 92 yards against the Crusaders. Mount Carmel moved the ball but fell short on key plays.
Lynch’s offenses generally score more than the 24 points the Caravan did against Brother Rice. Still, Mount Carmel’s 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.’’
Brother Rice’s game plan
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, most important, 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 [in] his kids because he has tremendous players.’’
Older and bigger
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 because of COVID and not any athletic decisions. According to his father, Greg, Holcomb repeated a grade in elementary school after COVID hit and his parents weren’t happy with an e-learning program.
‘‘I was always athletic, but I wasn’t very big,’’ 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, whether it was being a waterboy or whatever,’’ Holcomb said. ‘‘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.’’
Super 25 updates
Two undefeated teams made major moves in the rankings and merit 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 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 victory against Batavia rippled through the rankings and moved Bolingbrook, Oswego and Geneva up significantly, based on head-to-head results.
Prospect has beaten every team on its schedule, but only Fremd has a winning record. The Knights’ six opponents are a combined 14-22.
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.
Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 7
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) 13
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.