Girls flag football: No. 1 seed Carmel comes up with all the stops, blanks Prospect for regional crown

Nearly a month after defeating host Prospect 32-6, Carmel Catholic’s flag football team returned to the Knights’ home field Wednesday night to vie for a regional championship.

The score with 2.4 seconds left in the first half:

Carmel 0, Prospect 0.

“Different team,” said Corsairs coach Ben Berg. “Prospect did a good job taking away our running game.”

But Carmel’s passing game — along with its defense — shone under the lights at George Gattas Memorial Stadium, carrying the visitors to a 14-0 victory.

Senior quarterback/free safety Josie Hartman tossed a late first-half touchdown to senior wide receiver/linebacker Maron Bowes (4 catches, 80 yards) and found Bowes again for another score in the second half.

The first TD covered 15 yards, and the second was a 21-yard connection with 48 seconds left in the third quarter.

“We had some ups and downs tonight,” said Hartman, who completed 16 of 26 passes for 157 yards, rushed for 57 more, and came down with 1 of the Corsairs’ 3 interceptions.

“What really helped during our down moments was our sideline’s energy.”

So did junior Grace Booher’s two picks.

“I have no idea,” team-first Booher, a strong safety/wideout, said when asked how many interceptions she has this fall.

Berg estimated his club had intercepted more than 50 passes in 21 games.

Booher’s second INT, at Carmel’s 12-yard line, preceded Carmel’s second TD.

Top-seeded Carmel (20-1) will play in a Buffalo Grove sectional semifinal at 5 p.m. Monday against the winner of Thursday night’s Libertyville regional final between fourth-seeded Schaumburg and fifth-seeded Libertyville.

“We’re getting everybody’s best shot,” said Berg, whose crew defeated Lake Zurich 20-13 in a regional semifinal Tuesday. “Our kids hung in there.

“That backside post play (Carmel’s first TD) from Josie to Maron was big for us.”

Eighth-seeded Prospect (13-11) marched from its 14-yard line to Carmel’s 18 on the opening drive. Knights quarterback Libby McDonough (18 for 28 passing, 115 yards) rushed here and passed there, extending the lengthy drive in a variety of ways before Carmel sophomore linebacker Katherine Anen recorded a sack 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Hartman then picked off a pass on the next play.

The Knights refused to wilt and displayed plenty of resolve thereafter.

“I could not be prouder of how we competed tonight,” said Prospect coach Mike Bosco. “We made a lot of adjustments this season after some struggles. We challenged the girls. At one point, in late September, we put players in different positions that got some of them thinking, ‘Oh, someone could take my spot.’ We then saw healthy competition.”

McDonough’s favorite target, Claire Happ, caught 8 passes for 57 yards. Julia Nay finished with 5 receptions for 37 yards.

Prospect’s Gianna Catanzano had a second-half interception.

Carmel senior linebacker Ayo Akingbesote made 2 stops for losses.

Corsairs junior slot receiver Fiona Ackerson had 4 receptions for 28 yards. Booher wound up with 4 catches for 21 yards, and junior slot Maliyah Mays snared a pair of tosses for 28 yards.

“We have balance,” said Booher, alluding to Carmel’s slew of reliable receivers. “And we play complementary football.

“Coach Berg,” she added, “likes that kind of football.”