Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports Sun, November 15, 2026 at 2:04 AM UTC · 5 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FRANKFORT, IL. − Mount Carmel football (Chicago, IL) has heard the doubts all season.
The Caravan entered the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) postseason as the No. 8 seed in the 8A playoffs, despite being the four-time defending state champions and underdogs in a rare occurrence.
That meant Mount Carmel had to go on the road against No. 1 Lincoln-Way East in the quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 14 — its biggest test to continue the quest for a fifth straight state title.
Solon’s Maddox Kelley (4) celebrates with Kaden Hoeper (5) and Sawyer Hancox (28) after scoring against the Fairfield Trojans Oct. 30, 2026 during an Iowa high school football playoff game in Solon, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen) Great Plains Lutheran's Jeremiah Martens (25) chase after Lead-Deadwood's Enzo Stone during their first-round Class 9AA high school football playoff game on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, at Allen Mitchell Field in Watertown. Great Plains Lutheran notched the first playoff victory in the history of the program, winning 22-7, and also broke the school record for wins in a season (7-2). (Roger Merriam/Public Opinion) North Hardin High School's Konnor Meredith (6) warms up at Bell Field during the first round of KHSAA football playoffs Friday, November 6, 2026. (Matt Stone/The Courier Journal) Scarsdale’s Shane Kelly (2) celebrates with teammate Lars Burrows (8) after catching a first half touchdown pass against North Rockland during playoff football action at Scarsdale High School Oct. 30, 2026. Scarsdale won the game 15-13. (Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News) Scarsdale and North Rockland battled in playoff football action at Scarsdale High School Oct. 30, 2026. Scarsdale won the game 15-13. (Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News) Copley Players take to the field to at the start of the Division III playoff football game against Padua Franciscan at Copley High School, Ohio on October 30, 2026. (Akron Beacon Journal) Copley’s Dane Wininger (17) fires off a pass under pressrure during the Division III playoff football game at Copley High School, Ohio on October 30, 2026. (Akron Beacon Journal) The Solon student section dressed in their Halloween costumes to cheer on the football team Oct. 30, 2026 during an Iowa high school playoff game against the Fairfield Trojans in Solon, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen) Copley band members in costume play the pregame show at the Division III playoff football game between Copley and Padua Franciscan at Copley High School, Ohio on October 30, 2026. (Akron Beacon Journal) The Brighton student section kept the cheers coming throughout the game during their Section V Class A1 football sectional semifinal playoff game Friday October 30, 2026 at Brighton High School. (Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) Green Bay Notre Dame's Michael Witczak (16) against Menasha High School during their Division 2 playoff football game Friday, October 30, 2026, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Notre Dame defeated Menasha 45-13. Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent (Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent) Revere High School quarterback Carter Hajdu releases a pass as a Parma Heights Holy Name defender pressures him during the second half of an OHSAA Division III playoff football game on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Richfield, Ohio. (Nicholas McLaughlin, Special for the Akron Beacon Journal) Green Bay Notre Dame's Jackson Bouthilet (12) against Menasha High School during their Division 2 playoff football game Friday, October 30, 2026, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Notre Dame defeated Menasha 45-13. Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent (Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent) Brighton running back Justin Medina steps through the Victor tackle attempt by Carter Abbate during a 70-yard run down to the two yard line during their Section V Class A1 football sectional semifinal playoff game Friday October 30, 2026 at Brighton High School. (Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) Green Bay Notre Dame's Quinn Blom (3) against Menasha High School's Shamir Senyange (1) during their Division 2 playoff football game Friday, October 30, 2026, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Notre Dame defeated Menasha 45-13. Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent (Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent) Farmington's Bradyn Brewer celebrates a touchdown against Pleasant Plains in the second half of their Class 2A high school football playoffs opener Saturday i Farmington. The Farmers defeated the Cardinals 22-16. (MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR) The Metamora Redbirds take the field against the Alton Marquette Explorers in the opening round of the Class 4A high school football playoffs Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 in Metamora. The Redbirds defeated the Explorers 56-7. (MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR) 1 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Solon’s Maddox Kelley (4) celebrates with Kaden Hoeper (5) and Sawyer Hancox (28) after scoring against the Fairfield Trojans Oct. 30, 2026 during an Iowa high school football playoff game in Solon, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen) 1 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Solon’s Maddox