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Sports

Raiders Get Redemption, Beat Mount Carmel 21-7

One year after being eliminated by Mount Carmel in the IHSA playoffs, the Bolingbrook Raiders returned the favor, defeating the Caravan 21-7 Saturday night.

Bolingbrook head coach John Ivlow was clear in his postgame message.

“A win is a win, and that's all that matters,” Ivlow said, moments after his Raiders clinched a 21-7 victory against the Mount Carmel Caravan to clinch an IHSA playoffs quarterfinals berth.

The win, though, was one year in the making.

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After being ousted by Mount Carmel in a , Bolingbrook began making strides in the event the teams played again.

“Our defensive staff researched this and talked to people from California and all over the country on how to stop (Mount Carmel's) split back veer,” Ivlow said. “It was a long process that started after our loss last year. We knew we'd cross paths again.”

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The endless research and tireless work paid off as the Raiders defense allowed only one touchdown—a third quarter touchdown pass from junior quarterback Don Butkus, Jr., to senior wide receiver Frank Kelly.

Other than Mount Carmel's lone score, Bolingbrook was dominant wire-to-wire.

The Raiders' were productive on the ground for the second straight playoff game. rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown. Teammate Jaden Huff rushed for 58 yards and tacked on a pair of touchdowns.

Huff scored the game's first touchdown on the Raiders' opening possession, which went for 80 yards on 12 plays in just less than five minutes.

The score gave Bolingbrook exactly what it wanted out of the gate. 

“We wanted to get on top of them, take them out of the game and not leave them in,” Bailey said. “This was a great team victory, for us, the defense and the special teams.”

Bailey joined in on the praise of the Bolingbrook defense, which came up with two fourth quarter interceptions by seniors Tevin Teamer and Greg Gordon. The Clean-Up Men—the nickname given to the defense by the Raiders quarterback—lived up to the billing with sound tackling and big plays.

“They've done an amazing job all year,” Ivlow said. “To hold this offense, one that's a very difficult offense to simulate in practice, let alone to stop the kids they have, it's a tribute to them.”

Bolingbrook advances to the IHSA quarterfinals for the first time since 2006. The Raiders will take on Downers Grove South, which on Friday, at on a to be determined date and time.

For more news and notes on the Raiders football team, check out Bolingbrook Patch's Raider Football Guide.

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