Carmel traveled to Center Grove on Friday for the annual Copper Kettle game.
It was a true back and forth contest, where it seemed evident that the last team to score would win the game. The winner would be the Trojans, as a late touchdown pass sent Center Grove past the Greyhounds 31-27.
“Each team had swings of momentum,” said Carmel coach John Hebert. “We rode ours and they rode theirs. We kept answering, they did too. They just made one more play than us.”
The Greyhounds scored first, on a second-period quarterback sneak by Jack Kazmierczak. The Trojans answered with a touchdown of their own. Ben Sponsler kicked a 23-yard field goal for Carmel, and CG booted a field goal. The halftime score was 10-10.
Sponsler made his second field goal of the game in the third quarter, but minutes later, Jalen Thomeson’s 16-yard touchdown run put the Trojans in front 17-13. Kazmierczak opened the fourth quarter with a 40-yard scoring pass to Reece Bellin, Center Grove answered with another touchdown pass.
Carmel held a 27-24 lead after Aydrian Caldwell caught a 34-yard touchdown throw from Kazmierczak. But the Trojans had the last word, as a 47-yard pass to Noah Coy turned out to be the game-winner.
Kazmierczak had an incredible game, completing 23 of 34 pass attempts for a school-record 363 yards. Bellin and Blake Matthews both had seven catches.
“There were a lot of good things, a lot of positive things that we did tonight,” said Hebert. “We made progress from Week 1, but there’s still too many mistakes and missed opportunities on both sides of the ball and special teams. It’s not one area. That being said, I’m encouraged about this team. I think we can be great.”
Carmel is 0-2 and hosts Detroit Cass Technical next week.
CENTER GROVE 31, CARMEL 27
Score by Quarters
Carmel 0 10 3 14 – 27
Center Grove 0 10 7 14 – 31
Team Stats CAR CG
First Downs 17 17
By Rush 5 8
By Pass 12 8
By Penalty 0 1
Rushes-Yards 25-59 40-128
Yards Passing 363 190
Comp-Att-Int-TD 23-34-0-2 13-21-0-2
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0
Penalties-Yards 4-42 0-0
Punts-Average 4-41.5 5-39.6
Carmel Scoring
Second Quarter
9:52 – Jack Kazmierczak 1-yard run (Ben Sponsler kick)
2:52 – Sponsler 23-yard field goal
Third Quarter
7:26 – Sponsler 31-yard field goal
Fourth Quarter
Reece Bellin 40-yard pass from Kazmierczak (Sponsler kick), 11:53
Aydrian Caldwell 34-yard pass from Kazmierczak (Sponsler kick), 4:14
Carmel individual stats
Rushing: Nick Beidl 18-56, Desmond Duffy 3-2, Kazmierczak 4-1.
Passing: Kazmierczak 23-34-363.
Receiving: Bellin 7-146, Matthews 7-85, Duffy 5-52, Caldwell 3-77, Beidl 1-3.