Last Friday, two of Indiana’s elite high school football programs added to their large sectional championship totals.
On Friday, Carmel and Fort Wayne Snider will face off for a regional championship. The No. 3-ranked Greyhounds will host the Panthers at Carmel Stadium for the Class 6A Regional 2 title, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Both teams are coming off high-scoring sectional championship victories. The ‘Hounds picked up their record 30th sectional crown by defeating No. 8 Lafayette Jefferson 41-21 at the Bronchos’ Schuemann Stadium, giving Carmel the Sectional 4 title.
Snider traveled to Homestead last Friday and beat the Spartans 49-35 for the Sectional 3 championship. The Panthers thus won their 12th consecutive sectional championship and 27th overall, tying them with Bishop Chatard for second place in the all-time sectional title list. (The Trojans beat Indian Creek 42-6 to win their 27th sectional crown.)
This year’s Carmel-Snider game is a rematch of last year’s Regional 2 game. The Greyhounds played at Northrop High School, and came from behind, rallying from a 21-7 deficit to stun the Panthers 22-21.
Snider is 9-2 this season, its second playing in Class 6A after being bumped up due to the IHSAA’s success factor. The Panthers went through the regular season 7-2, beating Fort Wayne North Side 31-8, Concordia Lutheran 37-7, Fort Wayne South Side 55-0, Homestead 23-7, