Ellingson gives Libertyville thrilling win over Carmel

Nine years since Carmel Catholic and Libertyville played each other in football. Nearly one year to the date that Blake Ellingson played a high school football game.

It was all worth the wait Friday night, especially for Ellingson, the junior quarterback who broke his leg in Week 2 of last year, ending his rookie season on varsity.

In a season opener that drew hundreds of fans from both teams, packing Carmel's stadium, Libertyville emerged victorious in the "Battle of Route 176," 35-34. And the Wildcats did so in dramatic fashion, blowing a 21-point lead, only to rally late in the fourth quarter behind Ellingson.

Ellingson's cross-field, 20-yard touchdown pass to Sam Paden in the end zone on the final play of the game pulled the Wildcats within 34-33. Ellingson then ran in for the conversion, the visitors' fourth successful two-point PAT in as many attempts. Libertyville's fans sitting in the south end-zone bleachers stormed the field.

"Unreal," said Ellingson, who was mobbed and hugged by anyone who could get near him. "I missed playing this sport so much. It feels so good to get back."

Ellingson threw for 221 yards and 3 TDs. He hit Brian Stacy and Dylan Drumke on strikes from 78 and 41 yards, respectively, in the first half in helping Libertyville build a 24-3 lead. Ellingson also ran for 119 yards and a touchdown.

"He missed a whole year," Wildcats coach Mike Jones said, "so there was a little bit of inexperience as the game went on. But he's a competitor."

Libertyville's win overshadowed the performance of Carmel running back Syone Usma-Harper, who rushed for 298 yards on 26 carries and 2 touchdowns.

"It was crazy," Usma-Harper said of the atmosphere on a perfect weather night. "I couldn't believe it. It was packed Carmel, packed Libertyville, even back there (both end zones). It felt so good out here."

Usma-Harper's 29-yard TD run got Carmel within 24-10 at halftime. After Corsairs quarterback Avery Bugaj sandwiched a Cole Fiorenza 28-yard field goal with TD throws to Kimahri Wilson (46 yards) and Ben Berg (29 yards) in the third quarter, Usma-Harper gave the home team its first lead, 31-27, when he dived into the end zone from 5 yards out early in the fourth.

Carmel then got its second field goal of the night from Grant Wickremesekera (42 and 31 yards, respectively) to pad its lead.

With 3:36 on the clock, Libertyville and Ellingson took over. The Wildcats' final drive covered 77 yards on 16 plays, including a pair of fourth-down conversions. When Ellingson scored the winning points, many Carmel players feel to their knees.

"Our guys played their hearts out. I couldn't be prouder of our team," said coach Blake Annen, whose Corsairs also got 4 PAT kicks from senior Jillian Walsh. "Hats off to Libertyville. They definitely get credit for the way they played, especially there at the end."

While Ellingson and Usma-Harper dominated for their teams, Annen spread the credit.

"Across the board, I thought everyone played lights out," he said. "Syone and Ellingson both played really hard, but both teams played hard on both sides of the ball."