Kelley (4) celebrates with Kaden Hoeper (5) and Sawyer Hancox (28) after scoring against the Fairfield Trojans Oct. 30, 2026 during an Iowa high school football playoff game in Solon, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen) 2 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Great Plains Lutheran's Jeremiah Martens (25) chase after Lead-Deadwood's Enzo Stone during their first-round Class 9AA high school football playoff game on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, at Allen Mitchell Field in Watertown. Great Plains Lutheran notched the first playoff victory in the history of the program, winning 22-7, and also broke the school record for wins in a season (7-2). (Roger Merriam/Public Opinion) 3 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country North Hardin High School's Konnor Meredith (6) warms up at Bell Field during the first round of KHSAA football playoffs Friday, November 6, 2026. (Matt Stone/The Courier Journal) 4 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Scarsdale’s Shane Kelly (2) celebrates with teammate Lars Burrows (8) after catching a first half touchdown pass against North Rockland during playoff football action at Scarsdale High School Oct. 30, 2026. Scarsdale won the game 15-13. (Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News) 5 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Scarsdale and North Rockland battled in playoff football action at Scarsdale High School Oct. 30, 2026. Scarsdale won the game 15-13. (Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News) 6 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Copley Players take to the field to at the start of the Division III playoff football game against Padua Franciscan at Copley High School, Ohio on October 30, 2026. (Akron Beacon Journal) 7 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Copley’s Dane Wininger (17) fires off a pass under pressrure during the Division III playoff football game at Copley High School, Ohio on October 30, 2026. (Akron Beacon Journal) 8 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country The Solon student section dressed in their Halloween costumes to cheer on the football team Oct. 30, 2026 during an Iowa high school playoff game against the Fairfield Trojans in Solon, Iowa. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen) 9 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Copley band members in costume play the pregame show at the Division III playoff football game between Copley and Padua Franciscan at Copley High School, Ohio on October 30, 2026. (Akron Beacon Journal) 10 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country The Brighton student section kept the cheers coming throughout the game during their Section V Class A1 football sectional semifinal playoff game Friday October 30, 2026 at Brighton High School. (Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) 11 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Green Bay Notre Dame's Michael Witczak (16) against Menasha High School during their Division 2 playoff football game Friday, October 30, 2026, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Notre Dame defeated Menasha 45-13. Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent (Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent) 12 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Revere High School quarterback Carter Hajdu releases a pass as a Parma Heights Holy Name defender pressures him during the second half of an OHSAA Division III playoff football game on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Richfield, Ohio. (Nicholas McLaughlin, Special for the Akron Beacon Journal) 13 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Green Bay Notre Dame's Jackson Bouthilet (12) against Menasha High School during their Division 2 playoff football game Friday, October 30, 2026, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Notre Dame defeated Menasha 45-13. Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent (Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent) 14 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Brighton running back Justin Medina steps through the Victor tackle attempt by Carter Abbate during a 70-yard run down to the two yard line during their Section V Class A1 football sectional semifinal playoff game Friday October 30, 2026 at Brighton High School. (Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) 15 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Green Bay Notre Dame's Quinn Blom (3) against Menasha High School's Shamir Senyange (1) during their Division 2 playoff football game Friday, October 30, 2026, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Notre Dame defeated Menasha 45-13. Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent (Wm. Glasheen/Appleton Post-Crescent) 16 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country Farmington's Bradyn Brewer celebrates a touchdown against Pleasant Plains in the second half of their Class 2A high school football playoffs opener Saturday i Farmington. The Farmers defeated the Cardinals 22-16. (MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR) 17 / 17 High school football playoffs are here: Best photos from across the country The Metamora Redbirds take the field against the Alton Marquette Explorers in the opening round of the Class 4A high school football playoffs Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 in Metamora. The Redbirds defeated the Explorers 56-7. (MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR) In the first half, the Caravan did themselves no favors, as the team trailed 10-7 at halftime due to penalties and self-inflicted wounds.
