Junior quarterback Jack Elliott has a message for his Mount Carmel teammates.

And anyone else, for that matter.

After the Caravan had their 22-game winning streak snapped Saturday afternoon in Wilmette, Elliott declared his patience for anything of that sort has also ended.

“It’s the first high school football game I ever lost,” he said. “We’re never losing again.”

The 6-foot, 205-pound Elliott completed 20 of 37 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns and also ran 16 times for 82 yards in a 23-21 CCL/ESCC loss to Loyola.

In a battle of unbeatens and defending state champions, the Caravan (8-1, 2-1) suffered their first loss since a 41-28 setback to Brother Rice in the 2021 Class 7A quarterfinals.

Wisconsin recruit Darrion Dupree complemented Elliott’s effort with 87 yards on 14 carries. Maurice Densmore added six catches for 169 yards and two TDs for the reigning 7A champs.

Defending Class 8A champ Loyola (9-0, 3-0) was led by junior quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald, who passed for 259 yards and ran for 63. He’s the son of Pat Fitzgerald, the former Northwestern coach and Sandburg star linebacker.

Both teams have been playoff eligible for weeks, but this game loomed large. Mount Carmel was a 2-point conversion away from forcing a tie with 3:13 left in the fourth quarter.

“We have a 24-hour rule in which win, lose or draw, you have to forget it,” Elliott said. “Obviously, you’re not going to forget it that quickly. But it’s 24 hours, then learn the next opponent, learn the X’s and O’s, but use this feeling.

“No one wants to feel like this. And we’re not going to feel like this ever again.”

The Caravan trailed 17-7 at halftime, even though their offense totaled 240 yards. Going 0-for-3 on fourth-down conversions kept them from piling up the points.

“That was the key to the game,” Elliott said. “We didn’t execute, and we have to do better as a group. It’s not on one guy at all.”

Heading into the regular-season finale, Elliott had thrown for 1,518 yards and 15 TDs while running for 475 yards and three TDs.

“He’s an ultimate competitor and a true Mount Carmel kid,” Caravan coach Jordan Lynch said. “I’m lucky enough as a coach to have a kid like that under center and playing for us.”

Dupree, meanwhile, was emotional after the loss. But the good news for him is the star running back/receiver left Wilmette healthy.

Last season, it was the same scenario, with Mount Carmel playing at Loyola in the final regular game of the season.

Dupree suffered an injury in the first quarter and missed all five playoff games as the Caravan went on to win the 7A state title.

This time, he got through that first quarter — and the game — unscathed.

“I thought about it a little when I got here,” he said of returning to Loyola. “But I’m fine.”

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Dupree entered Saturday’s game with 1,209 all-purpose yards, including 672 rushing, 473 yards in receptions and 64 on five kickoff returns.

He said he will keep the sting of this loss with him for a while.

“It’s going to follow us to state,” Dupree said. “It feels bad.”

Lynch confirmed that winning the league was a huge goal on the team’s wish list, but he’s going to get the Caravan ready for the next goal of winning state.

Elliott said he will help with that.

“What matters is we have our next opponent and five more games to play,” Elliott said. “What matters is getting that banner and getting that trophy.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.