Maine South head coach David Inserra (in red) gets doused with Gatorade as the final seconds tick off the clock in the Hawks win over Mt. Carmel during the Class 8A state final in Champaign Saturday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
CHAMPAIGN -- The future is bright for Maine South football. And the present isn't half-bad, either.
Sophomore quarterback Matt Alviti threw for one score and ran for another as he led Maine South to its third consecutive state title with a 28-7 victory over Mount Carmel in the Class 8A football state championship game at Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois campus.
Alviti escaped trouble all game long with his feet. His touchdown run in the fourth quarter helped seal the win.
His passing was even better: Alviti finished the day 16-for-21 for 224 yards.
Junior running back Paul Preston rushed for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Hawks (12-2).
Maine South's defense, meanwhile, turned Mount Carmel (11-3) away at nearly every turn.
The Caravan didn't score until there was just 1:08 left in the fourth quarter.
Maine South stopped the Caravan on downs with just more than eight minutes left in the third quarter, then marched 95 yards in 10 plays to make the score 21-0.
The victory capped Maine South's remarkable run from losses to start the season to Schaumburg and 7A champion Wheaton Warrenville South. Alviti then took over as the full-time starter at quarterback and the Hawks took off from there.
Maine Souths Imran Khan kisses the championship trophy after their win over Mt. Carmel during the Class 8A state final in Champaign Saturday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Maine Souths Matt Alviti reaches for the pylon as he scores in the fourth quarter against Mt. Carmel during the Class 8A state final in Champaign on Saturday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
The Maine South captains hoist the championship trophy following their win over Mt. Carmel during the Class 8A state final in Champaign Saturday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Maine Souths Paul Preston scores in the third quarter against Mt. Carmel during the Class 8A state final in Champaign Saturday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Maine Souths Jimmy Frankos breaks off a 47-yard punt return against Mt. Carmel during the Class 8A state final in Champaign Saturday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Maine Souths Paul Preston runs over a Mt. Carmel defender during the Class 8A state final in Champaign Saturday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Maine South Imran Khan turns a short catch into a long touchdown run against Mt. Carmel during the Class 8A state final in Champaign Saturday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Maine South quarterback Matt Alviti throws a pass downfield against Mt. Carmel during the Class 8A state final in Champaign Saturday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
The Maine South defense, including (from left) John Fabiano, Andrew Hjellming, Cody Horodnik, and Patrick Swiszcz celebrate after stopping Mt. Carmel on a fourth and goal in the third quarter during the Class 8A state final in Champaign Saturday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Maine Souths Imran Khan jumps for joy as the clock expires in their win over Mt. Carmel during the Class 8A state final in Champaign Saturday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com