Mount Carmel always has been known for having a run-first offense.
However, with multiple game-breaking receivers and a strong-armed, accurate quarterback at the helm this season, the Caravan might be a little more willing to air things out.
That said, no one from Mount Carmel, the No. 2 team in the Daily Southtown Preseason Top 10, was willing to say for certain that it will come to pass.
“I’m hoping so,” Mount Carmel quarterback Anthony Thompson, a Northern Illinois recruit, said with a laugh. “We have receivers who can run routes all over the field. If everyone plays together, we can have an explosive offense.”
Thompson (6-foot-1, 199 pounds) has a bevy of sure-handed receivers at his disposal. If opponents load up against the Caravan’s vaunted read-option running attack, the passing attack could be decisive.
If and when the Caravan look to air it out, senior receivers Steve Wirtel (6-4, 201), Avery Saffold (5-7, 174), Tyler Egan (6-4, 197), and Jake Lenti (5-9, 170), who is the nephew of head coach Frank Lenti, along with sophomore Aristotle Nakos (6-0, 152) have the ability to reach the end zone.
And Thompson (919 yards passing, 354 rushing last season), a year older and stronger, has enough giddy-up on his throws to convert the home-run ball.
“Anthony has worked really hard,” Frank Lenti said. “During the offseason, no one outworked Anthony. He’s looked really good.”
Of course, Mount Carmel has the horses to move the chains by ground attack. Thompson will receive plenty of chances to run with the ball. So to will seniors A.J. Reis (5-9, 188) and A.J. Lewis (5-9, 181), who return after excellent junior seasons. Reis ran for 1.071 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014, while Lewis added 896 yards and 11 scores. The duo will be given a breather at times by sophomore Alek Thomas (5-9, 152).
The line will be a strength with seniors Matt McKay (5-11, 263), Chris Accetto (6-5, 268), Matt Reyes (5-10, 285) and Jack Scanlan (6-1, 243), junior Myles Johnson (5-11, 243) and sophomore Verdis Brown (6-3, 284) all competing for playing time. Senior tight end Demetrius Lewis (6-3, 211) will be a big contributor.
Senior linebacker Andrew Guerra (5-11, 212) has practiced against the Caravan offense every day and likes what he has seen.
“The offense is very explosive,” Guerra said. “There’s a lot of skill at wide receiver and weapons all over the field.”
The Caravan defense has the makings of a dominant unit.
Seniors Terrell Greer (5-9, 279) and Kevin Kurasz (6-3, 213) are back on the line, Mark Mudd (5-10, 189), Pat O’Shea (6-1, 200), Guerra and Wirtel return at linebacker, and Saffold and sophomore Houston Griffith (6-0, 177) anchor the secondary.
Wirtel also will handle long-snapper duties, which means he’ll likely never leave the field.
“I like that,” Wirtel saidt. “It’s the game I love. I’ll do whatever helps the team win.”
One thing the 12-time state champion Caravan hope to do is win early and often. Last season, they needed to win their final three regular-season games to finish 5-4 and qualify for the playoffs. Providence eventually ended Mount Carmel’s season in the 7A semifinals.
There’s a major emphasis at Mount Carmel to start the season strong, which begins at 7 p.m. Friday against Marist at Soldier Field.
“We’re putting a lot of emphasis on a strong start,” Guerra said. “We learned a lot from last year. If we take everything our coaches tell us to do, the sky is the limit. At Mount Carmel, it’s about going undefeated and winning state championships. This team wants to be remembered as perfect.”
Twitter: @disabato
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF
The Daily Southtown is counting down the preseason top 10 teams between now and opening night.
10: Richards
9: Lincoln-Way West
8: Lemont
7: Crete-Monee
6: Brother Rice
5: Joliet Catholic
4: Providence
3: Lincoln-Way East
2: Mount Carmel
1: Friday
