Pity the team that had to face a chastened and angry Mount Carmel team coming off a frustrating overtime loss to Loyola a week ago.
St. Laurence was the unfortunate one.
Star senior quarterback Don Butkus threw two touchdown passes and added a third rushing score as the No. 5 Caravan scored five touchdowns on their first 10 plays from scrimmage in thrashing the Vikings 52-0 in a Catholic League crossover Saturday at Gately Stadium.
“We were upset and mad after what happened last week and we just wanted to come and whip somebody really bad,” Butkus said.
The Caravan (6-1) throttled the overmatched Vikings (1-6) with their size, speed and precision. One play after a Kyle Thomas blocked punt gave Mount Carmel first and goal at the two-yard line, Butkus started the onslaught with a sneak for the opening score.
He was just getting started. Butkus threw touchdown passes of 16 yards to Dominic Villa and 47 yards to Vincent Speller as Mount Carmel erupted for 35 points in the less than nine minutes to start the game.
Playing less than a half, Butkus had 77 yards on four out of five attempts. “When you come off a loss, you have to come right back with a win,” he said.
Star junior running back Matt Domer also made his presence felt. Domer (four carries, 102 yards) scored on runs of 41 and 53 yards that catapulted the Caravan to a commanding 45-0 at the break. “We had to come out and redeem ourselves after last week,” Domer said.
“We got humbled and we came out and had a great week of practice.”
Defensively the Caravan dominated, limiting the Vikings to just 65 yards of offense. St. Laurence recorded negative rushing yardage, totaling 13 attempts for minus-nine yards. Quarterback Bob Kelly completed 10-of-26 attempts for 73 yards.
St. Laurence managed just five first downs.
Mount Carmel recorded two interceptions. Junior Christian Searles jumped the passing lane on the second possession to set up Villa’s score. Linebacker T.J. Schalmz ended the Vikings’ best scoring drive with an interception on the final play of the first half.
Kicker Ivan Strmic nailed a 26-yard field goal and converted 7-7 extra points.
Running back Jimmy Mickens added a 15-yard touchdown burst in the first half. Reserve Justin Peebles registered the only points of the second half with a 52-yard touchdown run on the final play of the game.
“The whole team just said we don’t want that taste of a loss again,” Butkus said.
