Led by a school record-tying performance from Reece Bellin, the Carmel football team got itself its first win of the season Friday.
The Greyhounds hosted Cass Technical from Detroit. After giving up an early touchdown, Carmel started to roll in the second quarter and eventually won 35-21. Bellin played outstanding for the ‘Hounds, with four touchdown receptions on the night.
“I think the first two weeks set the stage for the way we played tonight,” said Carmel coach John Hebert. After tough losses to Louisville Trinity and Center Grove to start the season, Hebert said his team was “pretty unified” in their unhappiness about that 0-2 mark.
“They’ve worked really hard to change that,” said Hebert. “I saw a level of focus out of them that you’re looking for when you’ve faced adversity.”
Bellin’s first score came with 26 seconds left in the first quarter, when he connected on a 28-yard throw from Jack Kazmierczak. That tied the game at 7-7, the Technicians scored earlier on a short run midway through the quarter.
Carmel then shutout Cass in the second quarter to take a 21-7 lead. A long run by Christian Peterson got the Greyhounds the Technician’s 13-yard line, and that’s all Bellin needed for his second TD pass of the game. But why not get one more? That’s what Bellin did late in the quarter, grabbing a 23-yard throw from Kazmierczak and putting Carmel up 21-7 at the break.
Bellin and Kazmierczak teamed up one more time with under a minute left in the third period. Their fourth touchdown connection of the game was a 53-yard throw, and it put Carmel up 28-14. With that, Bellin put himself in a three-way tie with Joe Bejin in 1978 and Jalen Walker in 2016 for most touchdown catches by a Greyhound in a single game.
“He’s having quite a start to the season,” said Hebert.
Kazmierczak finished 13-of-17 with 210 total yards, while Bellin’s six catches gave him 139 yards.
Aidan Alfayyad completed Carmel’s scoring, making a one-yard run in the fourth quarter. Alfayyad led the Carmel rushing with 75 yards. Ben Sponsler was a perfect 5-for-5 in extra-point kicks.
“Aidan really stepped up, seeing his first action of the season,” said Hebert. “Nick Beidl was out and Aidan just really made a difference there, especially in that fourth quarter, that last drive that we had.”
Hebert also had praise for his quarterbacks. He said Kazmierczak “did a great job” and threw the ball efficiently, and credited Cam Carmichael with leading the way on the Greyhounds’ last drive of the game, throwing well and making “some good reads on the run game.”
Carmel’s defense played well, with Arty Bryant, Aidan McFall, Noah Bradbury (who made a strip sack) and Will Heldt among those helping out. Winston Berglund’s late interception sealed the victory.
“The defense pulled together quite a bit,” said Hebert.
The Greyhounds are 1-2 and host Pike next Friday.
CARMEL 35, CASS TECHNICAL 21
Score by Quarters
Cass Technical 7 0 7 7 – 21
Carmel 7 14 7 7 – 35
Team Stats CASS CAR
First Downs 19 16
By Rush 3 7
By Pass 15 9
By Penalty 1 0
Rushes-Yards 25-65 28-144
Yards Passing 297 219
Comp-Att-Int-TD 25-35-1-2 14-18-1-4
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 5-107 3-25
Punts-Average 4-38.2 2-30.0
Carmel Scoring
First Quarter
0:26 – Reece Bellin 28-yard pass from Jack Kazmierczak (Ben Sponsler kick)
Second Quarter
6:12 – Bellin 13-yard pass from Kazmierczak (Sponsler kick)
1:38 – Bellin 23-yard pass from Kazmierczak (Sponsler kick)
Third Quarter
0:38 – Bellin 53-yard pass from Kazmierczak (Sponsler kick)
Fourth Quarter
4:06 – Aidan Alfayyad 1-yard run (Sponsler kick)
Carmel individual stats
Rushing: Ai. Alfayyad 15-75, Christian Peterson 2-60, Alijah Alfayyad 3-17, Cam Carmichael 3-6, Kazmierczak 5-minus 14.
Passing: Kazmierczak 13-17-210, Carmichael 1-1-9.
Receiving: Bellin 6-139, Nathan Rodgers 4-34, Desmond Duffy 2-31, Ai. Alfayyad 1-9, Blake Matthews 1-6.