Sujka's first half carries Caravan

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:26PM

What is a tremendous production in a game for some was a great first half for Mount Carmel quarterback Chris Sujka.

Sujka accounted for 284 yards and four touchdowns before halftime as the Caravan bounced back from last week's loss at St. Rita and routed Brother Rice 42-7 in the Catholic League Blue Friday night at Gately Stadium.

"We were heart-broken after last week because we think that we beat ourselves with turnovers and stupid mistakes," Sujka said. "This was the real Mount Carmel."

From its first possession, there was no stopping No. 24 Mount Carmel (5-2, 3-1) early. After its defense forced a punt, the Caravan offense moved 53 yards in five plays with Sujka scoring on an 11-yard run. After another defensive stop and a five-yard penalty, Sujka went 71 yards for another touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

A 66-yard pass from Sujka to junior Frank Kelly made it 21-0. And late in the first quarter, Sujka struck again with a 47-yard scoring run to cap a four-play drive and make it 28-0.

"We wanted to start fast and finish strong and that is what we did," Mount Carmel coach Frank Lenti said. "I knew we had to play well up front, and Chris did a nice job of isolating the defense and making the right reads. This was probably our best game against a good team."

"We got a big hit on the opening kickoff and then the defense got a three-and-out," Sujka said. "The offensive just opened everything up."

Michael Banks broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown run to put Mount Carmel up 35-0, with five touchdowns in its first five possessions.

Late in the half, the Caravan got down to the Crusaders' 1, but after two penalties, Brother Rice (4-3, 1-3) held. On the drive Mount Carmel was intercepted, but that was nullified by a penalty, and it fumbled once, but recovered.

In the first half, Sujka carried 10 times for 183 yards and was 5-for-8 passing for 101 yards.

In the second half, Sujka was replaced by sophomore Don Butkus, the great nephew of Bears Hall-of-Famer Dick Butkus, the 1959 Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year at Vocational.

Chris Wright's 10-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter made it 42-0 and started a running clock.

After recovering fumbled punt, the Crusaders, who were without junior running back Martez Walker scored on a 14-yard run by Charlie Finn.

"That [fumble] was okay," Lenti said. "It gives us something to get on the kids about."

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