For Mount Carmel to makes its claim for the IHSA 8A state football title this season, the Caravan needed to beat three-time defending champion Loyola .

For over three quarters, the Ramblers appeared unwilling to concede their throne as the two Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference powers battled at Barda-Dowling Stadium on Saturday night.

Leading by three points, Loyola silenced the home crowd after defensive back Tommy Fowler intercepted Mount Carmel quarterback Emmett Dowling and returned the ball inside the Caravan red zone early in the fourth quarter. The Ramblers, who fell to Mount Carmel at home last week, appeared ready to take revenge and seize control of Saturday’s first-round playoff matchup.

But the Caravan defense forced a turnover on downs at their o

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