FOUNTAIN SPRINGS-Mount Carmel put together its most complete performance of the season to date in a 55-7 dismantling of North Schuylkill on Friday night. The Red Tornadoes hit for big plays up and down the field, as they continue to pile up both yards and touchdowns in bunches. Once again, it was the running game that did almost all of the damage. Jaylen Delaney rushed for 152 yards and four touchdowns and Cooper Karycki added 115 yards on the ground and three total touchdowns, as Mount Carmel was sharp from start to finish in a third consecutive easy win.
“I was really proud of our kids,” Mount Carmel coach John Darrah said. “I’ll be honest, the game’s kind of a blur. I can’t even remember who scored and things like that. It seemed like it went pretty quick. But, obviously we did a good job and executed very well, so it was a big win.”
It would be easy for Darrah to feel that way, given the speed in which his team put up points. Delaney got things started with a 59-yard touchdown run where he suddenly broke through the line of scrimmage on a quarterback keeper and was off to the races. North Schuylkill (0-4) briefly tied things up on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Brock Holmes to Daniel Brake at the 5:51 mark of the opening quarter. However, in the blink of an eye, the Red Tornadoes would take the lead back for good when Cooper Karycki took a handoff, outran the defense, and crossed the goal line on an 83-yard sprint only 15 seconds after the Spartans scored. It was that kind of night for Mount Carmel, where everything just seemed to work. Karycki has now rushed for over 100 yards in all four games this season.
“Like, we’ve got some explosive guys,” Darrah said. “Cooper is one of those guys, he’s maybe the fastest guy on the team, he gets a little crease like that, and he could score at any time. Like I said, just really happy with our team. Really, really proud of our guys.”
The next three times Mount Carmel touched the ball, it would produce. Delaney scored on a 3-yard run in the waning seconds of the first quarter, and then the Red Tornadoes, who were beneficiaries of excellent field position all night, converted a short drive after Karycki went in untouched on a sweep to the left side from four yards out. Just for good measure, the passing game got involved. Karycki made it the fifth touchdown in as many possessions following his diving 27-yard touchdown catch on a pass from Delaney. Mount Carmel tallied 291 yards in the first half, and would finish the night with 569 yards of total offense.
“I think our kids just seem very focused,” Darrah said. “It was a just a team effort. I thought our line blocked well, our backs ran hard. They were mixing up some fronts, our guys were just executing, and once those guys got loose, we made some big plays. Overall, top to bottom, I thought every guy on the team did a nice job.”
Leading 35-7 at halftime, the offensive onslaught continued into the second half. Jason Klokis broke off a 47-yard run to help overcome a 2nd-and-21 situation, and three plays later, Delaney got free for his third score of the game, this one courtesy of a 19-yard run. The last drive for the first-team offense ended like most others did, with a touchdown. Delaney put an exclamation point on things by making a house call on a 4th-and-1 play which resulted in a 34-yard dash to pay dirt. The single-wing offense looked pretty good once again, as Delaney becomes more and more comfortable with his role at quarterback.
“Jalen’s a great athlete,” Darrah said. “Jalen can do anything you ask him to do. Made some big plays for us tonight, and I’m glad he’s on our team.”
On the very first play with reserves in for both teams, Jaxon Boblick got a handoff, and he joined the scoring party. The junior made the most of his only carry, going 94 yards for a touchdown to close out the scoring with 10:55 left in the game. One year ago, it was North Schuylkill who dealt Mount Carmel a lopsided defeat on opening night by a score of 62-20. Mount Carmel has flipped the script in a big way, while temporarily exorcising some demons. Dating back to 2014, the Spartans had won 10 of the previous 11 matchups between the two teams. Mount Carmel was the fourth state-ranked opponent North Schuylkill has faced as part of a brutal early-season schedule.
“Our guys were fired up,” Darrah said. “I think they remember that from last year. But what I could say about this team is, they just love playing football. They show up every day, they love practicing, they love getting after people, and they love hitting. It’s just a very fun team to coach.”
Mount Carmel 21 14 13 7-55
North Schuylkill 7 0 0 0-7
Individual Scoring
First Quarter
MC-Jaylen Delaney 59 run (Josh Miller kick) 7:33
NS-Daniel Brake 51 pass from Brock Holmes (Wes Urban kick) 5:51
MC-Cooper Karycki 83 run (Miller kick) 5:36
MC-Delaney 3 run (Miller kick) :20
Second Quarter
MC-Karycki 4 run (Miller kick) 10:04
MC-Karycki 27 pass from Delaney (Miller kick) 2:44
Third Quarter
MC-Delaney 19 run (kick failed) 8:01
MC-Delaney 34 run (Miller kick) 4:12
Fourth Quarter
MC-Jaxon Boblick 94 run (Miller kick) 10:55
Team Statistics
…………………MC………………NS
1st downs………20…………………8
rush-yds………47-534…………28-79
comp-att-int…2-4-1…………….5-17-0
pass yds………….35………………136
total yds……….569…………….215
fumb-lost………1-0……………..1-0
pen-yds………….4-30…………..8-54
Individual Statistics
Rushing-Mount Carmel: Jaylen Delaney 12-152, 4 TDs; Cooper Karycki 9-115, 2 TDs; Jaxon Boblick 1-94, TD; Jason Klokis 4-66; Michael Higgins 7-54; Max Karycki 3-27; Preston Pultynovich 2-15; Austin Ventilli 2-9; Gabe Higgins 2-5; Jayden Rotolo 1-5; Bailey Pisarz 1-3; Vincent Addman 2-0; Team 1-(-11). North Schuylkill: Bryce Kile 16-63; Otilio Lopez-Montz 3-20; Daniel Brake 1-5; Francis Kowalonek 1-0; Brock Holmes 7-(-9).
Passing-Mount Carmel: Delaney 2-4-1, 35 yds., TD. North Schuylkill: Holmes 5-16-0, 136 yds., TD. Kowalonek 0-1-0.
Receiving-Mount Carmel: C. Karycki 1-27, TD; Logan Shuder 1-8. North Schuylkill: Xavier McNally 3-80; Brake 1-51, TD; Seth Hubler 1-5.