CONFERENCE: Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference Blue
HEAD COACH: Jordan Lynch (won class 7A state championship)
2023 RECORD: 13-1
2024 OUTLOOK: Mount Carmel is looking for a 16th state championship, which would be its third consecutive title and fourth in five seasons. The Caravan and Joliet Catholic are tied for the most state titles in Illinois history with 15 each.
Orland Park resident Jack Elliott is back at quarterback after throwing for a school-record 3,148 yards as a junior. He also rushed for 940 yards, giving him 4,088 total yards to go with 41 touchdowns. He has verbally committed to Vanderbilt.
The Caravan have a rare Thursday night opener on Aug. 29 when they host Hun School (New Jersey), a prep school with fifth-year seniors.
“Size-wise, you can compare them with a school like (Class 8A champion) Loyola,” Elliott said. “Skill-wise, they are like East St. Louis with all of the players they have. They are very developed. They have some European athletes who are athletic freaks.
“But, if we play to the Mount Carmel standard, we can beat anyone in the country.”
DID YOU KNOW?: The Caravan won three state championships in a row from 1998-2000.
—Jeff Vorva
SCHEDULE
Aug. 29 Hun School (N.J.), 7
Sept. 6 @St. Rita, 7:30
Sept. 13 Nazareth, 7:30
Sept. 20 St. Ignatius, 7:30
Sept. 27 Benet, 7:30
Oct. 4 @Brother Rice, 7
Oct. 11 Joliet Catholic, 7:30
Oct. 18 @Fenwick, 7:30
Oct. 25 Loyola, 7:30