Once upon a time, Mount Carmel’s Alonzo Manning was an offensive lineman.

It was during his youth football days when Manning, now a 5-foot-5, 180-pound senior running back for the Caravan, was actually one of the bigger kids on the field.

“I was a chunky child,” he said. “But I slimmed down, got fast and here I am.”

But that’s where this story takes a turn.

Manning stopped growing at the start of high school, and despite how he’s listed on Mount Carmel’s roster, he fessed up Friday night that he was really 5-4 and 165 pounds.

The Navy recruit also delivered a breakout performance, rushing for 50 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries for the host Caravan in a 39-10 victory over St. Rita in Chicago.

Jack Elliott threw for 161 yards and a TD to Darrion Gilliam and ran four times for 88 yards and a TD to lead Mount Carmel (9-1) to the Class 7A first-round playoff win. Matthew Markett added a pick-six for another TD.

Again, once upon a time, Manning had given up on thoughts of a Division I school for football because he figured no one would want a player his size.

Then Navy wanted a player his size.

After star running back Darrion Dupree missed the playoffs last season with an injury, Manning helped lead the Caravan to a Class 7A state championship.

“I talked to Ricky Brown and he gave me a call, and he said he believed in me despite my height,” Manning said of the assistant coach for the Midshipmen. “He said I could play, my coaches put in a word for me, and I was blessed to receive the offer.

“They saw my film and liked what I did on the field.”

Back on the field, the Caravan will host Prospect (8-2) in the second round next weekend.

St. Rita (5-5), which played without injured quarterback Jett Hilding, was led by DJ Stewart with 69 yards on 11 carries.

Mount Carmel was coming off a 23-21 loss to Loyola that not only ended the regular season but snapped its 22-game winning streak. The Caravan went 0-for-3 on fourth down in the first half and made penalties at inopportune times in the second half.

Elliott was particularly upset after that loss, and on the Caravan’s second play Friday night, he zigged and zagged on an 86-yard TD run that set the tone.

“For sure, that run felt good,” Elliott said. “Bouncing back like that after a tough loss last week felt good.”

On Sept. 15, Mount Carmel and St. Rita met up in CCL/ESCC play. The teams were ranked first and second in the state for 7A by The Associated Press. The Caravan also dominated that game at home 38-7.

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Dupree, a Wisconsin recruit, has been getting a bulk of the carries this season. Manning had just 24 attempts for 149 yards heading into the playoffs.

“I’m not a big ‘me’ guy,” Manning said. “I just want to fit in with the team. There is one ball and we have a lot of targets, so I just go where I fit in.

“I just make the plays when my name is called.”

Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch realizes how difficult it is playing behind Dupree, whom he described as “one of the best players in the country.”

“He’s a kid that is champing at the bit and waiting patiently,” Lynch said of Manning. “He’s awesome. He never complains. He shows up and works hard.

“He’s one of the key reasons we won the state championship last year, and he’s a key reason we’re going to make another great push this year.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.