The game was close.  In the first half, that is.

Mount Carmel lit up the scoreboard 24 seconds into the first half on a long pass play. After the extra point was blocked, the score was 6-0 Mt. Carmel. It looked like it was going to be a long game for the Patriots.

JC’s first drive stalled around the 40-yard line, and they turned it over on downs.

Mt. Carmel wasted no time in completing a pass to the three-yard line of the Patriots. Junior cornerback Andrew Simon made a tackle that saved a touchdown. The Patriots’ defense stiffened, stopping Mt. Carmel on four consecutive plays and forcing a turnover on downs.

The Patriots’ offense now had to face the reality of starting a drive from deep in their own territory.  Senior running back Kyle Miele helped get the offense going, running for four straight first downs to the Mt. Carmel 25-yard line.  Senior wide receiver DJ Owens then caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Ryan Kirby to cap off the 93-yard drive. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score tied at 6-6.

JC’s defense came up with another big play, forcing a fumble and giving the offense the ball on the Patriot 47-yard line.  Kirby finished off the drive with an eight-yard quarterback sneak.  The two-point conversion failed again, but JC had the lead at 12-6.

Mt. Carmel took the ball quickly downfield, scoring on a 21-yard touchdown pass.  Their two-point conversion was no good also, evening the score at 12.

On JC’s next possession, the Patriots were able to drive downfield to the Mt. Carmel 15-yard line.  The drive stalled there, and sophomore kicker Alex Gambrell made a 32-yard field goal.  The score remained 15 to 12 JC, heading into halftime.

In the second half, the Patriots dominated. The offense came out and quickly scored on a touchdown pass by Kirby. The extra point was good, and JC had the lead at 22-12.

After Mt. Carmel was forced to punt, the Patriots drove downfield and senior running back Tyler Ray ran in for a touchdown. Gambrell’s extra point was good, making the score 29-12.

But JC still wasn’t finished. After Mt. Carmel handed the ball to the Patriots on downs, Miele scored on a 30-yard touchdown run. With the extra point from Gambrell, the score was 39-12 JC.

The Patriot defense also continued to play well. They started the fourth quarter with three straight sacks on the Mt. Carmel quarterback.

Later in the fourth quarter, the Mt. Carmel punter fumbled the snap. JC got the ball on Mt. Carmel’s 17-yard line.  Junior Avery Callan took it in from there, scoring on a 17-yard touchdown run.  The extra point by Gambrell was no good, but the Patriots’ lead stood at an impressive 42-12.

The game ended shortly afterward, making for a decisive Patriot victory.

Owens, who had three catches on the night including his touchdown, had positive things to say  after the game. “It was a good team effort. We played all four quarters, and we shut the door when we needed to…It felt good being able to contribute to the team.  We were down and we needed to score, and I felt good being able to come up with the catch,” Owens said.

The win evened out the Patriots’ record at 2-2, heading into their homecoming game this week against St. Frances Academy.

Brian Reid can be reached at [email protected].