MCA vs. Midwest – Live

Game Notes for Midd-West – 2023 by Jose Gonzalo, MCA Statistician

       This week’s game will be the 2nd in the series with Midd-West dating back to last year as that was the first ever game in our history with the Mustangs. They became our 143^rd opponent in our 131-year history. We have never played with Middleburg or West Snyder as they are the schools that make up the new Midd-West School District. 

The Mount Carmel Area Red Tornadoes are taking the field for the 131st year representing Mount Carmel Area High School. They have a record of 893 wins, 342 losses, and 59 ties in their 1294 games. (71.3%) The 893 wins represent the most in the state of Pennsylvania and ranks 6^th in the country. MCA now holds a 16-game advantage over Easton in the state of PA as a result of Easton’s loss to Bethlehem Catholic. (Although there are many different numbers being thrown out for Easton, we have settled on 877 as the number used most often) MCA has participated in the post season during 33 of 40 years since 1983 and 27 of 30 since 1993 and had participated in the postseason for 13 consecutive years up until the 2020 season. 

MCA has played 143 different opponents

Playoff record overall is 61 wins and 27 losses

11 and 8 in Eastern Conference (8 championships)

29-16 in Districts (8 championships)

19-3 in state playoffs (6 championships – 5 modern day)

MCA at home – 514-143-24(77.3%) and away is 379-199-35(64.6%)

            They are led by Head Coach John Darrah who is in his 9^th year at the helm with a 67-32 record, having qualified for playoffs in 7 of his 8 seasons.  He will coach in his 100^thgame this week in the contest with Midd-West – Only Jazz (355) Mike Terry (166) and Mike Brennan (110) have coached in more

They are coming off a terrific 12 and 1 season with their only loss coming to eventual state champion Southern Columbia in the District IV Championship Game

The Bloomsburg game marked the first time that MCA returned a punt and kickoff return for TD in the same game (Diaz PR 74 yards – Morgante KO Return 86 yards) since the 2000 season when Jared Pilarski returned a kickoff 87 yards vs Marian Catholic and Josh Kleha brought back a punt for 79 yards against Marian.

The Bloom game also saw the first 2 players to rush for 100 yards (Blessing and Cooper Karycki) since Blessing and Diaz accomplished the same against Shamokin in 2022

Last week the 516 yards of total offense at the half established a new best at MCA while the 650 total yards in the game ranks second only to the 665 yards registered against Central Columbia in 2015.

MCA registered their 4^th game of the year where a passer, rusher and receiver complied over 100 yards (176-Spears – 102 – Chase Balichik and 124 and 135 for Blessing and Cooper Karycki)

The 58 points scored at the half ranks 2^nd to the 60 put up against Warrior Run in 2008. The 69 points scored is the most since the 70 against Milton in 2017. It ranks as the 6^th most points scored in a game in our history (1294 games)

Cooper Karycki becomes the first MCA freshman to run for 100 yards since John Ayres ran for 115 against Central Columbia in 2015 (Karycki had 9 carries for 135 yards)

Cole Spears has now moved into 10^th place all time with 145 career completions and 25 TD’s – His 2254 yard passing now moves into 9^th position. He came within 22 yards of tying Joe Buchinski (1965) in getting to 1000 yards the fastest (In only 5 games) – Cole now has 978 in 5 games.  His passer rating stands at 127.9   Xavier Diaz now has 774 all-purpose yards – an average of 154.8/Game and Luke Blessing (52) and Diaz (48) lead the scoring.

The 10 kickoffs by Bobby Schoppy represent the most ever attempted in a single game in our history

Last week’s 650 yards in total offense plus 118 yards in punt returns plus 132 yards in kickoff returns gives the Tornadoes 900 all-purpose yards – the most ever in a single game at MCA

MCA’s 10 touchdowns last week averaged 44.9 yards each with 4 over 73 yards.