Growing up, Joey Quinn was an offensive lineman. He played tight end as a sophomore at Mount Carmel but shifted last season to the defensive line.

It has been a highly successful move. Quinn, now a senior defensive end, has blossomed into a Division I recruit. And he sure has a blast playing defense.

“After they switched me over, I thought the feeling of sacking the quarterback was way better than scoring a touchdown,” Quinn said. “So, I love it.”

Quinn experienced that exhilarating feeling often Saturday night against Lincoln-Way East.

He constantly harassed star senior quarterback Jonas Williams and sacked him three times, leading Mount Carmel to a dominant 48-6 win in a Class 8A state quarterfinal in Chicago.

Emmett Dowling completed 20 of 31 passes for 395 yards and four touchdowns for the Caravan (12-0). Nathan Samuels ran for 102 yards and three TDs on 12 carries and added six catches for 91 yards, while Quentin Burrell finished with five catches for 72 yards and two TDs.

Mount Carmel’s Joey Quinn (97) finishes a sack off Lincoln-Way East’s Jonas Williams (13) during a Class 8A state quarterfinal game in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Tavares Harrington and Roman Igwebuike each had an interception for Mount Carmel, which will take on either Fremd or Bolingbrook next weekend in the state semifinals.

“I think a lot of people Jonas Williams plays, they back down from it because of his popularity,” Igwebuike said. “I liked how, during the week, we owned up to it.

“We were excited for the game and the challenge that he brought.”

Williams completed 13 of 25 passes for 198 yards, including a 35-yard TD to Jack Murphy, who finished with five catches for 90 yards to lead the Griffins (9-3).

Mount Carmel’s Jamari Brown (5) tries to slip the tackle of Lincoln-Way East’s Justin Titus (0) during a Class 8A state quarterfinal game in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Williams, a USC recruit, broke the Illinois High School Association record for career passing yards when he hit Jayden Cawthon for 20 yards in the first quarter.

That took him past the record of 11,190 yards set by Nazareth’s Logan Malachuk.

But that was about the only highlight for the Griffins as Mount Carmel’s pass rush wreaked havoc all night.

“All season, we haven’t shown how good the D-line is,” Quinn said. “There’s been a lot of talk that we can’t pass rush. We can’t do this or that. I think in this game, we showed what we’re all about.”

Mount Carmel’s Joey Quinn (97) keys in on Lincoln-Way East’s Jonas Williams (13) during a Class 8A state quarterfinal game in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

When Quinn made the switch to defense, he threw himself fully into learning the new position. And he had a good role model in USC recruit Braeden Jones.

“I’ve gone full on into it with all my training and everything,” Quinn said. “Braeden is one of my friends. I always saw him as someone to look up to and learn from and try to get up to his level.

“I’ve been working with him and all my coaches and I used my potential (Saturday).”

The Caravan already led 28-7 midway through the first half when Quinn hit Williams just as he was about to unleash a throw, forcing the ball to sail right into Igwebuike’s arms for an interception.

On the next play, Dowling hit Burrell for a 29-yard TD and Mount Carmel was well on its way.

“I’m proud of Joey,” Igwebuike said. “I wouldn’t have gotten that pick without him. Then he gets three sacks. We couldn’t have done it without him.”

Mount Carmel’s Joey Quinn (97) celebrates after sacking Lincoln-Way East’s Jonas Williams during a Class 8A state quarterfinal game in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Offensively, the Caravan rolled to TDs on their first six possessions. And they were certainly thankful to have that support from the other side of the ball.

“The defense had a great game,” Burrell said. “Everybody was talking about Jonas Williams and how good he is but you need to talk about our defense and how good they are.

“They came out, executed the plan, only let them in the end zone one time. That’s great.”

Quinn, meanwhile, decommitted from Vanderbilt in October and is reassessing his future.

That can wait, though.

“It’s something I haven’t been too focused on because the season is going on,” Quinn said. “I’m mainly focused on winning state. I’ll take care of that later.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/15/joey-quinn-mount-carmel-lincoln-way-west-ihsa-football/