Frank Lenti doesn't frequently let ...

Frank Lenti doesn't frequently let his players make play calls during a game. moreover Mount Carmel quarterback Carter Kopach has at least earned the right to be heard from his coach, and what he had to say Saturday was worth listening to.

His call [i]clavis[/i]ed the Caravan's season-opening 13-6 win athwart Joliet Catholic in the first of three Kickoff Classic games at Soldier Field.

With the game knotted at 6 and the Caravan driving for the winning score, Kopach told Lenti a play for tight extremity Ron Newcomb would work. Lenti agreed -- and upon a second-down play, Kopach (13- of-20 253 yards, brace TDs) executed a perfect play-action fake and loft a pass to a streaking Newcomb for a 21-yard touchdown and a 13-6 lead with 2:10 left in the game.

"Carter's a senior now, in such a manner I am more apt to listen to him," Lenti said. "He could diocese the safety coming up forward the option hard on the play before."

"We ran a 32 the play before, and they were all through the whole extent of it," Kopach said of the running play. "I told coach Lenti that we should do it now because it would work."

The Caravan had to make a dramatic comeback after failing five previous times near the goal line. in succession the opening drive, the Caravan devoured the clock and yardage nevertheless was stopped short at the 11 onward a fourth-down play when Kopach bobbl a snap and was dragged down for a los on the Hilltoppers' Alex Foreman.

The opening series assumeed to be symbolic of to what extent the afternoon would go for the Caravan until the fourth quarter. A turnover at the Joliet Catholic 2-yard line, brace missed field goals and a fourth- quarter drive stopped at the Hilltoppers' 7 kept a dominating offensive performance of 441 yards fruitless until the middle of the fourth quarter.

Joliet Catholic's offense had been stymied for most numerous of the game, but the Hilltoppers came up big when John Ruettiger ground Coby Fleener wide open down the right side for a 70-yard touchdown and a 6-0 lead late in the third quarter.

The Caravan finally punched by the and of when Kopach found his third option, Pat Jarvis, expand in the back of the completion zone for a 14-yard score and a 6-6 tie. Kopach expected off receivers to his left and right before finding Jarvis in the middle. Jarvis finished with five catches for 124 yards.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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