Carmel’s Sectional 5 semi-final victory at Avon Friday night will definitely go down as one of the more interesting victories in the storied history of Greyhounds football.
“It was an odd game, very odd,” said Carmel coach John Hebert as he headed home after his team beat the Orioles 35-21. It was the first-ever meeting between the teams. The ‘Hounds took an early lead and never trailed in the game, but Avon’s explosive offense kept it within shouting distance.
Carmel got a defensive stop on the Orioles’ first drive. Avon had to punt, and Greyhounds freshman Nate Williams took the return in for a touchdown, a 51-yard trip to the end zone. Williams became the first freshman in Carmel football history to score a punt return touchdown.
The Orioles tied the game minutes later on a 10-yard run, and the score would stay 7-7 through the end of the first quarter. The ‘Hounds pulled away for good early in the second period when Zachary Osborne rushed 75 yards into the end zone. Midway through the quarter, Nick Beidl punched the ball in from the one to get Carmel ahead 21-7. Ethan Hall’s 80-yard run set up the score.
“Our offense scored on mostly big plays,” said Hebert. “Our offensive drives were just a play, or two or three plays, and then our defense would be right back out there again.”
Hebert pointed out that Carmel ran 29 total offensive plays, while the Orioles ran 86 plays.
“I’ve never seen that kind of an imbalance,” said Hebert.
Avon scored right before halftime when Crishon McCray, the Orioles’ standout receiver, caught a three-yard touchdown pass, keeping Avon within 21-14 at the break.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Carmel opened the fourth quarter with Beidl making a 35-yard touchdown dash. Avon answered with a nine-yard touchdown run, but Osborne responded to that with his own nine-yard run into the end zone. That came with 4:01 left in the game, and the ‘Hounds held on from there. Ben Sponsler made all five extra-point kicks.
“Our defense made plays,” said Hebert The coach said Carmel had several sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble, crediting his team with being able to stop drives when it had to. Winston Berglund had one of those interceptions, at the goal line.
“It’s a weird game, really glad we won it, and we’ll watch the film tomorrow,” said Hebert. “We got to get some things fixed for sure.”
Hall finished the game with 115 yards, followed by Osborne with 94 and Beidl with 79.
Carmel improved to 9-1 with the win and travels to Brownsburg next Friday to play for the Sectional 5 championship.
CARMEL 35, AVON 21
Score by Quarters
Carmel 7 14 0 14 – 35
Avon 7 7 0 7 – 21
Team Stats CHS AHS
First Downs 9 25
By Rush 8 15
By Pass 0 8
By Penalty 1 2
Rushes-Yards 24-288 59-336
Yards Passing 2 149
Comp-Att-Int-TD 1-5-1-0 10-27-2-1
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 4-2
Penalties-Yards 4-50 8-105
Punts-Average 2-23.0 3-29.3
Carmel Scoring
First Quarter
9:56 – Nate Williams 51-yard punt return (Ben Sponsler kick)
Second Quarter
9:46 – Zachary Osborne 75-yard run (Sponsler kick)
6:10 – Nick Beidl 1-yard run (Sponsler kick)
Fourth Quarter
11:50 – Beidl 35-yard run (Sponsler kick)
4:01 – Osborne 9-yard run (Sponsler kick)
Carmel individual stats
Rushing: Ethan Hall 7-115, Osborne 8-94, Beidl 9-79.
Passing: Osborne 1-5-2.
Receiving: Beidl 1-2.