Israel Abrams, Trae Taylor combine for 12 TDs in Illinois high school football shootout

Two of the top junior quarterbacks in the nation reside in Illinois. Trae Taylor captains Carmel Catholic, while Israel Abrams leads the way for Montini Catholic.
On Friday night, the two squared off, with Abrams and Montini coming out on top in a 55-54 thriller. Both gunslingers looked the part — and then some.
In a losing effort, Taylor did it all for Carmel. Completing 25 of 36 attempts, the Nebraska commit threw for 505 yards and five touchdowns. He also got it done on the feet, rushing for an additional three scores and 66 yards.
Abrams unofficially threw for four touchdowns and a whopping 568 yards in the victory for Montini. He completed 22 of 33 attempts, and while Taylor doubled his touchdown count, Abrams will gladly take the hard-fought victory.
Taylor went to work early, accounting for five touchdowns as Carmel put up 35 first-half points. The Corsairs had a 35-20 lead with less than a minute to go in the half, but Abrams drove the Montini offense down the field and capped off the half with an incredible 26-yard TD throw:
The Broncos stayed hot in the third quarter, scoring twice to take a 41-35 lead into the fourth. Carmel responded with a big-boy drive that witnessed multiple fourth-down conversions and a QB sneak into the end zone for Taylor.
Montini continued to answer, this time via an 89-yard touchdown on the ensuing drive. Abrams connected with his receiver down the field, who then cut up the sideline past a Carmel defensive back and took it to the house.
Down 47-42, Taylor again capped off a drive with a rush into the end zone. The Corsairs’ two-point conversion was no good, leaving Carmel with a 48-47 lead with less than two minutes to play. Abrams, once again, wouldn’t be denied.
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Rolling out to his right and chucking another deep ball, the uncommitted junior connected with his receiver again, resulting in a 90-yard touchdown:
Taylor and Carmel had one final answer in their pocket, too. A 57-yard touchdown led to the Corsairs attempting a game-winning two-point conversion instead of a game-tying extra point. Taylor completed the pass, but a terrific tackle from a Montini defender stuffed the Carmel receiver just before the goal line.
Carmel managed to recover an onside kick with less than 30 seconds to play, but it wasn’t meant to be as Montini hung on for an incredible win.
With the win, Montini, the No. 11 team in Illinois per the Massey Ratings, remains undefeated at 6-0. The heartbreaking loss dropped Carmel, the No. 48 team in the state, to 4-2. It’ll be hard to top Friday night’s contest for the rest of the Illinois high school football regular season.
How to Follow Illinois High School Football
For Illinois high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Prairie State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Illinois.