Mt. Carmel QB?
- Thread starter Illgold22
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Apparently MC has three quarterbacks vying for the starting spot, which is not a bad problem to have. No matter who emerges as the front runner, there will be depth at the position for years. And the way that the team has developed its slate of recent quarterbacks--from Justin Lynch to Blainey Dowling to Jack Elliott--I expect them to produce another winner.
Good enough to steer them through the playoffs? This team has so much talent, and the talent is so nicely balanced, so evenly distributed, that it will be, if not the best, then certainly one of the very best teams in Mount Carmel history. In such a scenario, the quarterback need not be the designated driver. In other words, MC will operate as an autonomous vehicle. They could put a robot at the wheel and never lose a game.
Good enough to steer them through the playoffs? This team has so much talent, and the talent is so nicely balanced, so evenly distributed, that it will be, if not the best, then certainly one of the very best teams in Mount Carmel history. In such a scenario, the quarterback need not be the designated driver. In other words, MC will operate as an autonomous vehicle. They could put a robot at the wheel and never lose a game.
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Had one Thomas Elliott at The Stage camp and he already looks varsity capable as an incoming freshman
Based on what I’ve seen in the past from D’Andrea ‘28, id def expect him to be in the mix as a sophomore next season.
Lynch has worked his magic with quarterbacks before, starting with Premovic in 2018, and the improvement with Blainey Dowling in 2022 was remarkable. MC has won various titles with either first-time senior starters (2013 Boricic, 2002 O’Brien, 2000 Aaron Marshal (inserted Week 9), 1996 Welsh, 1989 DeLisa, 1988 Miller) or lesser-recruited players like Cozzie (1998–1999) and Butkus (2012).
Yes, Lynch and maybe someone else have turned MC into a quarterback breeding ground. I read somewhere that Blainey Dowling, besides benefiting from Lynch and having Denny Furlong for a friend, hired a private tutor between his junior and senior year, who helped helped him undergo a transformation. No question, MC has had some great quarterbacks, not excepting Mike McGrew. And it isn't just MC. Good quarterbacks in Illinois are sprouting from the soil.
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Whoever wins the job will also benefit from having an extremely talented group of receivers. Who is in line to be the primary RB?
Madden Wilson was the main ball carrier by the end of last season after Danyil Taylor got hurt and the experiment of Taylor converting to RB didn't go as well as they hoped but he did OK. Wilson is more of a traditional type RB and had some real some real nice games last season. They brought Soph Nate Samuels up to Varsity last season after he had a huge year at the Soph level and he played well on Varsity so I think Wilson and Samuel will have a great season as a combo RB dual back there
Not only will the quarterback have plenty of weapons, but the offensive line is going to be ferocious. Four starters are returning, and Claude Mpouma, who transferred in and has offers from everyone, will take over at RT.
Dowling job to lose - had a nice start vs Rice last year when Elliott out - I think he's the QB1
Like you said, his job to lose, but their will be a competition. I thought he did fine vs BR with a very simplified playbook and that was against a very strong BR D. He's putting the work in Im told. It will be interesting to see how this plays out
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Most QBs do retain personal coaches, and most head coaches suggest it, even ones who have head coaches like Lynch who were high quality QBs. It's just good to have that person in your ear that's not your head coach. Pressure free.
Dowling must have found a guru because his precision went, almost overnight, from MOR to GPS.
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Forget about just winning the 8A title. With the way everyone in this thread is talking, Mt. Carmel better end up as the #1 team in the nation or the season will be a disappointment.
Don't know about #1 in the nation, but I would be shocked if they aren't the preseason #1 in Edgy's poll. When you have 15 kids with D1 offers and 9 of those having SEC offers, that's a somewhat unprecedented level of talent. I can't recall another IL team ever having that amount of high level D1 talent.
east st. louis next question lmaooo
I don’t believe they have ever been #1, but they have been in the top #25 numerous times.
Without a full season travel schedule, it might be hard to break into the top 10 IMO
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I think the 98 team may have been their highest nationally ranked team. Funny thing was they split with WWS as being #1 ranked team in IL that year in the Trib and Times. I think the 23 team may have been the best I've seen though.
The WWS coach didn't want his team ranked #1 pre-season to avoid over-confidence and pressure. Bob Sakamoto went along with him and made MC #1. While MC maintained that spot all season, Bob made us co-champs at the end of the playoffs.
This year's team, at least on paper, is better than the '23 team by several orders of magnitude.
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USA Today had MC at #6 in 1988, 1990, and 1996. '98 was 14th.
What will it take to get MC out of 8A?!?!?
