CN100 Game of the Week preview: IHSA Football 7A Semifinal - Providence Catholic vs. Mount Carmel

IHSA Football 7A Semifinal: Providence Catholic vs. Mount Carmel
CHICAGO – When Mt. Carmel and Providence met in Week 3 on CN100, it felt like both teams were going in different directions.
Providence (11-1) appeared destined for a deep playoff run, piling up a 33-14 win on Mount Carmel to set the tone in the Chicago Catholic Blue. The Caravan (8-4) proceeded to lose two of their next three after the Providence game, putting them at 2-4 and in danger of not making the postseason.
Saturday at noon at Gately Stadium on Chicago’s South Side, the two old rivals meet in the Class 7A state semifinals. The game will be broadcast by CN100 at Noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23, and at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25. You can also find it throughout Chicagoland with Xfinity On Demand.
The intrigue on the Providence side comes in the form of the health of star receiver Miles Boykin. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Notre Dame recruit is senior QB Justin Hunniford’s top target, but he’s only played in one of the last three games due to finger surgery. He has 55 catches for 886 yards and 18 TDs this season.
“Obviously Miles is the big question,” Providence coach Mark Coglianese said. “We are not sure if he plays and how effective he will be catching and blocking.”
Hunniford has been sparkling, going 216-for-318 for 2,964 yards, 39 TDs and only three interceptions. With Boykin limited, junior Mike Markasovic (36 catches, 533 yards, 2 TD) and senior TE Nate Vejvoda (37 catches, 562 yards, 8 TD), an Iowa recruit, figure to see expanded roles.
In the backfield, seniors Richie Warfield (641 yards, 8 total TDs) and Sean Diehl (266 yards, 5 TD) carry the load. Hunniford has added 236 yards and two scores on the ground.
Mt. Carmel has been in playoff mode for seven weeks now. The Caravan edged Loyola just to get into the field, before defeating to defending Class 6A state champion Batavia on the road in the first round. Mount Carmel then traveled 10 hours round trip to Belleville West for a win and beat traditional power Lincoln-Way East 20-7 last week.
“As you might expect, our take on the semifinal game is that we are just thrilled to be here,” Mt. Carmel athletics director Dan LaCount said. “We did not put ourselves in a very good position to make the playoffs.”
Most of the key players for the Caravan are juniors, including leading rushers A.J. Lewis (896 yards, 11 TD) and Anthony Ries (1,028 yards, 9 TD). Junior QB Anthony Thompson has thrown for 686 yards and 6 TDs and rushed for 350 yards and 8 TDs. Junior WR Avery Saffold is the team’s leading receiver (21 catches, 264 yards, 4 TD).
Defensively, Providence is led by Jimmy Sharkey’s 177 tackles, 98 of which are of the solo variety. Luis Vasquez has 98 tackles with 15 sacks and returned an interception for a touchdown last week. Erik Carroll contributed 82 tackles and four interceptions.
Mt. Carmel’s defensive leaders include junior LB Andrew Guerra (62 tackles, 12 tackles for loss) and defensive tackles Terrell Greer and Kevin Thurmon each have 13 tackles for loss.
The winner of this game will face either Cary-Grove or Libertyville for the Class 7A state title.
- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent
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