The contentious Mt. Carmel and Simeon rivalry has produced some sublime, transcendent moments over the years. Saturday’s second-round Class 5A state playoff game wasn’t one of them.
Running its speed option to perfection and capitalizing on Simeon’s repeated special-teams breakdowns, Mt. Carmel assumed a commanding 38-0 halftime advantage in destroying the Blue Machine 45-6 at Eckersall Stadium.
The defending class 5A champion Caravan (10-1) will play host to top-seeded Rock Island (11-0) next week. Simeon (8-3) will attempt to qualify for the Prep Bowl by returning to the Public League playoffs Wednesday.
The Caravan devastated Simeon with its off-tackle running as well as its option, orchestrated by quarterback Andrew Potocki and running backs Jim Smith and Ted Bolden.
On the third play from scrimmage, Smith (nine carries, 102 yards, two touchdowns) took a pitch 53 yards to the Simeon 4. A clipping penalty at the end of the run brought the ball back to the Blue Machine 19-yard line, and Simeon appeared to hold. But a roughing-the-kicker penalty gave Mt. Carmel life, and Smith scored from the 2 two plays later.
A 45-yard run by Smith set up Matt Piotrowicz’s 27-yard field goal, improving the Caravan lead to 10-0 when a succession of Simeon punting errors turned the game into a rout. During a 3-minute stretch, the Blue Machine failed to handle the snap on three successive punt attempts, turning the ball over on its own 1-, 6- and 15-yard line. Bolden scored twice on short runs and Smith added his second score on a 1-yard plunge to give the Caravan a 31-0 lead.
Simeon’s only significant first-half drive ended when Caravan outside linebacker Craig Shomody intercepted Dante Culbreath and returned the ball 52 yards. One play later, Potocki connected with Jason Mason on an 18-yard pass for Mt. Carmel’s final score of the half.
The Mt. Carmel defense held Simeon to just 62 rushing yards and intercepted Culbreath three times.
“Not that Simeon wasn’t prepared, but our kids were totally focused,” Mt. Carmel coach Frank Lenti said. “We talked with them all week about coming out and being ready to play.”
