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IHSFW.com Mt Carmel Caravan Football

2007 Schedule

8/26 12:00 @
Joliet (Catholic)
@ Soldier Field
8/31 7:30 @
Chicago (St. Ignatius)
@ St. Rita High School
9/7 7:00 H
*New Lenox (Providence)
@ Gately Stadium Stadium
9/14 7:00 H
*Chicago (St. Rita)
@ Gately Stadium Stadium
9/21 7:30 @
*Chicago (Brother Rice)
9/28 7:00 H
Chicago (DeLaSalle)
@ Gately Stadium Stadium
10/6 1:30 @
*Wilmette (Loyola Academy)
10/12 4:00 H
Chicago (St. Francis de Sales)
@ Eckersall Stadium Stadium
10/19 3:30 @
Chicago (Hales Franciscan)
@ Eckersall Stadium

#### - School Enrollment
* Conference game
Directions:
Gateley Stadium
- School

Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Car
14
7
3
0
24
MC
7
0
7
7
21

Week #3 vs. #22 Mundelein (Carmel) (3-0)
9/14/2002

 


QB Dan O'Brien breaks away from the Corsairs defense.

Corsairs No Longer The Stepchild

Chicago (Gateley Stadium) - There are those who might say that when it comes to the Carmelite schools in Illinois Carmel of Mudelein looks like the stepchild of the football family compared toChicago (Mt. Carmel)&Joliet (Catholic). Although Carmel has started to establish itself as a football powerhouse these last years it's still has yet to come close to it's bigger brothers, until tonight.

Junior quarterback Mark Venegoni led his Cosair teammates to an improbable victory, by making the Caravan defense on it's toes against his pass, while still having to worry about stopping Josh Robinson & junior Brandon Ziemann at running back. Disciplined play and good field position thanks to outstanding special teams work were part of the reason Carmel came away with the victory.

The Corsairs sprinted off to a 14-0 lead over the Caravan as Venegoni plunged into the endzone from the one to cap off a 70 plus yard drive. Carmel then forced Mt. Carmel to punt on their first possession. Speedy defensive back Matt Orscheln worked it for a 55 yard return for a touchdown with 6:18 left in the first for their second TD of the night.

The less than capacity crowd for #3 ranked Mt. Carmel remained quite, until running back Jamie Medlock ran for a 3 yard touchdown towards the end of the first quarter.

Pat Lynch of Carmel recovered a fumble by Medlock & the Corsairs would capitalize on it. The Corsairs drove down the field as Venegonni completed passes to TE Jack Simmons, before running the ball in himself from the 7, to put them up 21-7 at the half.

In typical Caravan fashion, nothing is over till time expires and the Caravan pulled back together on defense as they started to stage their comeback & would only allow Carmel a field goal in the second half.

The big time play of the special teams for Carmel may have been the key tonight. Junior tight end & kicker Chris Miller, consistently put the ball deep into the Caravan return. With big hits, Mt. Carmel rarely started past their own twenty. But the biggest play on special teams may have been their field goal block with just under 9 minutes left in the third. A score that would have meant overtime had it not been blocked.

The Caravan scored on the last play of the third quarter as Dan O'Brien found Frank Lenti for a Caravan TD to put them at a 14-24 deficit. The Carmel defense held Mt. Carmel when the Corsairs' offense wasn't working on running down the clock, until Mt. Carmel put together a drive from their side of the field to set up a 5 yards Greg Owens touchdown.

The Caravan defense got back to work and after allowing Carmel a first down they held them while exhausting g all their time-outs. The Caravan stepped up the the line of scrimmage for the last time on offense with 12 seconds. But an O'Brien pass deep would find it's way into Corsairs hands and seal the upset for Carmel.

 

 

By Vincent Johnson

 

 

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Related stories
-2006 8A 2nd Round recap
-2006 Week #1 recap
-2005 7A Finals recap
-2005 Week #4 recap
-2005 Week #3 recap
-2005 Week #1 recap
-2004 Week #1 recap
-2002 Week #3 recap
-2001 Week #7
-2001 Week #5
-2001 Week #2
-2000 Week #2 Big Game
-2000 Week #2 re-cap
-Mt. Carmel Prep-Bowl history

Photo Archives
-2006 8A 2nd Round
-2006 Week #1
-2005 7A State Finals
-2005 7A Semifinals
-2005 Week #3
-2005 Week #1
-2004 Week #1
-2002 6A State Finals
-2002 Week #3
-2001 Week #7
-2001 Week #5
-2001 Week #2
-2000 5A Finals
-2000 Week #2
-1999 5A Finals

Photo Ordering

Team Accomplishments

State Champs
2002 6A, 2000 5A, 1999 5A, 1998 5A, 1996 5A, 1991 5A, 1990 5A, 1989 5A, 1988 6A, 1980 5A

Runner up
2006 8A, 2005 7A, 1995 5A, 1986 5A

Semifinals
2006 8A, 2005 7A, 2004 6A, 2002 6A, 2000 5A, 1999 5A, 1998 5A, 1996 5A, 1995 5A, 1991 5A, 1990 5A, 1989 5A, 1988 6A, 1986 5A, 1980 5A

Prep Bowl
2001 Champs, 1993 Champs,
1985 Champs, 1981 Champs
-more

Conference Titles
Chicago Catholic (Blue)
2006*, 2005, 2000, 1999, 1998,

*co-champs

School Facts

Football Enrollment:
2877.60

Conference:
Chicago Catholic (Blue)

Class:
8A

Nick Name:
Caravan

School Colors:
Brown/Gold/White

Head Coach:
Frank Lenti

Last Season's Record:
12-2

First Varsity Season:
1924

Past Player Watch
-Chris Calloway (1986)
-Frank Cornish (1985)
-Matt Cushing (1993)
-John Duggan (1939)
-Steve Edwards (1997)
-Dan Goich (1973)
-Darrell Hill (1997)
-Donavan McNabb (1994)
-Simeon Rice (1992)
Web Sites
- Mt Carmel (Official site)

2006 Schedule

8/26 12:00 H
Joliet (Catholic) 1511.40
@ Soldier Field
9/1 4:00 H
Chicago (Hales Franciscan) 858.00
@ Gately Stadium
9/8 7:30 @
*New Lenox (Providence) 1775.40
9/15 7:00 H
*Chicago (Brother Rice) 3923.70
@ Gately Stadium
9/22 4:00 @
Chicago (Leo) 864.60
@ Stagg Stadium
9/30 7:00 H
*Wilmette (Loyola Academy) 2554.20
@ Gately Stadium
10/6 7:00 @
*Chicago (DeLaSalle) 1867.80
10/13 7:30 @
*Chicago (St. Rita) 2567.40
10/20 7:00 H
*Oak Park (Fenwick) 1907.40
@ Gately Stadium

2005 Schedule

8/27 1:00 @
Chicago (Morgan Park) 2085.00
@ Soldier Field
9/3 1:30 @
Chicago (Hales Franciscan) 442.00
9/10 7:00 H
*New Lenox (Providence) 1786.95
@ Gately Stadium
9/16 7:30 @
*Chicago (Brother Rice) 3798.30
9/23 4:00 H
Chicago (Leo) 999.90
@ Gately Stadium
10/1 1:30 @
*Wilmette (Loyola Academy) 3403.95
10/7 7:00 H
*Chicago (DeLaSalle) 1897.50
@ Gately Stadium
10/15 7:00 H
*Chicago (St. Rita) 2699.40
@ Gately Stadium
10/22 1:00 @
*Oak Park (Fenwick) 1900.80
@ St. Laurence

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