Game Recap: Loyola Academy vs. Mount Carmel

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wilmette, IL</strong> - I noted this as a game between two titans, and this competition stood up to that label. The game started as a battle and stayed as such until the very last possession. I would be thrilled to pay to see this game pan out again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Quarter</strong> - The game got this past Saturday afternoon underway in Wilmette on a beautiful afternoon that saw abnormally high temperatures for an October afternoon. However, it was a wonderful setting that was only fitting for the game to get underway, with the Caravan of Mount Carmel receiving the ball first. The Caravan opened the game with a couple of spectacular runs by junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='148856' first='Darrion' last='Dupree'], which made it seem like the Caravan was going to rip the lid off the game and go for a million rushing yards. However, after a couple of plays, the Loyola defense stood stout, stopped the Caravan at midfield, and forced the punt with 10:17 left in the first quarter. The Rambler's then took over on their first drive of the game and pushed the ball down the field into the Caravan redzone, but would have to settle for a 45-yard field goal by Michael Baker, which would have been good from 55 yards away. After the following kickoff, the Caravan would get the ball and push it downfield behind some more spectacular runs by [player_tooltip player_id='148856' first='Darrion' last='Dupree'], which would lead to a 22-yard strike by senior Mt. Carmel quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='267196' first='Blainey' last='Dowling']. We would be in for a back-and-forth as both defenses would play strong over the next few possessions, but senior Rambler quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='135826' first='Jake' last='Stearney'] would break through after calling his own number with 2:59 left in the first. The first quarter would end with a 10-7 lead by the Loyola Ramblers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Quarter </strong>- The second got underway, and the Ramblers would keep their momentum going and score off of a 12-yard rushing touchdown by senior receiver Quinn Foley. The Caravan would get the ball, and following a critical fourth down conversion in Rambler territory, the Caravan would eventually score themselves off of a strike from senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='267196' first='Blainey' last='Dowling'] to sophomore receiver Danyil TaylorJr. Following this score, the game would be at 17-14 with 8:30 left in the second quarter, where the Ramblers retained the lead. There would be a key blocked kick by the Loyola Ramblers and one more rushing touchdown off junior running back Will Nimesheim, which would send us into the half with a 24-14 score and a Loyola lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>Third Quarter</strong> </strong>- Following the half, the Ramblers of Loyola would receive the ball, and Mount Carmel would show that they had a newfound chip on their shoulder coming out of halftime as they would finally get a quick stop of the Rambler offense. After the defenses stop, the Caravan offense would get the ball in Loyola territory and ultimately score off [player_tooltip player_id='267196' first='Blainey' last='Dowling']'s scrambling abilities. The game would now stand at 24-21, Ramblers holding the lead. The momentum seemed to have swung the Caravan's way as on the pursuing drive; the Mount Carmel defense would come up with a fumble recovery on the Rambler 15-yard line, where the offense would take over and get their first lead of the game off a [player_tooltip player_id='267886' first='Damarion' last='Arrington'] rushing touchdown. 28-24 Caravan lead with 7:57 left in the third. The Caravan would get another rushing touchdown in the third, putting them up 35-24 from junior [player_tooltip player_id='161325' first='Alonzo' last='Manning'] II. However, the Rambler offense would find a response and get a rushing touchdown of their own from Will Nimesheim to round out the third quarter. The game would go into the fourth quarter with a Caravan lead at 35-30 following a missed two-point conversion by the Ramblers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fourth Quarter</strong> - The game's final quarter would prove to be a dogfight as both sides would battle it out until the very end. The Caravan would get a momentum-boosting fourth down conversion due to a successful fake punt attempt. Following this conversion, the Caravan would continue to march down the field in what would cumulate in a receiving touchdown by junior Darrion Gilliam. This would put the game at 42-30 with 7:37 left in the fourth. The rest of the game would be a back-and-forth battle between both squads, which would see one more touchdown coming from the Loyola Ramblers, which would put the Ramblers within striking distance at 42-37; however, the Ramblers would not be able to find an ultimate answer, and the Caravan would get the big win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->