Carmel gave its Homecoming crowd much to cheer about Friday, as the Class 6A No. 7 Greyhounds swept past Ben Davis 31-9 in a Metropolitan Conference game at Carmel Stadium.
The ‘Hounds got on top early, scoring its first points with 9:55 left in the first quarter when Zach White made a 37-yard touchdown run. The Giants got on the board midway through the period on a 20-yard field goal, but that would be their only score for a while.
Meanwhile, Carmel added two more touchdowns in the first half, both with around a minute to go in their respective quarters. Colton Parker caught an 11-yard pass from Zach Osborne in the first period; that gave the Greyhounds a 14-3 lead. Late in the second, Osborne struck again, this time sending an 88-yard touchdown pass to Baron Smith. As a result, Carmel held a 21-7 halftime lead.
Ben Davis made things interesting early in the fourth quarter when LaDon Allen scored on a 28-yard run. But the Greyhounds answered right away, with Osborne throwing a 67-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Jones. Spencer Hanna kicked all four extra points, and he would complete the Carmel scoring late in the fourth with a 28-yard field goal.
Osborne had a solid night, completing 8 of 15 pass attempts for 214 yards and three TDs. Jones had three receptions, while Smith turned his two catches into 103 yards. White led the Greyhounds rushing with 118 yards.
Carmel, a winner of four straight games, is now 4-1 in the MIC and sits in second place behind Center Grove, which officially clinched a share of the conference championship on Friday by beating Pike 57-14. The ‘Hounds are 5-2 overall and continue MIC play next Friday at Warren Central.
CARMEL 31, BEN DAVIS 9
Score by Quarters
Ben Davis 3 0 0 6 – 9
Carmel 14 7 0 10 – 31
Team Stats BD CAR
First Downs 20 17
By Rush 11 10
By Pass 7 5
By Penalty 2 2
Rushes-Yards 37-201 37-198
Yards Passing 176 214
Comp-Att-Int-TD 17-25-3-0 8-415-0-3
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-0
Penalties-Yards 12-100 6-66
Punts-Average 3-32.0 4-33.2
Carmel Scoring
First Quarter
9:55 – Zach White 37-yard run (Spencer Hanna kick)
1:12 – Colton Parker 11-yard from Zach Osborne (Hanna kick)
Second Quarter
1:09 – Baron Smith 88-yard pass from Osborne (Hanna kick)
Fourth Quarter
8:23 – Jordan Jones 67-yard pass from Osborne (Hanna kick)
3:29 – Hanna 28-yard field goal
Carmel individual stats
Rushing: White 18-116, Osborne 11-53, Ethan Hall 3-24, Jones 3-13, Drake Shelburne 1-minus 1, Smith 1-minus 7.
Passing: Osborne 8-15-214.
Receiving: Jones 3-84, Smith 2-103, Parker 2-25, White 1-2.