CHICAGO | Mt. Carmel's chances slipped away much like the football did Saturday afternoon before 6,000 fans at Gately Stadium.

The Caravan turned the ball over five times, plus had a punt blocked for a touchdown and surrendered a safety in a 24-7 loss to Loyola in a Class 8A quarterfinal playoff game.

It was the Ramblers' special teams that came up big as Jack Sheridan kicked a state playoff-record five field goals.

"We killed ourselves with turnovers and special teams today," Mt. Carmel coach Frank Lenti said. "I think we had one (turnover) in our first two playoff games and we had five today.

"We shot ourselves in the foot with penalties and turnovers."

The Caravan (8-4) fumbled five times, losing three of them. Loyola's James Bonner picked off two passes to end to Caravan drives. All except one of Loyola's scores was set up by a turnover. The other one was set up after the Ramblers (11-1) stopped the Caravan and forced a turnover on downs.

It was the second time Loyola beat Mt. Carmel this season. The Ramblers won 28-15 in the regular season. Loyola will play Maine South, a 44-23 winner over Glenbrook South, in a semifinal. Ramblers coach John Holecek, a Marian Catholic grad, said he knew it would be a tough game.

"Mt. Carmel is always tough and our defense and special teams really came through for us," Holecek said. "We made some big plays and we knew it would come down to making some stops because Mt. Carmel is a very good team."

Mt. Carmel's defense did not allow a touchdown and held Loyola to 67 yards of offense in the first half. Senior lineman Nathan Ollie, who missed Mt. Carmel's first game against Loyola with a broken left hand, said the defense played hard.

"The defense, we did our part," said Ollie, a Ball state recruit. "It's tough to lose on your home field. They (Loyola) made a few big plays and took advantage of our mistakes."

Mt. Carmel took its only lead when Milton Greer went 26 yards with 7:22 left in the first half to give the Caravan a 7-3 advantage. After Mike Kreuger's interception, the Caravan were forced to punt. The Ramblers' Daveed Carter blocked the punt, and James Ford picked it up and went 44 yards to make it 12-7.

"After that blocked punt, it seemed like it took the wind out of a few guys," Greer said. "We couldn't get anything going and when we did, we either had penalties or turned it over."

During the next series, the Caravan tried to punt again. But the snap went over punter Ryan Norris' head, and he was tackled in the end zone to make it 12-7. Sheridan added a 33-yard field goal as time expired to make 15-7 at halftime.

He added field goals of 36, 41 and 31 yards in the second half. The Caravan mounted a couple of good drives, but turned the ball over.

PREP FOOTBALL

Class 8A Quarterfinals

No. 3 Loyola Academy 24, No. 10 Mt. Carmel 7

Chris Barcelona and Mike Butler had eight tackles each for the Caravan.

More prep football coverage inside

Read Mike Nieto's take on Mt. Carmel's 2009 season. PAGE B3