The Montini Catholic football team earned its third straight victory with their 42-35 triumph over Mundelein’s Carmel Catholic High School in a Chicago Catholic League (CCL) crossover battle in Lombard on Friday, Sept. 18.
The Broncos, who play in the CCL Green Division, raised their overall season record to 4-1 with their win. Carmel, which plays in the CCL Orange Division, fell to 2-3 with the loss.
Following a scoreless first quarter, the visiting Corsairs took a 7-0 lead after a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Montini evened the score at 7-7 after a 15-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Israel Abrams to senior Damacio Ortegon, and the ensuing extra-point kick by senior Johnny Louise.
Montini senior defensive tackle Andrew Ayala scored his team’s next touchdown when he intercepted a Carmel screen pass and rumbled 27 yards into the end zone. The extra-point kick from Louise pushed the Broncos’ lead to 14-7 with 2:19 remaining in the first half.
Carmel evened the score at 14-14 by halftime after scoring on a 4-yard touchdown pass and adding the extra-point kick with 18 seconds left in the opening half.
Both teams scored one touchdown during the third quarter, which ended with the teams deadlocked at 21-21. Senior Eddie Kowalczyk delivered Montini’s third-quarter score with a 36-yard touchdown run.
The Broncos, who scored 20 unanswered points in the closing minutes of their thrilling 47-42 victory at Nazareth Academy on Sept. 11, turned in another explosive fourth quarter seven days later in Lombard. Abrams provided a 4-yard touchdown run early in the final quarter of the battle against Carmel. After Montini made a defensive stop, Abrams and Ortegon connected on a 33-yard touchdown pass that raised the Broncos’ lead to 34-21. Carmel responded with a 26-yard touchdown pass and trimmed Montini’s advantage to 34-28. Abrams and Ortegon then hooked up for their third touchdown connection of the evening, a 45-yard scoring pass that helped the Broncos boost their lead to 42-28 with 2:38 remaining in the game.
The Corsairs kept on fighting, and drove down the field to score on a 17-yard touchdown pass that helped them cut Montini’s lead to 42-35. The Broncos punted the ball to the Corsairs, who took possession deep in their own territory in the closing minutes. Senior defensive back Andrew Chrastka helped Montini seal its victory when he forced a Carmel fumble. Senior linebacker Ben Evenson recovered the fumble for the Broncos.
Abrams completed 16 of 29 passes for 315 yards in Montini's victory over Carmel. He threw three touchdown passes and added a touchdown run. Ortegon hauled in 11 receptions for 238 yards and three touchdowns. Ortegon also contributed a key defensive play by intercepting a Carmel pass during the fourth quarter. Kowalcyzk provided 101 rushing yards on 14 carries, along with a 40-yard reception on a third-down play.
Louise, Evenson, senior linebacker Orlando Greco, senior defensive back Luca Florio, and junior defensive back Shea Wells recorded double-digit tackle totals for Montini in the win over the Corsairs. Greco and Wells joined Ayala and Ortegon in making one interception each. Senior Gavin Ericson, sophomore Blake Pohlman, and Ayala contributed strong performances on Montini’s defensive line.
“Carmel had a great game plan, and really did a good job executing in all three phases of the game, but our guys kept making plays for four quarters, and never stopped battling all night long,” stated Montini head coach Mike Bukovsky in his post-game comments.
The Broncos will play their homecoming game on Friday, Sept. 25, when they will face St. Rita in a CCL Green Division battle. The Mustangs of St. Rita enter the contest at 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the division.
