Dowling slings Caravan to program’s 14th title
CHAMPAIGN — An unusually warm and calm November day played right into Mount Carmel’s hands Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
The Caravan have dominated the season with a passing attack led by quarterback Blainey Dowling. It was on display right from the start of their 44-20 victory against Batavia in the Class 7A state championship game.
“We were pumped because the last game we played, there were 20 mile-per-hour winds,” Dowling said. “So being a high of 50 with no wind, we knew we could sling the rock.”
The Caravan (14-0) scored on passes from Dowling to Jimmy
Deacy on its first two drives.
Batavia (10-4) muffed the kickoff after the second touchdown, and Mount Carmel took advantage with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Dowling to Jaden Bossie that made it 28-0 early in the second quarter.
Dowling went 25-for-40 for 262 yards with four touchdowns. Deacy had seven catches for 86 yards and two TDs, and Dennis Furlong had seven receptions for 47 yards.
The victory gave the Caravan their 14th state championship and completed a perfect season that saw them hold the top ranking in the Super 25 from the preseason through the final game of the year. The resurrection and renewal of Mount Carmel’s football program feels complete. Dowling, Bossie, Furlong, Deacy, Damarion Arrington, Asher Tomaszewski and Owen Schickel formed the senior bedrock of a dominant team that was barely challenged.
“Every game we dealt with adversity, but a lot of the games [the starters] were out in the second half,” Dowling said.
This senior class was coach Jordan Lynch’s first group. They entered as freshmen after Lynch replaced legendary coach Frank Lenti.
“Obviously, 2019 is very special for me winning state my first time, but these are my guys,” Lynch said.
Batavia didn’t fold after the rough start. The Bulldogs scored touchdowns in the second quarter on a three-yard run by Ryan Whitwell and a 12-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Boe to CJ Valente.
“It just shows we all have heart,” Batavia’s Tyler Jansey said. “It’s been obvious from the start. We don’t quit. We care about each other, and we are going to fight for each other until we die.”
The Caravan didn’t let up either, even scoring on a fake punt in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel’s punter and likely starting quarterback next season, threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Arrington.