Why Losing Last Game of Season Can Be For the Best: Mount Carmel Defeats Providence Sophomores 14-7

The Providence Celtics football team (7-2) lost 14-7 to the Mount Carmel Caravan on their last game of the season. 

A Misleading Opening Act: On the first drive of the game the Celtics scored on an eight-yard touchdown run by halfback Dominic Lagone.  The drive lasted 9 plays and went 66 yards.  There was nothing about the series that foreshadowed Providence’s struggles with advancing the ball the rest of the contest.

Answering Back:  Mount Carmel’s offense was unable to even muster a first down on their opening drive.  However, Lagone fumbled the ball two plays later and gave the Caravan the ball around midfield.  At the time, this seemed to only be a bump in the road to another Celtic victory.  Yet, a Mount Carmel running back broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run on a dive up the middle of the field.  All of a sudden the Celtics found themselves tied in the midst of a dogfight.

Giving Away the Ball Game: Providence fumbled the pigskin a total of four times throughout the battle, and Mount Carmel recovered three of them.  Also, Providence quarterback Jake Godfrey threw two interceptions both of which were in the Caravan end zone.

They Knew What Was Coming: After the offense’s struggles in the air in the first half, it seemed as though the coaching staff had given up on throwing the pigskin.  On the first sixteen plays of the second half, Providence tried running the ball fourteen times.  Everyone knew that the Celtics had been struggling to pass the ball and Mount Carmel players refused to respect the Providence passing game.  Caravan cornerbacks were running into the backfield even before they could see whether the Celtics were running or throwing the ball. Neither Celtics running backs nor offensive lineman stood a chance with all of the blitzing coming their way.  Surprisingly, Providence was still able to muster some rushing yards, but their progress was taken away after the Caravan pounced on a fumbled snap.

“We got off to a great start in the game, but Mount Carmel did a good job of adjusting and we weren’t able to get anything going after that,” said running back Dominic Lagone.

Author’s Take: I hope this loss stings.  I hope it hurts really badly.  The Celtics two losses this season came from two of their biggest CCL Blue rivals.  Winning is obviously the goal for each and every team going into a game. Yet, maybe losing a tough, heartbreaker will be for the best for these players in the long run.  The players should be more motivated to work harder in the weight room knowing that there is still room for improvement despite the terrific season.  Nobody will recall how dominant the sophomore football team of 2011 was ten years from now.  However, if the athletes can rally together during the off-season they can win a state title that will be remembered for years to come. 

Now That It’s All Said and Done: The Providence Celtics varsity team did not make the playoffs last season and have a tough playoff schedule ahead of them this year.  It is promising to see the sophomore Celtics finish 7-2 with their two losses coming from only a combined eight points.

“I am very proud of my team this year there is no doubt about that,” said captain David Kaminski.  “All the countless hours of practice and dedication that every player put into this team were imperative to our success.  I am so blessed to be playing the greatest sport with this great group of men.”

What’s Next: While most of the players seasons are over there are a handful of athletes that were bumped up to the varsity roster for their first round playoff game against the Tigers at Wheaton Warrenville South 7 p.m. Friday Oct. 28.