All.... But seriously.... The return of the "rolling" success factor is insidious. SHG went through that many years ago. Now the rodents memory isn't what it used to be ( likely from all those tailgates 
) but I seem to recall once you get sf'd it can be very difficult to get out of it unless bad times come to ones program. Back then the time period was longer then three years. I believe four.
If I have read the new change in rules correctly here is what the Caravan face. Up into 8A in 2025 because of final apperarences in 22, 23, and 24. Two in that three year period is the magic number. Not saying this will happen especially with talk how loaded and talented the 2025 squad is but if they don't make the state final they will still be sf'd in 2026. The criteria looked at is once again title apperances now for 23, 24, and 25 which is two. Taking it one step farther let's say in 2026 the team makes the final. 24, 25, and 26 is the next rolling period. That one title in 2024 and making the final in 2026 keeps them in 8A for 2027.
The only language that is not clear under the current rule is the wording usage "state title trophy". Since both teams get a trophy that starts the count. It's the same language before the recent change. So I assume that has not changed to winning only.
Mt. Carmel might be in 8A for quite some time.... Ratsy
) but I seem to recall once you get sf'd it can be very difficult to get out of it unless bad times come to ones program. Back then the time period was longer then three years. I believe four.If I have read the new change in rules correctly here is what the Caravan face. Up into 8A in 2025 because of final apperarences in 22, 23, and 24. Two in that three year period is the magic number. Not saying this will happen especially with talk how loaded and talented the 2025 squad is but if they don't make the state final they will still be sf'd in 2026. The criteria looked at is once again title apperances now for 23, 24, and 25 which is two. Taking it one step farther let's say in 2026 the team makes the final. 24, 25, and 26 is the next rolling period. That one title in 2024 and making the final in 2026 keeps them in 8A for 2027.
The only language that is not clear under the current rule is the wording usage "state title trophy". Since both teams get a trophy that starts the count. It's the same language before the recent change. So I assume that has not changed to winning only.
Mt. Carmel might be in 8A for quite some time.... Ratsy
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They aren't SF'd, the petition up and can't go any higher because their conference is dumb.
Just to play devil's advocate for a minute and not suckle at the MC teet, could this be a situation of, if you have more than one QB you really have none? Will a true #1 emerge by the start of the season or will they play the matchup game week in and week out?
With HS kids doing all they can to emulate college kids these days will those not chosen to be the starter look to transfer out?
Keep in mind I think MC will be an absolute unit this year, just trying to look at it from another angle.
With HS kids doing all they can to emulate college kids these days will those not chosen to be the starter look to transfer out?
Keep in mind I think MC will be an absolute unit this year, just trying to look at it from another angle.
They won't mind playing in 8A one bit and they won't bitch about it either!All.... But seriously.... The return of the "rolling" success factor is insidious. SHG went through that many years ago. Now the rodents memory isn't what it used to be ( likely from all those tailgates
If I have read the new change in rules correctly here is what the Caravan face. Up into 8A in 2025 because of final apperarences in 22, 23, and 24. Two in that three year period is the magic number. Not saying this will happen especially with talk how loaded and talented the 2025 squad is but if they don't make the state final they will still be sf'd in 2026. The criteria looked at is once again title apperances now for 23, 24, and 25 which is two. Taking it one step farther let's say in 2026 the team makes the final. 24, 25, and 26 is the next rolling period. That one title in 2024 and making the final in 2026 keeps them in 8A for 2027.
The only language that is not clear under the current rule is the wording usage "state title trophy". Since both teams get a trophy that starts the count. It's the same language before the recent change. So I assume that has not changed to winning only.
Mt. Carmel might be in 8A for quite some time.... Ratsy
I think by mid season it’ll go to D’Andrea. Anther QB was mentioned as looking varsity ready as an incoming freshman. Keep in mind, he repeated 8th grade for this exact reason. To develop his body and ready himself for QB. Saw him play growing up, would have never thought he’d play QB in HS and after this last year of training he’ll be ready. Expect to see more of this in athletics.
Seems to me that ESL, as one of the state's most accomplished programs, should be able to dictate to the conference, not the other way around. Why can't they rewrite the rules, move to another conference, or go independent?
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For that to happen, both Emmet Dowling and Ryder Starz would have to fail miserably, an unlikely development.
Edgy said that about Thomas Elliott, a clone of his brother Jack.
Who repeated? D'Andrea or Ryder Startz?
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Majority rules and if ESL makes noise the conference votes them down. Most of the other schools in that conference are 7A schools and they don't want ESL eliminating them in the playoffs. It's dumb, but they don't have much of an option.
What other southern Illinois conference would they go to?
Good luck filling a schedule as a top tier independent these days. Gotta remember it's more than just football. How do they fill an independent schedule in all other sports?
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