Red Tornadoes Escape With 27-26 Thriller Over Southern Columbia
By: Carrie Miner Yaple | SportzWire | October 3, 2026 | Photo courtesy Carrie Miner Yaple
MOUNT CARMEL — Mount Carmel’s perfect season nearly slipped away Friday night, but the Red Tornadoes found a way to keep their unbeaten record intact.
Jaylen Delaney scored the deciding touchdown with 1:13 remaining, then Mount Carmel’s defense stopped Southern Columbia’s final possession to secure a dramatic 27-26 victory at the Silver Bowl.
The win moved Mount Carmel to 6-0, while Southern Columbia suffered its first defeat and fell to 5-1.
For much of the night, the Tigers appeared to have control. Southern Columbia piled up 385 yards of offense and ran 50 rushing plays, repeatedly grinding out long possessions. At one point in the third quarter, the Tigers ran 22 consecutive offensive plays.
Grady Garcia was at the center of that attack. He rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries and also caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ayden Hockenbroch on Southern’s opening possession.
Mount Carmel, meanwhile, struggled to generate its usual offensive production. Its 27 points were a season low, and the Tornadoes finished with 254 total yards.
But when the game reached its most important moments, Delaney delivered.
After Garcia’s 20-yard touchdown run put Southern ahead 26-21 with 4:36 remaining, Mount Carmel took over.
The Tornadoes eventually faced fourth-and-12 at their own 29-yard line with just over two minutes remaining. Delaney scrambled under pressure before finding Mikey Higgins for a 21-yard completion, keeping the drive alive.
Two plays later, Mount Carmel caught Southern’s defense in a breakdown. Aidan Brokenshire broke open and raced toward the goal line before being forced out at the Tigers’ 2-yard line.
Delaney finished the job on the next snap, powering into the end zone for the go-ahead score.
The final drive capped a remarkable night for the Mount Carmel standout.
Delaney rushed 12 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns, including a 64-yard scoring run that tied the game at 7 in the first quarter. He also returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter and intercepted a Southern pass earlier in the game.
He became especially important through the air during the winning possession, completing all three of his passes on the final drive for 67 yards. He finished the game 3-for-4 passing for 69 yards.
Southern Columbia had opportunities to answer.
Hockenbroch took over at his own 18-yard line with all three timeouts available and quickly moved the Tigers downfield. He completed three straight passes, connecting twice with Jace Malakoski and once with Blaise Kissinger for a combined 37 yards.
A false-start penalty, however, pushed Southern backward with less than a minute remaining.
Hockenbroch then scrambled for nine yards to reach the Mount Carmel 41. On fourth-and-6, his final pass fell incomplete, sending the home sideline into celebration.
Southern had rallied from a 14-7 halftime deficit to take the lead, with Garcia providing the spark.
His 4-yard touchdown run tied the game at 14 early in the third quarter, but Delaney answered immediately with his 92-yard kickoff return.
Hockenbroch later scored on a 2-yard quarterback sneak to pull Southern within one, 21-20. A high snap prevented the Tigers from converting the extra point.
Garcia’s final touchdown, a 20-yard run with 4:36 remaining, gave Southern its first lead since the opening minutes of the game.
It ultimately wasn't enough.
Mount Carmel scored only three touchdowns on offense, but its defense made the critical stops when they mattered most. The Tornadoes also capitalized on Southern's missed opportunities and turnovers to remain undefeated.
Southern finished with 224 rushing yards and 161 passing yards. Hockenbroch completed 8 of 13 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while adding 41 rushing yards and a touchdown.
For Mount Carmel, Cooper Karycki contributed 42 rushing yards, while Higgins scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter.
The statistics showed Southern controlling much of the evening. The Tigers produced 20 first downs to Mount Carmel’s nine and more than 130 additional yards.
The scoreboard, however, told the only number that ultimately mattered.
Mount Carmel 27, Southern Columbia 26.
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