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Loyola Drops First Regular Season Game Since 2019


Loyola Academy went nearly a full three years between regular season losses, but the Ramblers will look to restart the next win streak in 2023 after Mount Carmel beat Loyola 42-37 in Wilmette Saturday, Oct. 22.

Before the loss to Mount Carmel, Loyola’s regular season win streak was at 23 games dating back to the 2020-21 season. The last loss in the regular season before Saturday was Oct. 26, 2019 against Marist. Loyola beat Mount Carmel exactly one year to the day in the 2021 regular season finale, 21-19. 

It should be no surprise it was a battle start to finish between the No. 1 ranked team in Class 8A (Loyola Academy) and No. 1 team in 7A (Mount Carmel) in front of an absolutely packed crowd at Hoerster Field. 

It was a sloppy game by Mount Carmel, drawing 16 flags compared to 4 for Loyola, but the Ramblers were unable to fully capitalize on the Caravan mistakes.

Loyola was able to get on the scoreboard first at 8:43 remaining in the opening quarter with a 45-yard field goal by Michael Baker on their first drive of the game after the defense forced a turnover on downs. 

Mount Carmel responded back quickly after a 49-yard run by junior Darrion Dupree, a 4-star recruit by Rivals.com, moved the ball to the Loyola 22-yard-line. Mount Carmel QB Blainey Dowling (16-of-28 passing, 175 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT; 4 carries, 29 yards, 1 TD) hit Dennis Furlong (4 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD) for a 22-yard TD to give the Caravan a 7-3 lead.

Mount Carmel QB Blainey Dowling (7) gets a pass off before Loyola’s Ethan Hogg (58) can block it.

Loyola scored the next two touchdowns to grab a 17-7 lead with 11:51 left in the second quarter. They scored on a 24-yard run by QB Jake Stearney (13-of-31 passing, 179 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT; 8 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD) and a 12-yard toss reverse run by Quinn Foley.

Loyola QB Jake Stearney gets ready to sling a pass.

Loyola’s Quinn Foley (3) runs towards an opening in the end zone.

The Caravan kept themselves in the game with a 13-yard TD pass from Dowling to Danyil Taylor Jr. after a 3 minute, 15 second drive that spanned nine plays. After forcing a quick punt by Loyola, Mount Carmel marched into the red zone and had a chance to tie the game, but a 35-yard field goal attempt by Louie Chappetto was blocked.

Loyola responded to the great defensive play with a 12-play drive (not counting 4 penalties on the Caravan), culminating with a 3-yard TD run by Will Nimesheim (19 carries, 70 yards, 2 TD) with 29.5 seconds left in the first half to put the Ramblers up 24-14.

Loyola’s Jack Fitzgerald (87) can only watch as his teammate Will Nimesheim (21) dives after being clipped by Mount Carmel’s Damarion Arrington (1).

With Loyola starting the third with the ball, fans and players were excited to get the second half started. After a 3-and-out and a bad punt, Mount Carmel started with the ball at the Loyola 23. It took just 3 plays for Mount Carmel to score on a 14-yard TD run by Dowling.

Loyola then started the next drive at their own 20, but Stearney was hit as he went to throw, fumbling the ball, where Mount Carmel’s Laquan Battle landed on it for a fumble recovery at the 15.  

Loyola’s Johnny McGuire (33) and Ethan Hogg (58) try to bring down Mount Carmel’s Darrion Dupree (6).

The Caravan ran a couple plays, capped by a 7-yard run by Damarion Arrington 21 seconds after the previous score to turn a 24-14 deficit into a 28-24 lead with 7:57 left in the third.

Mount Carmel scored a third straight touchdown in the third on a 18-yard run by Alonzo Manning II. 

A tick under a minute later, Loyola scored on a 3-yard run by Nimesheim to cut the deficit to 35-30 with 45.6 seconds left in the third. The 2-point conversion run attempt was stuffed at the line. 

Loyola’s Jimmy McGovern (78) reacts to what he thinks is a fumble recovery, but the officials said the ball remained with Mount Carmel.

In the fourth, Mount Carmel pulled ahead 42-30 following a 12-yard TD pass from Dowling to Darrion Gilliam with 7:37 to play.

