Brandon Price rushes Providence to upset win

Updated: October 21, 2011 11:16PM

The shortest player on the field made the biggest impact for Providence in a 24-18 upset win over No. 11 Mount Carmel on Friday night at Gately Stadium.

Five-foot-6 Brandon Price scored two touchdowns and accounted for 209 total yards in the second half for the Celtics (6-3, 1-3, Catholic League Blue).

“He’s elusive,” Celtics coach Mark Coglianese said. “He hides behind our line and jukes.”

Down 10-7 at halftime, Price opened the second half with a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

After a three-and-out by the Caravan (6-3, 1-3), Price, a junior, broke free for a 50-yard touchdown run to put Providence up 21-10 with 8:19 left in the third quarter. Price, who had just one carry for no gain in the first half, finished with 117 yards on 12 carries.

“I hold my own,” he said. “The offensive line did a great job opening holes.”

Mount Carmel had two drives in Celtics territory in the final three minutes but turned the ball over on downs both times. The last drive reached the Providence 18-yard line, but with 31 seconds left the Caravan could not convert on a fourth-and-six.

“We just didn’t get the job done,” Mount Carmel coach Frank Lenti said. “Give them (Celtics) credit.”

The Caravan had cut the deficit to 21-18 with 8:37 left in the game on a 1-yard touchdown run by Don Butkus. The quarterback then connected with Jason Gasser on the two-point conversion.

Providence added a 34-yard field goal by Nick Beller on its ensuing possession to take a six-point lead.

The Caravan went up 7-0 with 24 seconds left in the first quarter on a nine-yard touchdown run by Brandon Greer (14 carries, 90 yards) to cap a 10-play, 67-yard drive.

The Celtics countered with a 14-play, 81-yard drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown pass from Chris Salazar to Jack Klyczek.

A 42-yard field goal by Ivan Strmic gave Mount Carmel a 10-7 lead with 52 seconds left in the first half.

“We played liked it was a playoff the game the whole week,” Price said.

Mount Carmel holds a 9-7 lead over Providence in the all-time series.

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