Mount Carmel's Miracle Play Sinks Loyola's State Championship Hopes
A stunning 92-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Emmett Dowling to wide receiver Marshaun Thornton with just six minutes left sealed the deal for top-ranked Mount Carmel, as they edged out fourth-seeded Loyola 21-17 in a thrilling Class 8A first-round playoff game.
Loyola's bid for a four-peat was dealt a crushing blow by the Caravan's dynamic playmaker. After a lackluster start from both teams, Dowling found Thornton with a beautifully placed pass over the middle, breaking through defenders to score and put his team ahead 21-17 - a lead that ultimately proved insurmountable for the Ramblers.
Thornton, a sophomore sensation, delivered on the play that will be remembered for years to come. "We were just off all night, a step away from making something special," said Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch of his team's performance. "And [Thornton] delivered. That kid is a sophomore."
The Ramblers' defense, which had been struggling in recent weeks, finally found its footing against the Caravan. However, Dowling and Thornton were unstoppable, with the quarterback connecting on several key plays to break through Loyola's usually formidable defense.
Loyola coach Beau Desherow was proud of his team's effort, despite ultimately falling short. "I couldn't be more proud," he said. "We had a good plan in place. We talked about having that warrior's mentality. The guys fought to the very end. They executed our game plan. We just came up four points short."
The loss marks the end of Loyola's bid for a fourth consecutive state championship, while Mount Carmel looks set for a deep run in the playoffs despite being the top seed. Coach Jordan Lynch was characteristically optimistic about his team's prospects. "It's awesome," he said. "I love it. We want it tough. We wanted Loyola. If it is easy, it won't feel worth it."
A stunning 92-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Emmett Dowling to wide receiver Marshaun Thornton with just six minutes left sealed the deal for top-ranked Mount Carmel, as they edged out fourth-seeded Loyola 21-17 in a thrilling Class 8A first-round playoff game.
Loyola's bid for a four-peat was dealt a crushing blow by the Caravan's dynamic playmaker. After a lackluster start from both teams, Dowling found Thornton with a beautifully placed pass over the middle, breaking through defenders to score and put his team ahead 21-17 - a lead that ultimately proved insurmountable for the Ramblers.
Thornton, a sophomore sensation, delivered on the play that will be remembered for years to come. "We were just off all night, a step away from making something special," said Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch of his team's performance. "And [Thornton] delivered. That kid is a sophomore."
The Ramblers' defense, which had been struggling in recent weeks, finally found its footing against the Caravan. However, Dowling and Thornton were unstoppable, with the quarterback connecting on several key plays to break through Loyola's usually formidable defense.
Loyola coach Beau Desherow was proud of his team's effort, despite ultimately falling short. "I couldn't be more proud," he said. "We had a good plan in place. We talked about having that warrior's mentality. The guys fought to the very end. They executed our game plan. We just came up four points short."
The loss marks the end of Loyola's bid for a fourth consecutive state championship, while Mount Carmel looks set for a deep run in the playoffs despite being the top seed. Coach Jordan Lynch was characteristically optimistic about his team's prospects. "It's awesome," he said. "I love it. We want it tough. We wanted Loyola. If it is easy, it won't feel worth it."
Dowling to Thornton was insane 
i mean mount carmel got robbed in the 4th quarter tho 
they had like a minute left and dowling's team was down by 3 points but somehow they still managed to pull it off 
still, loyola fought hard and gave it their all 
coach desherow should be super proud of his team 
Mount Carmel's win over Loyola was crazy! I was on the edge of my seat the whole game, and when that 92-yard touchdown pass went down, I almost lost my mind 
. Marshaun Thornton is a total phenom, and Emmett Dowling's a genius quarterback... no kidding 
. I love how Loyola's coach, Beau Desherow, was proud of his team's effort, even though they came up short. It shows he knows how to keep it real 
. And what with Mount Carmel being the top seed now... it's gonna be tough for them to make it through the playoffs without any major hiccups 
. Still, I gotta give credit where credit is due – Loyola put up an epic fight, and they'll be back stronger next year 
!
. Do you think Loyola will make another run at that state championship? 
I'm not surprised though, I've been saying Mount Carmel was gonna crush it this season. Their coach Jordan Lynch is like a mastermind on the field! 
And Loyola's defense was just no match for Dowling and Thornton's combo attack 
. Still, props to Loyola for fighting till the end - that warrior mentality is inspiring 
Bring it on! 
. I'm so hyped for Mount Carmel now, they're gonna take over the playoffs 
. I've got to say, Dowling is like the new MVP candidate 
... that play will be remembered for ages, and Loyola's defense was just UNSTOPPABLE 
. It’s crazy how one play can change the whole game like that 
. Mount Carmel is definitely a team to watch out for now 
.
the kid is a sophomore sensation and he just delivered on the biggest stage 
coach jordan Lynch is lowkey my hero rn 
. Something fishy's goin' on here...