Carmel dropped its second Metropolitan Conference game in a row on Friday, falling at old rival Ben Davis 27-14.
The Class 6A No. 10 Giants scored just 20 seconds into the game, when Trent Gipson rushed 77 yards for a touchdown on the very first play of the game. The 6A No. 4 Greyhounds answered a few minutes later, as John Rogers took the ball into the end zone on a 15-yard rush. Spencer Hanna tied the game with an extra-point kick.
But Ben Davis added 10 more points (a field goal and a long passing touchdown) during the final 2:04 of the first quarter, keeping Carmel down 17-7. Another field goal gave the Giants a 20-7 halftime lead.
The Greyhounds cut that advantage to 20-14 after Christian Williams punched the ball in from the one-yard line, and Hanna made his second extra-point kick of the night. Carmel continued to threaten up until the end of the game, but Ben Davis ended that when Daylan Carnell intercepted the ball and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown with 58 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Williams finished the game with 88 yards rushing, and passed for 169 yards.
The loss dropped the Greyhounds to 3-2 in the MIC, putting them in fourth place after Friday’s games were completed. Warren Central continues to lead the conference at 5-1, with North Central and Ben Davis tied for second at 4-1.
Carmel is 4-3 overall and will host Warren Central next Friday.
BEN DAVIS 27, CARMEL 14
Score by Quarters
Carmel 7 0 7 0 – 14
Ben Davis 17 3 0 7 – 27
Team Stats CHS BD
First Downs 16 18
By Rush 6 12
By Pass 7 4
By Penalty 3 2
Rushes-Yards 29-128 52-260
Yards Passing 169 110
Comp-Att-Int-TD 8-25-1-0 10-17-1-1
Fumbles-Lost 4-2 0-0
Penalties-Yards 7-71 8-110
Punts-Average 5-35.8 3-40.0
Carmel Scoring
First Quarter
8:36 – John Rogers 15-yard run (Spencer Hanna kick)
Third Quarter
8:21 – Christian Williams 1-yard run (Hanna kick)
Carmel individual stats
Rushing: Williams 14-88, Rogers 4-24, Zach White 4-13, Dylan Downing 5-9, Baron Smith 2-minus 6.
Passing: Williams 8-25-169.
Receiving: Colton Parker 2-46, Smith 2-30, Aidan Ellison 1-36, Zach Gish 1-25, Downing 1-19, Rogers 1-13.