By JIM BELSER
It took three overtimes for Carmel to finally upend Metropolitan Conference rival North Central Friday 41-40 after coming back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
The Class 6A No. 6-ranked Panthers (4-2) went for the two-point conversion in the last overtime to try and secure the win but pressure from the Carmel defense forced a hurried pass that fell incomplete for North Central, handing the one-point victory over to visiting 6A No. 4 Carmel.
“When your back is against the wall, you have to make plays, all you need is to give yourself a chance, but then you’ve got to do something,” Carmel coach John Hebert said.
A field goal by Spencer Hanna put Carmel (5-1) ahead 27-24 in the first overtime. The two teams were given four downs from the 10-yard line per overtime. Carmel quarterback Tyler Trent connected with Phil Garcia in the back of the end zone in the second overtime and found Sam Rodgers for a touchdown pass in the third overtime.
Trent finished the night with 215 yards passing, completing 14 of 31 with four touchdowns, two in overtime. Sam Rodgers hauled in seven passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Dylan Downing led on the ground with 93 yards for Carmel.
“Trent is playing with a lot of confidence, he broke his leg last year and we didn’t know if he could come back and play at this level of competition,” Hebert said. “He put the team on his shoulders, it’s just great to see him out there.”
In regulation North Central scored on a 96-yard kickoff return and scored again after another big kickoff return, this time for 69 yards. A Carmel fumble in their own territory helped the Panthers add a score in the early going. The Panthers accumulated 163 yards of total offense compared to 345 for Carmel.
Down 24-17 with 3:13 left in regulation and at their own 15, the situation looked hopeless for the Greyhounds after Carmel quarterback Tyler Trent lost the handle on the snap and was tackled a yard short of the line of scrimmage on second down. An incomplete pass on the next play made things worse.
Enter Sam Rodgers. The Carmel receiver skirted the sidelines to make a tough 15-yard reception with both feet in bounds to keep the Greyhounds alive. Rodgers picked up another 18 on reception over the middle. Rodgers finished it all off with a game tying 55-yard touchdown reception with less than two minutes left.
The first half saw both teams struggle to establish their offenses. But it didn’t prevent the two from registering points. Carmel crossed the goal line first, scoring on a four-yard run by junior running back Dylan Downing with 7:33 left in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Panthers struck back with Jordan Bingham of North Central taking the return 96 yards for touchdown, tying the score 7-7. After exchanging possessions, the Greyhounds Downing carried the ball into the teeth of the defense but fumbled after helmet to football contact by a Panthers defender sent the ball flying into the air.
North Central took advantage of the turnover and from Carmel’s 27, found its way into the end zone six plays later on a four-yard run by Panthers half back Alex Tarver. Down 14-7 after the half, the Greyhounds led the Panthers with 108 total yards on offense compared to 55 for NC. The visitors tallied most of their yardage on the ground with 75 yards rushing and 32 yards passing.
“North Central could have blown it wide open against us,” Hebert said. “They are a physical team, I would not rule them out against anybody going forward.”
Carmel takes on Ben Davis at home next week.
