Family ties in Mount Carmel-H-F game

Mount Carmel star lineman Anthony Battle will meet his cousins, Erik and Jordan Taylor of H-F, on Friday.
(Jean Lachat/Sun-Times)

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Mount Carmel two-way lineman Anthony Battle said he was "nice guy" to his younger cousins -- Erik and Jordan Taylor of Homewood-Flossmoor -- when they were growing up.

"I didn't pick on them too much," said Battle, a Northwestern recruit.

But on Friday night, when the No. 13 Caravan (5-2) travel to Homewood-Flossmoor (3-4) for a much-anticipated nonconference game, Battle (6-3, 230 pounds) will be singing a different tune as he lines up on offense opposite both his cousins.

Erik Taylor (6-2, 195) is a junior defensive end and Jordan (5-11, 290) is a sophomore defensive tackle.

"It will be fun going against my cousins and putting them into the ground," said Battle, a senior. "We pretty much compete in any game we play. It's just another competition between us."

It is the first time the Taylors will meet Battle on the football field. But neither, including Jordan, who is set to play in his varsity game, are backing down.

"I am expecting him to bring everything he's got," Jordan Taylor said. "I'm not scared though. Basically, I'm just going to focus on my plays and not get sidetracked."

Is there any trash talk going on between families?

"Well, I'm not really expecting much from Anthony when I go against him," Erik Taylor said with a laugh. "It will probably be a little different at first ... but I'm not changing anything. We are just going to have to come in with a lot emotion to beat Mount Carmel."

And his cousin too.

ajahns@suntimes.com