Aces continue unbeaten run
Mount Carmel rolls past rival Indians, 48-0; 11-game win streak continues

09-25-2021
BY JACK BULLOCK
LAWRENCEVILLE - It wasn't going to be the Lawrenceville Indians day when their old nemesis from the long gone North Egypt Conference rolled into town on this weekend.

Although the young squad led by head coach Travis Reeder had pulled a mild upset the week before in beating LIC rival Newton on the road 34-19, the Aces are a different animal.

Coach Michael Brewer's unbeaten club took care of business as Mount Carmel rolled to an easy 48-0 win in the bright sun on Saturday afternoon.

The victory, combined with an undefeated spring, puts the Golden Aces on an 11-game winning streak.

That includes eight-consecutive LIC wins as they have yet to taste defeat since joining the league in 2020-21.

The stats were as lopsided as the scoreboard indicated as Mount Carmel rolled to a 33-0 halftime edge behind the a stingy defensive effort that not only kept Lawrenceville off of the scoreboard but they didn't get much going at any point of the proceedings.

Although the early going was a bit of a struggle, the Aces finally got things rolling.

“We have to be ready and we have to get rid of that slow start,” said Coach Brewer. “We need to stop the 'flip the switch' business and be ready to play. Fly around and be physical because that is where we are our best.”

The Aces have weapons offensively as well as Blayne Sisson, a 6-foot-2, 180 senior led the way both running it and 'chucking it' down field.

Sisson carried the ball 10 times for 72 yards and a pair of touchdowns with one in each of the first two quarters.

He also completed 7-of-12 passes for an additional 146 yards and two TD's.

Asher Kight, a sophomore running back, had four carries on the day for 52 yards and a touchdown run.

Add to it sophomore running back Zeke Swanson and junior back Gage Kennard combining for five runs and 53 yards.

In total, Mount Carmel had nine different runners handle the ball in the contest for a total of 187 yards on just 28 attempts.

Meaning that the Golden Aces averaged nearly seven yards per carry on the afternoon.

The Mount Carmel defense really stepped up.

Offensively the Indians didn't get much accomplished against the Aces' defensive unit.

Six-foot, 210 senior Brenyn Winningham had a tough day running the Indians offense.

The quarterback was just 8-of-22 passing for 61 yards with an interception.

Neither of his second half replacements (sophomore Luke Hatfield and freshman Parker Hardiman) had much luck as the Mount Carmel defense never let up.

One of the bright spots for Lawrenceville was the play of 6-foot-3, 190 sophomore wide receiver Bryant Jenkins.

Jenkins caught four passes for 31 yards.

Another wide receiver, sophomore Kolby Stoops, grabbed three passes for 22 yards for Lawrenceville.

But the three QB's combined for just 11-of-29 passing for a scant 72 yards and two interceptions in the loss.

Rushing the ball didn't work for the Tribe as they were held to 19 yards on 22 attempts with junior Braden Alex leading the way with four carriers and 15 yards.

“Defensively we have been playing well. As many points as we have scored at times it (defense) is still the strength of our team,” said Coach Brewer. “In the spring it was the same and it is good to see that carry over to the fall. It was good to play a team (Lawrenceville) that was going to throw the ball around on us and after a slower start we picked things up and played better.”

Kight got the day off to a great start in the opening quarter.

His 23-yard run and a PAT by senior kicker Ivan Holt put Mount Carmel up 7-0 with 8:02 left in the opening frame.

Four minutes later, after stopping Lawrenceville on its next possession, the Aces struck again with Kight scoring from 18 yards out.

Another PAT by Holt gave Mount Carmel a 14-0 lead with exactly 4:00 left in the opening quarter.

The Aces got the ball back and quickly added to the damage.

This time Sisson took care of business with a seven yard scamper for a score.

Although the extra point attempt failed, the Aces were in command at 20-0 with under a minute left in the opening stanza.

Unfortunately for the host Indians, things didn't get much better in the second quarter although they managed to keep the Aces from the end zone for most of the frame.

Mount Carmel, however, put together two more scores before halftime.

Sisson found Gage Kennard with a 48-yard TD pass to push the advantage to 27-0.

Another run just before intermission, with Sisson scoring from six yards out, made it 33-0 after another missed PAT.

After taking the second half kickoff, Mount Carmel ended any of the drama that was still remaining.

Sisson went to the air once again, connecting with senior wide out Zach Allen.

His 25-yard catch for a score, along with the extra point, pushed the advantage to 40-0.

This score triggered the 40-point mercy rule for continuous clock.

Mount Carmel, even with reserves playing in the fourth quarter, added a pair of scores.

The Aces defense tackled Hatfield in the end zone for a safety in the fourth quarter.

Three underclassmen; sophomores Clay Morgan and Trentin Cashburn along with freshman Reed Stinson sacked Hatfield before the quarterback could get out of the end zone to push the score to 42-0.

“We have had success at the lower levels and we are getting good at what we do. So we have some continuity there (reserves stepping in) and they were ready to go as well with their opportunity,” said Coach Brewer.

Mount Carmel added one final score, a 1-yard score for junior quarterback Cole Broster, to finalize things at 48-0.

“They (Mount Carmel) were able to shut us down both through the air and on the ground. I tip my hat to them,” said Coach Reeder. “It's a great program and well ran. We told the kids to give their best effort this week and then get ready for the stretch run of the season and that is where we are at right now. We have to shore some things up but our long term goal is make the playoffs.”

Mount Carmel, in eight LIC games since joining the league, has outscored its eight opponents 326-40.

The Aces will head back to action next Friday as they host Olney Richland County.

The Tigers are 3-2 overall after a 48-24 win over Marshall Friday night.

Lawrenceville will play host to Casey-Westfield next Saturday afternoon.

The Warriors shut out Robinson 29-0 on Friday and are also 3-2 on the season.
Little Illini Conference
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Mount Carmel
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13
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48
Lawrenceville
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0

First Quarter
MC 23 yard TD Run by Asher Kight (kick by Ivan Holt good) - 7-0 MC
MC 18 yard TD Run by Asher Kight (kick by Ivan Holt good) - 14-0 MC
MC 7 yard TD Run by Blayne Sisson (kick by Ivan Holt failed) - 20-0 MC
Second Quarter
MC 48 yard TD Pass from Blayne Sisson to Gage Kennard (kick good by Holt) - 27-0 MC
MC 6 yard TD Run by Blayne Sisson (kick failed) - 33-0 MC
Third Quarter
MC 25 yard TD Pass from Blayne Sisson to Zach Allen (kick by Holt good) - 40-0 MC
Fourth Quarter
MC Safety (QB tackled in the end zone) - 42-0 MC
MC 1 yard TD Run by Cole Broster (kick failed) - 48-0 MC