For all its years of excellence, one team has recently proven to be the bane of Mount Carmel’s existence: Loyola.

In a Week 9 CCL/ESCC Blue matchup on Oct. 25 on the South Side, the Ramblers continued their mastery over the Caravan, winning 31-7.

It was Loyola’s fourth win over Mount Carmel in the last five meetings.

All-time, the Caravan lead the series with 39 wins against 28 losses. There have been four ties.

The Ramblers (7-2, 3-0) wasted little time grabbing the lead against the Caravan (6-3, 1-2). On the first play from scrimmage, Iowa-bound quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald found running back Drew MacPherson for 41 yards down to the Mount Carmel 30.

Two plays later, Fitzgerald (19-of-26 passing, 253 yards) found receiver Will Carlson, who made an over-the-shoulder touchdown catch for a 7-0 lead at 8:41 in the first quarter.

The Caravan drew even at 7 on the next possession as quarterback Jack Elliott (21-of-42 passing, 259 yards) connected with Quentin Burrell on a 67-yard touchdown strike down the middle at 7:26. Burrell finished with 11 catches for 157 yards.

Loyola went back ahead 14-7 as Fitzgerald hit Conlon Kane on a 31-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-11 at the 5:46 mark.

MacPherson’s 14-yard touchdown run around the right side widened the Ramblers’ lead to 21-7 with 10:39 remaining in the first half. MacPherson, another Iowa commit, finished with 81 yards on 20 carries.

Loyola kicker Zak Zeman made a 20-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half to push Loyola’s lead to 24-7.

Two of the most telling stats in the first half were Fitzgerald completing 13 of 20 attempts for 208 yards, while Mount Carmel’s rushing attack was held without a yard.

The Caravan were held to just 26 yards rushing on 14 attempts for the game.

MacPherson made it 31-7 when he scored on a 5-yard run out of the Wildcat formation on a third-and-3 play with 5:49 left in the fourth quarter.

Both teams will enter the IHSA state playoffs this weekend. Mount Carmel, which has won 15 state titles, has taken home back-to-back championships in Class 7A. The Caravan open at Harlem (7-2). 

Loyola, with five state crowns, has earned back-to-back championships in Class 8A.