HUGHESVILLE-It’s no secret that the first half of the 2025 season wasn’t kind to Mount Carmel. However, the Red Tornadoes hope that Friday night’s effort against Hughesville will be a turning point. Right from the outset, Mount Carmel took control while churning out its most complete effort to date. Jaylen Delaney scored three touchdowns and the defense completely shut down Hughesville, as the Red Tornadoes faced little resistance in a 41-13 win.
“Yeah, I was really happy for our guys,” Mount Carmel coach John Darrah said. “We weathered some tough times early in the season, and you know, it was good to see some guys having success tonight on offense and defense, and getting the ball rolling there. I thought they did a really nice job.”
Mount Carmel (2-4) scored on its second possession, which foreshadowed things to come. After Cooper Karycki intercepted a pass deep in Hughesville territory, Delaney would find the end zone for the first time on a 9-yard run. Delaney finished off the next drive with a 30-yard touchdown catch from Gavin Marshalek that pushed the lead to 14-0 with 3:56 left in the opening quarter. No stranger to big plays all season long, Delaney finished with 65 yards on just five carries go with his touchdown reception.
“We definitely have some explosive guys,” Darrah said. “It was just a matter of putting things together, and once we able to put them together and get some guys running open, they definitely can make some plays.”
Little used Jason Klokis took full advantage of his only touch of the night. Klokis caught a direct snap on a fullback wedge play and was gone. He outraced the defense to the house on a 67-yard touchdown run. It was the first of three, one-play scoring drives for Mount Carmel.
“He did a really good job,” Darrah said of Klokis. “He was excited before the game. He was saying ‘I can’t wait to play some offense and get the ball.’ That was his first carry of the game, and he definitely made the most of his opportunity.”
Hughesville (2-4) saw Mount Carmel hit paydirt on a third consecutive offensive play. Following a 49-yard punt return by Lukas Carpenter, Karycki took a toss to his right and easily crossed the goal line from 30 yards out, making the score 28-0 with 9:49 remaining in the second quarter. The Red Tornadoes would extend the lead to 41-0 at halftime, thanks to a 42-yard touchdown catch by Aidan Brokenshire and a 2-yard run from Delaney.
“They were bigger and stronger than us, that’s for sure,” Hughesville coach Howard Rainey said. “We had some nice runs, but I can’t say a whole lot, honestly. I don’t see where we improved at all in this game. I don’t think we took a step backwards, either, but they were just more physical, stronger. To be honest, our guys were afraid to come in as soon as they heard (the words) Mount Carmel.”
Defensively, Mount Carmel held Hughesville to just 17 yards of total offense in the first half, including minus-16 yards on the Spartans’ first two drives. Quaterback Nicholas Stubbs was under consistent pressure all night from a heavy pass rush. Hughesville was able to find the scoreboard twice in the second half, courtesy of long touchdown runs by Stubbs and Connor Anstadt that came against the Mount Carmel reserves.
“On defense, our guys are starting to get more disciplined,” Darrah said. “When they do that, I think they’re able to play more freely. I thought they were able to do that tonight. Less thinking, just go get after people, and I thought they did a nice job.”
If Mount Carmel is to engineer a second-half turnaround, the Red Tornadoes have the schedule to make it happen. An important game with Danville is on the horizon next week, which will definitely affect the District 4 Class 3A playoff race. A win over the Ironmen would bode well for matchups against Central Mountain and Milton, where Mount Carmel will certainly be favored.
“I believe in our guys,” Darrah said. “We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing, keep working hard. They never wavered. This definitely put some wind in our sails, which we needed. I think we’re going to have a great week of practice next week and play well next Friday.”
Mount Carmel 21 20 0 0-41
Hughesville 0 0 7 6-13
Individual Scoring
First Quarter
MC-Jaylen Delaney 9 run (Josh Miller kick) 6:28
MC-Delaney 30 pass from Gavin Marshalek (Miller kick) 3:56
MC-Jason Klokis 67 run (Miller kick: :27
Second Quarter
MC-Cooper Karycki 30 run (kick failed) 9:49
MC-Aidan Brokenshire 42 pass from Marshalek (Miller kick) 6:20
MC-Delaney 2 run (Miller kick) 1:30
Third Quarter
H-Nicholas Stubbs 52 run (Avery Puderbaugh kick) 1:43
Fourth Quarter
H-Connor Anstadt 55 run (kick blocked) 4:32
Team Statistics
…………………………..MC…………….H
1st downs……………13……………….5
rush-yds………….34-216………….28-120
comp-att-int………3-7-0…………2-13-1
pass yds…………….93………………7
total yds…………..309…………….127
fumb-lost………….7-2…………….2-0
pen-yds…………..7-55……………5-34
Individual Statistics
Rushing-Mount Carmel: Cooper Karycki 5-79, TD; Jason Klokis 1-67, TD; Jaylen Delaney 5-65, 2 TDs; Orrin Mariano 1-30; Michael Kimsal 3-16; Lukas Carpenter 2-15; Austin Ventilli 3-12; Preston Pultynovich 1-(-1); Alekzandr Lukoskie 1-(-5); Logan Shuder 2-(-7); James Spears 4-(-17); Gavin Marshalek 3-(-18); Team 3-(-20). Hughesville: Connor Anstadt 7-73, TD; Jed Abernatha 7-25; Nicholas Stubbs 5-22, TD; Chase Shrawder 5-5; Julian Smith 1-2; Grayson Stabley 1-1; Team 2-(-8).
Passing-Mount Carmel: Marshalek 2-3-0, 72 yds., 2 TDs; Spears 1-3-0, 21 yds.; Lukoskie 0-1-0. Hughesville: Stubbs 2-12-1, 7 yds.; Smith 0-1-0.
Receiving-Mount Carmel: Aidan Brokenshire 1-42, TD; Delaney 1-30, TD; Chance Swatski 1-21. Hughesville: Carson Stackhouse 1-6; Anstadt 1-1.