However, Mount Carmel was able to overcome trailing the majority of the game for a 21-16 "upset" win over the Griffins to advance to the semifinals.
"It's super big," Mount Carmel senior middle linebacker and Notre Dame commit Roman Igwebuike said of the victory. "We beat them last year, but we still had a chip on our shoulder. I feel like we've been doubted too much this year and I feel like everybody knows what we're capable of. They just keep doubting our program."
While the Caravan struck first in the opening quarter when quarterback Brady Cloherty hit tight end Ty Kennedy for a touchdown, despite being without starting quarterback Evan LeFevour and running back Jayden Cawthon, the Griffins took a 10-7 lead into halftime.
They did that by taking away the deep shots Mount Carmel — which came into the game averaging 43.6 points per game — was accustomed to making.
"They were playing back, so we just took a lot of the short stuff," senior wide receiver Quentin Burrell said. "It was kind of frustrating, but we had to take what they gave us."
Mount Carmel trailed for the majority of the game, but because of the past success, the group remained calm.
"To be honest, there was no anxiety or nerves," senior defensive back Tavares Harrington said. "We've been in situations. We've been down 30 in Week 2. So we've experienced everything. I feel like we've come back on people; we've had people come back on us. So we just went into the locker room at halftime; we told the team to stay locked in and bring that energy. We felt we left a lot of plays out there in the first half."
It was not until the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter that Mount Carmel had a sustained drive.
Cloherty and the offense converted a pair of third downs and a fourth down to set up a jet sweep touchdown by Duran Sims to give them the lead with 11:50 left in the third quarter.
Mount Carmel took a 21-10 lead and control of the game on a 27-yard touchdown strike from Cloherty to Michigan commit Burrell a couple of drives later. That touchdown was set up by an interception.
"A game can swing and you can have runs," Burrell said. "The defense getting a turnover, that pick, gave us a little more momentum."
Cloherty was 31 of 43 for 305 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while Burrell had 11 grabs for 109 yards, and junior Marshaun Thornton had 12 catches for 124 yards.
Junior Tyler Spychalski — who filled in for starter LeFevour at quarterback — finished 8 of 19 passing for 94 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The offensive struggles were something the team anticipated, as Lincoln-Way East entered the game allowing just 8.5 points per game this season and a grand total of 94 points allowed all season.
"I told the defense yesterday before pregame and the team meeting that this is going to come down to us one way or another," Igwebuike said. "We don't know when it's going to be, but it's going to come down to the defense. And we were ready for it."
After a historic undefeated 14-0 season in 2025, the 2026 season has been an interesting one for the Caravan. They opened the season with a rare 42-23 loss to East St. Louis, despite holding a nine-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Caravan then needed a 30-point comeback to upend St. Joseph Regional on Aug. 28 to avoid starting the season 0-2.
A 35-24 loss to Brother Rice on Sept. 24 was the turning point of the season, with the loss dropping them to 4-2 on the season.
"We have to pick it up," Harrington said of the message the team was delivered following the loss to Brother Rice. "I feel in that game ... we were out there giving bad effort on defense. We were lollygagging around. But we came out the next week and ever since, we've put out the message we have to hustle and we have to be the aggressor on defense."
Harrington announced a flip from Michigan to Ole Miss following the game.
Mount Carmel (10-2) will face the winner of Bolingbrook vs. Oswego in the semifinals next weekend.
Igwebuike joked that he was rooting for Bolingbrook, as it would mean one last home game for the Caravan before he graduates early and heads to South Bend.
But if you ask anyone on Mount Carmel, they prefer another game with "adversity" to another easy blowout win. That's not shocking for this Caravan team this season.
"I love close games," Burrell said. "Close games are when you see what you are made of. When you win by a lot, it's not really fun. Adversity, even though it's adversity, is fun. It's fun to take your licks and give some licks."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mount Carmel football (IL) heard the doubts. Its upset of the No. 1 seed answered them
Source: Sports
