Mount Carmel's Dramatic Win Sends Shockwaves Through Class 8A Football World
The Ramblers' quest for a fourth consecutive state championship came crashing down in dramatic fashion on Saturday, as top-ranked Mount Carmel edged out Loyola 21-17 in the first round of the playoffs. The Caravan's victory marked their 10th win of the season, capping off an impressive 9-week turnaround that has sent shockwaves throughout the Class 8A football world.
Loyola, despite boasting a talented roster, was unable to overcome Mount Carmel's stifling defense, which had been struggling all season. The Ramblers' normally reliable defense came alive on Saturday, holding the Caravan to just three points over the final six minutes of the game.
It was Marshaun Thornton who ultimately proved to be the difference-maker for Mount Carmel, breaking off a 92-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that sealed the win. The sophomore wide receiver's magic came after weeks of preparation with quarterback Emmett Dowling, and it paid off in a big way.
"We were just off all night, a step away from making something special," said Caravan coach Jordan Lynch. "And [Thornton] delivered. That kid is a sophomore."
For the Ramblers, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow after an impressive playoff run that saw them knock off several top-seeded opponents en route to the first round. Coach Beau Desherow's squad fought hard, but ultimately came up four points short.
"We had a good plan in place," Desherow said. "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 a disappointing end to Loyola's season, which saw them stumble out of the gates with a 4-5 record before making a late-season surge. For Mount Carmel, however, this win is a much-needed confidence booster ahead of a tough road to the Class 8A title.
"It's awesome," said Caravan coach Jordan Lynch. "I love it. We want it tough. We wanted Loyola. If it is easy, it won't feel worth it. The road to state goes through 64th and South Dante."
The road ahead will undoubtedly be challenging for Mount Carmel, but with the likes of Thornton and Dowling leading the charge, there's no reason to think that the Caravan won't make a deep run in the playoffs.
The Ramblers' quest for a fourth consecutive state championship came crashing down in dramatic fashion on Saturday, as top-ranked Mount Carmel edged out Loyola 21-17 in the first round of the playoffs. The Caravan's victory marked their 10th win of the season, capping off an impressive 9-week turnaround that has sent shockwaves throughout the Class 8A football world.
Loyola, despite boasting a talented roster, was unable to overcome Mount Carmel's stifling defense, which had been struggling all season. The Ramblers' normally reliable defense came alive on Saturday, holding the Caravan to just three points over the final six minutes of the game.
It was Marshaun Thornton who ultimately proved to be the difference-maker for Mount Carmel, breaking off a 92-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that sealed the win. The sophomore wide receiver's magic came after weeks of preparation with quarterback Emmett Dowling, and it paid off in a big way.
"We were just off all night, a step away from making something special," said Caravan coach Jordan Lynch. "And [Thornton] delivered. That kid is a sophomore."
For the Ramblers, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow after an impressive playoff run that saw them knock off several top-seeded opponents en route to the first round. Coach Beau Desherow's squad fought hard, but ultimately came up four points short.
"We had a good plan in place," Desherow said. "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 a disappointing end to Loyola's season, which saw them stumble out of the gates with a 4-5 record before making a late-season surge. For Mount Carmel, however, this win is a much-needed confidence booster ahead of a tough road to the Class 8A title.
"It's awesome," said Caravan coach Jordan Lynch. "I love it. We want it tough. We wanted Loyola. If it is easy, it won't feel worth it. The road to state goes through 64th and South Dante."
The road ahead will undoubtedly be challenging for Mount Carmel, but with the likes of Thornton and Dowling leading the charge, there's no reason to think that the Caravan won't make a deep run in the playoffs.
I'm literally shaking right now 
- Mount Carmel just pulled off the craziest comeback win ever! That 92-yard touchdown run by Marshaun Thornton is GOALS 
. The Caravan's defense was on point, holding Loyola to basically nothing in the final six minutes. I mean, that's some next-level stuff 
.
. The kid just delivered when it mattered most, and that's what makes him a superstar in my book 
️.
- they fought hard and executed their game plan, even if they came up short. You can't ask for more than that 
. Bring on the road to state, Mount Carmel - I've got a feeling you're gonna take it all the way 
!
Coach Lynch is gonna have to figure out what went wrong in that game. But for real, Mount Carmel's got the momentum now and they're gonna be tough to beat in the playoffs 
they totally caught me off guard tho marshaun thornton is insane on that 92 yard run lol that defense for loyola looked super weak 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this game... like, how did Loyola get shut down so bad? They were the top team and then they just got annihilated by Mount Carmel's defense 
mount carmel's defense is insane 
they were unstoppable for like 6 mins of the 4th qtr 
that 92 yard run was CRAZY 
i'm still trying to process how loyola let them score on 2nd and goal lol 
and yeah mount carmel has a tough road ahead but they got this squad 
mount carmel is on fire now!! they were having such a tough season but coach lynch must've made some major changes cuz now they're unstoppable 
anyway cant wait to see what's next for these two teams! 
! Think about it, they were top-seed and all, but Mount Carmel's defense came outta nowhere 
And Marshaun Thornton's 92-yard touchdown run? Coincidence? I don't think so 
. The Caravan's got some serious mojo going on right now 
. Mark my words, they're gonna take it all the way to the top 
and mount carmel is already looking to play it tough on their way to state 
marshaun thornton is a GAME CHANGER!!! i mean 92 yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter is INSANE 
and that loss for loyola is super sad but mount carmel is gonna take advantage of it and make a deep run in the playoffs i'm low-key obsessed with this team rn 
coach jordan lynch must've had some magic sauce up his sleeve cuz loyola just couldn't stop them 
that Mount Carmel managed to win like that... I mean, it's not like they were a huge underdog or anything 
. A 92-yard touchdown run? That's just basic football skills 
. And don't even get me started on Loyola's "talented roster"... more like they got out-coached and out-executed 
. I mean, yeah, the plan was there, but sometimes you just gotta roll with it and see what happens 
. And now Mount Carmel gets to bask in the glory of their "confidence booster" 
... meanwhile, Loyola gets to wallow in disappointment 
.
. They'll probably choke under pressure and lose in the next round 
. But hey, a cynic's gotta keep it real