Mount Carmel's Caleb Tucker racks up three sacks in 55-21 win over Marist

Mount Carmel defensive tackle Caleb Tucker recorded three sacks and forced a fumble Friday night as his team defeated Marist 55-21 in Chicago.

The 6-foot-5, 370-pound junior has held the nickname Bonecrusher since he was five years old. He said that a coach gave him the name after watching him push a sled by himself. That coach still attends his games, and Tucker said the nickname has stuck with him through the years.

Tucker’s performance on the field lived up to that moniker against Marist. The Caravan, which improved to 8-2, controlled the line of scrimmage and used their size to pressure the Marist offense. Ty Kennedy added to the defensive effort by recovering a fumble and recording one of eight total sacks for Mount Carmel.

On offense, Brady Cloherty completed 15 of 19 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns. Nathan Samuels ran for two scores, while Marshaun Thornton and Duran Sims each caught two touchdowns. Sims finished with four receptions for 113 yards. The Caravan will travel to Barrington, a 7-4 team, for the second round of the Class 8A playoffs.

Marist, which dropped to 6-5, found some success through the air and on the ground. Conor Hunt caught four passes for 66 yards and ran for a 12-yard touchdown. Quarterback Jack Bullington completed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Nick Mayorski and a 20-yard touchdown pass to Joey Doyle.

Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch noted that Tucker has been on varsity since his freshman year. Lynch said Tucker’s size makes tackles easier for the rest of the defense, but he has also improved his technique as the season has progressed. Lynch described Tucker as a leader who plays hard and hogs up the middle of the field.

Tucker has visited several major college programs, including Michigan, Miami, Texas, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, and Purdue. He acknowledged that the recruiting process can be stressful, but he said the current playoff run offers a welcome break from that attention. He focused on relaxing and playing football for this week's game.

Tucker said his parents help him stay on track when the pressure builds. He expressed gratitude for their support as he continues to handle the spotlight that comes with his early recognition in high school football.