Caravan knows West Suburban Silver teams

Updated: October 25, 2011 5:19PM

Mount Carmel is getting pretty familiar with the West Suburban Silver Conference.

For the third time in two years, the defending Class 8A state runner-up Caravan will play a member of the West Suburban Silver in the postseason.

Mount Carmel will open the playoffs for the second straight year against a Silver foe when Hinsdale Central travels to Gately Stadium to take on the Caravan at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Caravan (6-3) opened last year’s playoffs with a 55-20 victory over Proviso West and Mount Carmel defeated Lyons 41-10 in the quarterfinals.

Hinsdale Central (6-3) is one of five West Suburban Silver teams to qualify for the playoffs, joining Glenbard West, York, Lyons and Proviso West. The DuPage Valley Conference also sent five teams to the playoffs.

After watching video of the Devils, Mount Carmel coach Frank Lenti could see what his team will need to do against Hinsdale Central, which boasts a pair of talented receivers in Brad Anlauf (6-foot-3, 178 pounds) and Tom Garvin (6-4, 202).

“No. 81 (Garvin) and No. 10 (Anlauf) are good players,” Lenti said. “We know we have to try to contain those guys and keep them off the field. The way we keep them off the field is to keep our defense off the field.”

The Caravan will play without four defensive starters due to injuries.

Mount Carmel is led by Central Michigan-bound running back Brandon Greer, who has rushed for 1.041 yards and scored 11 TDs this season. Greer rushed for 239 yards and three TDs against Brother Rice.

Quarterback Don Butkus, who threw three TD passes against St. Laurence, and rusher Draco Smith have been potent weapons this season for the Caravan, which have lost three of their last four games entering the playoffs.

“Hopefully we can go far enough in the playoffs to get those (defensive) starters back,” Lenti said.

Six of Mount Carmel’s opponents reached the playoffs this season.

The Devils might have to play short-handed since junior quarterback Brian Owens suffered a concussion in the second quarter of Friday night’s 41-27 loss to York. Owens has passed for 12 touchdowns this season and has thrown for over 200 yards in each of his last six games, including a career-best 315 yards against Lyons.

Hinsdale Central is preparing for the Caravan as though senior backup Danny Callahan will start.

“(Owens) is not cleared to practice (Monday),” Devils coach Rich Tarka said. “There is a chance he will play Saturday. We are working with Danny.”

Callahan started the season as quarterback, but was shifted to running back in Week 5. He completed 8-of-11 passes for 155 yards and a TD while subbing for Owens against York.

In the regular-season finale, senior running back Teddy Kwasigroch returned for limited carries since breaking a finger in his left hand in practice entering Week 4.

Tarka formerly played and coached at Richards and is familiar with Mount Carmel’s winning tradition.

“You know what you get when you draw them,” Tarka said. “When you see their name, you know you have your hands full.”

The Devils return to the playoffs after last year’s 4-5 season ended a run of 11 consecutive appearances. Each of Hinsdale Central’s last three coaches have made the playoffs in their first year, including Tony Lombardi in 2003 and Mike DiMatteo in 2006.

“I think it’s great. I think it’s a step in the right direction,” Tarka said. “The kids have had a great attitude all year.”

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