Stearney led Loyola’s comeback attempt, hitting Spencer Leadbetter (5 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD) for a 23-yard touchdown pass with 5:40 left to cut the deficit to 42-37. 

Stearney, a normally reliable passer, was 1-of-6 in the air on the final drive when Loyola got the ball with 2:24 to play. He wasn’t on the same page as his receiver on his final throw, forcing a turnover on downs to end the game.

Mount Carmel’s Laquan Battle (99) challenges Loyola QB Jake Stearney (15) on a pass attempt.

Mount Carmel is stacked with future college players, including Danny Novickas (Ohio) and Asher Tomaszewski (Kansas State). Before Loyola scored 37 points on them, Mount Carmel only allowed 48 points in the opening eight games of the season.

Loyola QB Jake Stearney (15) points out a defender on a play before the snap.

“You learn more from losing than you do from winning,” Loyola head coach John Holecek said. “You’ll watch film (later) and go, ‘gosh, why did I do that, all over the place.’ From physical stuff, to recognition to uncanny things. That’s a heck of a team (MC) that made a lot of plays. The third quarter was a disaster for us. That was the big shift to me. But man, you are still really close against a really good team. Offensively, their (Caravan) skills — I don’t think I have ever seen anything like it.”

Loyola dropped to the No. 6 seed in the IHSA playoffs for Class 8A, but they remain as one of the favorites despite the loss. 

Loyola opens the playoffs at home at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 against Plainfield South.

Loyola’s Braden Carlin (56) tries to protect QB Jake Stearney (15) from Mount Carmel’s Asher Tomaszewski (77).

Scoring Drives:

First Quarter:

8:43 – Loyola Academy 45-yard field goal by Michael Baker; Loyola 3, Mount Carmel 0

6:34 – Mount Carmel 22-yard TD pass from Blainey Dowling to Dennis Furlong, PAT kick good by Louie Chappetto; Mount Carmel 7, Loyola 3

2:59 – Loyola Academy 24-yard TD run by Jake Stearney, PAT kick good by Michael Baker; Loyola 10, Mount Carmel 7

Second Quarter:

11:51 – Loyola Academy 12-yard TD run by Quinn Foley, PAT kick good by Michael Baker; Loyola 17, Mount Carmel 7

8:30 – Mount Carmel 13-yard TD pass from Blainey Dowling to Danyil Taylor Jr., PAT kick good by Louie Chappetto; Loyola 17, Mount Carmel 14

0:29.5 – Loyola Academy 3-yard TD run by Will Nimesheim, PAT kick good by Michael Baker; Loyola 24, Mount Carmel 14

Third Quarter:

8:18 – Mount Carmel 14-yard td run by Blainey Dowling, PAT kick good by Louie Chappetto; Loyola 24, Mount Carmel 21

7:57 – Mount Carmel 7-yard TD run by Damarion Arrington, PAT kick good by Louie Chappetto; Mount Carmel 28, Loyola 24

1:43 – Mount Carmel 18-yard TD run by Alonzo Manning II, PAT kick good by Louie Chappetto; Mount Carmel 35, Loyola 24

0:45.6 – Loyola Academy 3-yard TD run by Will Nimesheim, 2-point conversion fail (21 run); Mount Carmel 35, Loyola 30

Fourth Quarter:

7:37 – Mount Carmel 12-yard TD pass from Blainey Dowling to Darrion Gilliam, PAT kick good by Louie Chappetto; Mount Carmel 42, Loyola 30

5:40 – Loyola Academy 23-yard TD pass from Jake Stearney to Spencer Leadbetter, PAT kick good by Michael Baker; Mount Carmel 42, Loyola 37

Mount Carmel’s Matt King (22) reacts from the sideline as Loyola’s Ty Ottoson (23) breaks up a pass play.

Last 10 Meetings Between Loyola Academy and Mount Carmel

2022: Mount Carmel 42, Loyola Academy 37

2021: Loyola 21, Mount Carmel 19

2020-21: Loyola 35, Mount Carmel 17 

2019: Mount Carmel 17, Loyola 14

2018: Mount Carmel 17, Loyola 12

2017: Loyola 31, Mount Carmel 7

2016: Loyola 35, Mount Carmel 28

2015: Loyola 49, Mount Carmel 21

2014: Mount Carmel 10, Loyola 7

2013: Loyola 24, Mount Carmel 17

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