Two big second-quarter plays kicked Carmel into high gear on Friday and sent the Class 6A No. 3 Greyhounds to a 24-7 Metropolitan Conference win over 6A No. 9 Warren Central at Carmel Stadium.
Carmel got on the board in the first quarter after Ben Sponsler made a 35-yard field goal. Then with 7:01 left in the second period, Desmond Duffy took a 70-yard punt return into the end zone for the Greyhounds’ first touchdown of the game.
Aydrian Caldwell also provided some excitement with under two minutes left in the half, as he grabbed a 74-yard pass from quarterback Zachary Osborne and took it in for a touchdown. That gave Carmel a 17-0 lead at halftime.
The Warriors scored their lone touchdown in the third quarter, but the ‘Hounds answered back in the fourth when Osborne connected with Blake Matthews on a three-yard pass-play touchdown.
Osborne finished the game 16-of-34, totaling 228 yards. Duffy and Jaedon King each had four receptions.
Carmel improved to 5-1 in MIC play and is 7-1 overall. The Greyhounds finish conference and regular-season play next Friday at Lawrence Central.
CARMEL 24, WARREN CENTRAL 7
Score by Quarters
Warren Central 0 0 7 0 – 7
Carmel 3 14 0 7 – 24
Team Stats WC CHS
First Downs 16 19
By Rush 5 9
By Pass 10 9
By Penalty 1 1
Rushes-Yards 25-56 38-119
Yards Passing 218 228
Comp-Att-Int-TD 16-32-0-1 16-34-1-2
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 2-34 2-20
Punts-Average 6-30.8 4-37.5
Carmel Scoring
First Quarter
3:31 – Ben Sponsler 35-yard field goal
Second Quarter
7:01 – Desmond Duffy 70-yard punt return (Sponsler kick)
1:53 – Aydrian Caldwell 74-yard pass from Zachary Osborne (Sponsler kick)
Fourth Quarter
9:21 – Blake Matthews 3-yard pass from Osborne (Sponsler kick)
Carmel individual stats
Rushing: Osborne 12-52, Ethan Hall 15-42, Nick Beidl 11-25.
Passing: Osborne 16-34-228.
Receiving: Jaedon King 4-74, Duffy 4-36, Matthews 3-15, Caldwell 2-84, Lleyton Lukowski 2-18, Will Webster 1-1.