Phillips’ football ascension in the last few years has had a direct effect on Mount Carmel.
The teams never had played before Saturday, but they regularly are battling for players. Several have left the Caravan for the Wildcats since Phillips started winning state titles.
‘‘People call it the Super Bowl of the South Side and all that,’’ Mount Carmel junior Kenenna Odeluga said. ‘‘It was fun. We saw some guys that used to go to Mount Carmel, so it is fun beating down on them.’’
The Caravan, the traditional powerhouse, beat the upstart Wildcats 24-8 in a Class 7A quarterfinal. The result secured a perfect debut season for Mount Carmel at its new on-campus stadium and further proved the controversial ousting of legendary coach Frank Lenti in favor of Jordan Lynch two years ago was the right decision to move Caravan football forward.
Lynch’s younger brother Justin is Mount Carmel’s star quarterback. His numbers against Phillips weren’t flashy, but his confidence and decision-making were key to handling the Wildcats’ ultra-aggressive, athletic defense.
‘‘[Justin Lynch] is on another level right now,’’ Odeluga said. ‘‘If the play breaks down, he knows how to make a play. He does the right reads, has good arm, good legs. He’s the perfect package.’’
Justin Lynch again. 5-yd TD run and Mount Carmel leads Phillips 17-2, 2Q. pic.twitter.com/pN45Wj6m66
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) November 16, 2019
Lynch was 9-for-18 for 134 yards and had 12 carries for 35 yards and two touchdowns.
Phillips scored first, tackling Odeluga for a safety. But the rest of the first half belonged to the Caravan (12-0).
Lynch scored on a one-yard run late in the first quarter, Julian Patino made a 36-yard field goal early in the second and Lynch scored on a five-yard run just before halftime.
The Wildcats (9-2) made a quarterback change in the second half, going with Terryon Thrower in place of starter Antonio Brown.
‘‘We knew in the second half we would have to come out and throw it more,’’ Phillips coach Troy McAllister said. ‘‘We just weren’t able to do what we wanted to do. Their defense played a great game. Both defenses did, and theirs won the ballgame for them.’’
Brown was 4-for-8 for 100 yards. Thrower was 7-for-20 for 120 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Justin Lynch just did this. MC on the move pic.twitter.com/W6k005tUW0
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelsobrien) November 16, 2019
Mount Carmel senior Lance Swain grabbed the interception and returned it nine yards for a victory-sealing touchdown.
‘‘I couldn’t believe it,’’ Odeluga said. ‘‘That’s his first interception, and for it to be a touchdown, that put the icing on the cake.’’
Odeluga, a running back/linebacker, had 21 carries for 120 yards. The Caravan’s offense didn’t score in the second half, but Odeluga’s consistent runs kept the chains and the clock moving.
‘‘[Phillips’ defense] has big bodies, so they will get tired,’’ Odeluga said. ‘‘We just had to keep going, keep doing what the coaches tell us and grind it out.’’
This was the first season in Class 7A for the Wildcats, who have won two state titles since Mount Carmel last won one in 2014. There are only 575 students at Phillips, and it naturally would play in Class 4A.
‘‘We don’t have moral victories in our program anymore,’’ McAllister said. ‘‘It’s great that we stepped up and all that, but a loss is a loss. There is no moral victory.’’
The Caravan will travel to Willowbrook for the semifinals next weekend.
