Featured photo caption: Kellen Sullivan powers his way into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown in overtime, giving Casey-Westfield the crucial 21-20 lead. —photo by Terri Cox

MT. CARMEL, IL – In a clash between two storied programs, the Casey-Westfield Warriors made the long trek to the Snake Pit and emerged with a hard-fought 21-20 overtime victory against the Mt. Carmel Golden Aces on Friday night. The contest was filled with dramatic momentum swings and pivotal plays, but it was Wyatt Erickson’s crucial extra point and a monumental defensive stand on a two-point conversion that preserved the Warriors’ perfect season.

The Warriors entered the contest with a 6-0 record, fresh off an amazing comeback win over Marshall, while Mt. Carmel (4-2) was coming off a road loss to Olney.

After winning the opening toss, the Golden Aces deferred to the second half and kicked off to start the game. Jack Julius fielded the kick and returned it to the 36-yard line, where the Warrior offense began its first series. A couple of short runs and a penalty, however, forced a quick three-and-out, and Nolan Clement punted the ball away.

Mt. Carmel took over on their own 42-yard line and put together a solid mix of run and pass plays, punctuating a lengthy 15-play, 58-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. The point-after attempt clanged off the left upright, but the Aces had drawn first blood for a 6-0 lead.

The Warrior offense continued to sputter on its second series. A block-in-the-back penalty negated a nice run by Gio Santillan, and a sack of Clement brought up a 4th-and-18 from the Casey-Westfield 25-yard line. Following another punt, Mt. Carmel looked to pick up right where they left off, methodically moving the ball into the red zone. But after a holding call pushed them back to the 18-yard line, the Aces quarterback thought he had a window over the middle. Warrior sophomore Weston Hupp slammed it shut, pulling in the pass for a momentum-shifting interception.

Finally, the Warriors’ offense got rolling. Clement hit Daryn Hupp along the far sideline for a 16-yard completion to move the chains. Gio Santillan then rumbled around the right side for positive yardage, drawing a 15-yard horse-collar penalty that moved the Purple and Gold to midfield. From there, Luke Karras got in on the action. The Indiana State commit burst through the middle of the Aces’ defense, followed a key block from Wyatt Erickson, and found nothing but open field as he rumbled 44 yards for the score. Erickson added the point-after to put the Warriors on top 7-6 in the second quarter, a score that would hold into intermission.

Mt. Carmel received the ball to start the second half, but a great kick by Erickson and solid tackling by Kian Davis and Riley Phillips pinned the Aces at their own 26-yard line. Undeterred, the Golden Aces rattled off three consecutive first downs and began to grind it out on the ground, capping an 8-play, 74-yard drive with another one-yard rushing score. A successful conversion pass gave them a 14-7 advantage.

That lead was extremely short-lived—about 10 seconds, in fact. Jack Julius took the ensuing kickoff and slithered his way through the entire Mt. Carmel defense for a stunning 86-yard touchdown return. Erickson was again successful on the PAT, knotting the score at 14-14.

After both teams stalled on their next drives, the Warriors got a favorable penalty when Julius, signaling for a fair catch, was hit by a defender, moving the ball into Aces territory. Unfortunately, on the first play of the drive, a fumbled snap was quickly recovered by the home team.

With time ticking down in the fourth quarter, Mt. Carmel looked to capitalize. On a 2nd-and-6 from the Warrior 29-yard line, the quarterback dropped back, but his pass to the sideline was masterfully intercepted by Daryn Hupp, who wrestled the ball away from the intended receiver. The Purple and Gold looked poised to drive for a game-winning score in the closing minutes, but they failed to convert on a 4th-and-goal from the seven-yard line, giving the ball back with just 1:21 left in regulation. Mt. Carmel managed a pair of first downs, but key stops by Kellen Sullivan, Will Moore, Fred Thomas, and Karras allowed the clock to run out, sending the game to overtime.

The Warriors won the toss in the extra period and chose to go on offense first. Kellen Sullivan immediately gashed the defense down to the two-yard line, then rumbled across the goal line for the go-ahead touchdown. Erickson calmly split the uprights with the PAT, giving the Warriors a 21-20 lead.

Mt. Carmel got its chance and pushed into the end zone on a 3rd-and-2. The Aces opted to go for the win with a two-point conversion, but the Warrior defensive line said “no-go,” clogging the middle and dropping the runner for a two-yard loss to seal the incredible overtime victory.

The Warriors improve to 7-0 (5-0) and will welcome the Olney Tigers to Sinclair-Vidoni Field next Friday night for what will be the Little Illini Conference championship game, as the Tigers also bring a 7-0 (5-0) record to the field. Prior to kickoff, Senior Night festivities will be held honoring the Class of 2026 football players, cheerleaders, dancers, band members, and Cross Country runners.

Jack Julius streaks 86 yards for a kickoff return touchdown, instantly answering a Mt. Carmel score and tying the game at 14-14 in the third quarter. —photo by Terri Cox

Wyatt Erickson splits the uprights on a point-after attempt. Erickson was a perfect 3-for-3 on the night, with his final kick providing the ultimate margin of victory. —photo by Terri Cox

Sophomore Weston Hupp secures a critical interception in the second quarter, ending a deep Mt. Carmel drive and setting up the Warriors’ first score of the game. —photo by Terri Cox

The Casey-Westfield defense swarms a Mt. Carmel runner on the game-deciding two-point conversion attempt in overtime, sealing the dramatic 21-20 road victory. —photo by Terri Cox

Luke Karras breaks into the open field on his way to a 44-yard touchdown run, giving the Warriors their first lead of the night in the second quarter. —photo by Terri Cox

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

Scoring Drives

• 1st Quarter

  • MtC: 1-yard run (PAT no good)

• 2nd Quarter

  • CW: Luke Karras 44-yard run (Wyatt Erickson kick)

• 3rd Quarter

  • MtC: 1-yard run (Pass conversion good)

  • CW: Jack Julius 86-yard kickoff return (Erickson kick)

• Overtime

  • CW: Kellen Sullivan 2-yard run (Erickson kick)

  • MtC: 2-yard run (Conversion run failed)

Individual Statistics

OFFENSE

• RUSHING: Luke Karras 13-90, 1 TD; Kellen Sullivan 11-52, 1 TD; Nolan Clement 11-32; Wyatt Erickson 1-8; Gio Santillan 4-13; Weston Hupp 1-4; Nick Fouty 1-1.

• PASSING: Nolan Clement 3-for-7, 32 yards.

• RECEIVING: Kellen Sullivan 2-16; Daryn Hupp 1-16.

• KICKING: Wyatt Erickson 3-for-3 on PATs.

• KICK RETURN: Jack Julius 3-125, 1 TD.

• PUNT RETURN: Jack Julius 3-23.

DEFENSE

• TACKLES: Luke Karras 16, Weston Hupp 11, Fred Thomas 8, Daryn Hupp 7, Nolan Clement 7, Kellen Sullivan 7, Kai Davis 3, Will Moore 3, Jett Self 3, and one each by Jack Julius, Kian Davis, Wyatt Erickson, Riley Phillips, Lucas Weinberger and Drew Stutesman.

• SACKS: Drew Stutesman, Will Moore.

• INTERCEPTIONS: Weston Hupp, Daryn Hupp.