SUFRB TRENCH REPORT: EAST ST. LOUIS’ BIG BOYS SHOCK MOUNT CARMEL

The Flyers’ offensive and defensive lines powered a 28-point fourth quarter, a 42–23 victory and the end of Mount Carmel’s 19-game winning streak.

By the Starts Up Front National & Global Recruiting Board

The headlines may celebrate touchdowns, but East St. Louis’ stunning comeback against Chicago Mount Carmel was built where championships are always built—at the line of scrimmage.

East St. Louis entered the fourth quarter trailing 23–14 before scoring 28 unanswered points to defeat Mount Carmel 42–23. The victory ended the Caravan’s 19-game winning streak and knocked off a nationally ranked program coming off the 2025 Illinois Class 8A state championship.

From the SUFRB perspective, this game was decided by the big boys.

EAST ST. LOUIS’ OFFENSIVE LINE REFUSED TO BREAK

A team does not erase a nine-point deficit and score 28 consecutive points without its offensive line taking control.

East St. Louis’ offensive front remained physical, created movement and gave the Flyers the foundation they needed to finish drives. When the pressure increased and the game entered its decisive moments, the Flyers’ linemen responded with discipline, toughness and sustained effort.

The East St. Louis roster identifies an imposing group of offensive linemen:

• No. 55 Tayden Goodwin — 6-foot-4, 230 pounds
• No. 58 Jerry Richmond — 6-foot-4, guard/center
• No. 70 Javell Donley — 6-foot-6, guard
• No. 72 Antonian Grayes — 6-foot-8, 330 pounds
• No. 74 Trent Staten — 6-foot, 300 pounds
• No. 75 Matthew Bassett — 6-foot-3, 325 pounds
• No. 76 Kameron Cody — 6-foot-4, 350 pounds
• No. 77 Tristian Hamilton — 6-foot-2, 300 pounds
• No. 79 Phillip Barnes — 6-foot-3, 300 pounds

The Flyers possessed tremendous size, but size alone does not produce a comeback. Offensive linemen must communicate, recognize defensive movement, maintain leverage and continue working together when fatigue begins to affect both teams.

East St. Louis’ fourth-quarter explosion showed which offensive front was prepared to finish.

THE FLYERS’ DEFENSIVE FRONT SHUT THE DOOR

Mount Carmel entered the fourth quarter with 23 points and finished the game with 23.

That scoreless final period tells the story of an East St. Louis defense that became more disruptive as the game progressed. The Flyers’ defensive front helped prevent Mount Carmel from protecting its lead, allowing East St. Louis to seize momentum and score four unanswered touchdowns.

The Flyers’ listed defensive-line group includes:

• No. 50 Lonnie Johnson — 6-foot-3, 250 pounds
• No. 54 Caleb Brown — 6-foot-2, 255 pounds, defensive end
• No. 56 Caleb Morrow — defensive tackle/defensive end
• No. 90 Elijah Hanberry — defensive tackle
• No. 92 Clifton Jones — defensive tackle

Their contribution went beyond individual statistics. Defensive-line success is measured by controlling gaps, collapsing blocking schemes, disrupting timing, occupying multiple blockers and forcing an offense away from what it wants to do.

During the fourth quarter, Mount Carmel could not answer East St. Louis’ physicality.

MOUNT CARMEL BROUGHT AN ELITE TRENCH UNIT

This victory carries additional weight because East St. Louis did not overpower an ordinary opponent.

Before the season, the Chicago Sun-Times described both Mount Carmel lines as being loaded with future college players. The Caravan’s trench talent included Purdue-committed offensive tackle Chase Clark and Wisconsin-committed defensive end Darin Graham. Power Four prospects included defensive lineman Emmanuel McMoore, defensive end London Owens and offensive linemen Piotr Nakonieczny, Jesus Tinajero, Caleb Tucker and Kirk Turner.

Mount Carmel’s roster also lists offensive linemen Jake Soto, Kevin O’Connor, Emmett Breakey and Matthew McCool, along with defensive linemen Sam Ogeto, Yashua Bullock, Jeremy Harris and Damian Gutierrez.

East St. Louis did not simply defeat a respected name. The Flyers defeated one of Illinois’ deepest and most highly recruited collections of offensive and defensive linemen.

THE SUFRB VERDICT

The 42–23 final score will be remembered as a major East St. Louis victory, but SUFRB recognizes what made the comeback possible.

The offensive line kept pushing when the Flyers were behind. The defensive line prevented Mount Carmel from scoring when the game mattered most. Together, the two units changed the momentum, controlled the fourth quarter and helped end a 19-game winning streak.

This was more than an upset.

It was a declaration from the trenches.

East St. Louis shocked Mount Carmel because its big boys accepted the challenge, controlled the line of scrimmage and finished the fight.

The skill players may appear in the box score, but the victory was built up front.

It All Starts Up Front.