Carmel first team to hold rival Ben Davis to 14 points this season
Carmel and Ben Davis had yet another one of their classic football battles on Friday, which was also the Greyhounds’ Homecoming game.
In the end, Carmel made it one to celebrate, as a fourth-quarter score sent the Greyhounds past the Giants 21-14. It was a relatively even game between the two rivals, with both teams finishing around 300 yards of total offense.
“We ran the ball a little better than them, but they threw the ball, a lot more completions than us,” said Carmel coach John Hebert. “But it didn’t feel like there was this big imbalance. There were moments where it just seemed we couldn’t stop Ben Davis, and then somehow we would.”
The ‘Hounds were leading 14-7 after three quarters, but the Giants scored on a two-yard run just 45 seconds into the fourth. Carmel eventually got the lead back with 4:20 left when Reece Bellin caught a three-yard touchdown reception from Jack Kazmierczak.
That was Kazmierczak’s third touchdown throw of the game, which meant he was responsible for all of the Greyhounds’ scores. With less than a minute to go before halftime, Kazmericzak tossed a 73-yard touchdown pass to Bellin, finally getting Carmel on the board after a near-scoreless first half.
Ben Davis opened the third quarter with its own 73-yard touchdown pass, but Kazmierczak answered that with a 61-yard throw to Nathan Rodgers for another touchdown.
Kazmierczak finished the game 10-of-18 for 204 yards, with Bellin’s six catches totaling 138 yards. Alijah Alfayyad led the rushing with 94 yards.
The Giants were averaging 34.7 points per game coming into Carmel Stadium, and it was the first time this season a team had held Ben Davis to 14 points.
“Our defense was just outstanding,” said Hebert. “We watched all of Ben Davis’ games and their offense was just so prolific. We were able to stop the run.”
Carmel is 5-2 and plays next Friday at Warren Central.
CARMEL 21, BEN DAVIS 14
Score by Quarters
Ben Davis 0 0 7 7 – 14
Carmel 0 7 7 7 – 21
Team Stats BD CAR
First Downs 17 12
By Rush 8 6
By Pass 8 5
By Penalty 1 1
Rushes-Yards 29-60 28-89
Yards Passing 246 204
Comp-Att-Int-TD 20-36-1-1 10-18-1-3
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 8-71 4-36
Punts-Average 2-29.0 4-34.8
Carmel Scoring
Second Quarter
0:55 – Reece Bellin 73-yard pass from Jack Kazmierczak (Ben Sponsler kick)
Third Quarter
7:40 – Nathan Rodgers 61-yard pass from Kazmierczak (Sponsler kick)
Fourth Quarter
4:20 – Bellin 3-yard pass from Kazmierczak (Sponsler kick)
Carmel individual stats
Rushing: Alijah Alfayyad 18-94, Levell Stewart 6-4, Aidan McFall 1-0, Kazmierczak 1-minus 4, Christian Peterson 2-minus 5.
Passing: Kazmierczak 10-18-204.
Receiving: Bellin 6-138, Rodgers 2-63, Blake Matthews 1-3, Aydrian Caldwell 1-0.