Mount Carmel’s Thrilling Victory Over St. Joseph Regional

Mount Carmel’s Nathan Samuels felt embarrassed as he watched the national TV audience witness his team fall behind. Then, he decided to take action. During a crucial game broadcast by ESPN, Mount Carmel had already conceded two touchdowns on special teams and a safety. But Samuels changed the game with a stunning fake punt.

“The sideline was down, the whole country’s watching us and the coaches just talked about playing through adversity,” Samuels shared. “After that run, you could feel the momentum change.”

Samuels executed a 47-yard run on the fake punt, leading Mount Carmel to overturn a 30-0 deficit for a remarkable 48-44 victory over New Jersey’s St. Joseph Regional. Brady Cloherty, the senior quarterback, contributed seven touchdown passes after facing a 30-point lag in the second quarter. His performance saw him complete 26 of 41 passes, totaling 309 yards.

Following the fake punt on fourth-and-9, Cloherty threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Marshaun Thornton. Thornton ended the game with two touchdown catches, helping Mount Carmel score 48 points compared to St. Joseph’s 14 over 29 minutes.

“That 47-yard run changed everything and brought us the momentum we needed,” Cloherty stated. “Nate is a great player who can really do everything. He’s athletic but also a very tough player.”

Senior receiver Quentin Burrell, heading to Michigan, caught a decisive 35-yard touchdown, marking his third of the game, at 5:03 remaining. Samuels contributed further with 102 rushing yards on 12 carries and 45 receiving yards on two catches.

Mount Carmel’s coach Jordan Lynch emphasized their aggressive approach in clutch situations, noting Samuels’ influence.

“We’ve always been aggressive about going for it on fourth down,” Lynch expressed. “Nate made the play, got free and it opened up much after that. He’s a playmaker.”

Samuels, who last season led the team in rushing with 719 yards, scored 10 touchdowns. He attributes his passion for football to his late maternal grandfather who encouraged him as a child.

“He forced me on the field when I was younger and that turned out just to be amazing,” Samuels reflected.

Samuels’ father was a multi-sport athlete in high school, while his uncle played football at Eastern Illinois. Samuels himself is also active in track.

He recognized significant progress in his performance beginning his freshman year, particularly after an impressive game against Brother Rice last year. Samuels shared his personal growth experiences alongside his older brother Ethan, currently a freshman guard at Wabash Valley’s junior college basketball program.

“I’m a really outgoing guy, and having battles with my brother was a big part of my personal development,” Samuels explained.

The memorable night made a profound impact on Samuels, despite not scoring.

“We’ve obviously won state championships every year I’ve been here, but this is right up there with my greatest experiences ever,” Samuels confirmed.