Senior quarterback Jake Stearney’s work was done early Saturday. Coming out after halftime with Loyola ahead by 46 points, he was wearing a baseball cap and carrying a tablet.
Two quarters with a running clock later, the Ramblers had beaten St. Patrick 53-7 and Stearney and his teammates finally could discuss what everyone has been talking about: the showdown next week between No. 1 Mount Carmel and No. 2 Loyola in Wilmette.
At stake is the CCL/ESCC Blue title, IHSA playoff seeding and plenty of bragging rights in the Chicago area and beyond.
‘‘We haven’t overlooked any team we’ve played,’’ Stearney said. ‘‘But definitely this game was in the back of our minds for some time now. We’re going to have a great week of prep and just do our thing.’’
In the postgame huddle, Loyola coach John Holecek told his players they would be underdogs for the first time all season.
‘‘We’ll take it,’’ Stearney said. ‘‘Obviously, in our minds, we know we’re the best team in the state and the Midwest. Then again, getting that noise — they’re ranked No. 1, we’re ranked No. 2 — it doesn’t really matter at the end of the day.’’
Asked whether he was glad Mount Carmel week is finally here, Holecek said jokingly, ‘‘I’ll be glad when it’s over.
‘‘Honestly, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say [Mount Carmel is] one of the best teams I’ve ever seen in high school. . . . They’re a machine, and we knew that last year when they were all juniors.’’
Both teams are 8-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference. Mount Carmel’s closest game was a 28-21 victory two weeks ago at Brother Rice; Loyola’s narrowest victory was 28-17 two weeks ago at Marist.
The Ramblers came into the season expecting to be explosive on offense, thanks to their experience and depth, and that has proved to be the case. Loyola is averaging 44 points. Coming into his abbreviated outing Saturday, Holy Cross recruit Stearney was completing 73% of his passes for 1,477 yards and 25 touchdowns with three interceptions.
Will Nimesheim, who had a touchdown run and a touchdown reception as Loyola opened a 22-0 lead in the first quarter, is a proven back, and sophomore Luke Foster was an effective second option.
But Drew McPherson, another sophomore, is out with an injury.
‘‘He’s a home-run threat every time he runs,’’ Holecek said. ‘‘Fastest guy on our team.’’
The defense, which was the more unproven unit heading into the season, is giving up 14 points a game. Starting defensive tackle Joe Kelly is out for the season because of an injury, so Western Michigan-bound tight end Jack Parker is getting defensive snaps and making his presence felt.
The leader on that side of the ball is 6-6 lineman Brooks Bahr, a Michigan recruit who thinks the defense is trending up.
‘‘We started off strong, [but] we’ve had our ups and downs throughout the season,’’ Bahr said. ‘‘Then again, we’re executing nicely and correcting the stuff we need to work on. It’s nice to see that all the guys are buying in, doing their thing.’’
Now comes the big test.
