Mount Carmel’s season-opening loss to Hun of Princeton, N.J. was about as positive as possible for a defeat.
Several new players stood out, particularly senior running back Danyil Taylor Jr. and sophomore wide receiver Burrell, who finished with five receptions for 147 yards and a 30-yard TD in the 42-38 loss.
The Caravan had a chance to win on the final drive. Mount Carmel quarterback Jack Elliott, who had an excellent game overall, threw an interception to end the threat.
Elliott was 14 of 27 passing for 252 yards. He threw two long touchdown passes and three interceptions. The Vanderbilt recruit had 11 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown.
It’s just the third loss at home for Mount Carmel under Jordan Lynch. The back-and-forth, hard-fought game was a memorable one for the Raiders.
“You saw two teams that didn’t quit at all,” Hun coach Todd Smith said. “That was one of the best football games we’ve ever been in.”
Hun is a prep school and had several fifth-year players, but everyone but its quarterback played both offense and defense.
“There’s a lot of young guys out there for us but you better grow up real quick,” Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch said. That’s why I’m here. The coaches are gonna get them where they need to be.”
DuKane debuts strong
The DuKane has been one of the state’s premier conferences for the past few seasons. Batavia is a perennial power. Wheaton North won the Class 7A state title in 2021 and St. Charles North reached the 7A title game in 2018.
It’s traditionally one of the deepest conferences, with 4-5 teams qualifying for the playoffs each season.
There wasn’t much buzz around the DuKane heading into this season, however. Batavia was believed to be in a rebuilding year, Geneva lost a lot to graduation and Wheaton North was largely unknown. The Bulldogs and Wheaton-Warrenville South cracked the preseason 25 and St. Charles North, with experienced quarterback St. Charles North, was expected to reach the rankings at some point.
It’s only been one week and the DuKane has already exceeded expectations. The conference finished 7-1. Batavia picked up a major win against Glenbard West. St Charles North knocked off preseason ranked Palatine and Wheaton North took down Providence.
Scouting the south suburbs
It’s been a rough few years for high school football in the south suburbs. The sport naturally favors wealthy districts. Former powers Thornton and Hillcrest have fallen on hard times.
Lincoln-Way East, Joliet Catholic and Kankakee were the only south suburban teams in the preseason rankings. The majority of power is firmly north and west of Chicago.
Bolingbrook and Homewood-Flossmoor, two previously dependable programs, have dipped in form recently under new coaches. They met in Week 1 and the Vikings dominated 56-6.
There are signs that fourth-year coach Terrell Alexander has things moving in the right direction at Homewood-Flossmoor. The Vikings were 4-5 his first season but qualified for the playoffs with a 6-4 record in 2022 and a 5-5 slate last year.
Quarterback RJ McDonald threw for 220 yards and 5 TDs against the Raiders. Michael Terrell and Joaquin Jordan each scored rushing TDs.
Homewood-Flossmoor found itself in a tough conference after the Southwest Suburban/DuPage Valley merger. The Vikings have conference games against Lockport, Lincoln-Way East, Naperville North and Neuqua Valley.
They face Marian Catholic on the road in Week 2 and have a tough non-conference game at Sandburg in Week 3. Strength of schedule and one conference win could be enough to get the Vikings back into the playoffs this season.
If any south suburban public school has a chance at football success it is H-F, so the Vikings should be closely monitored.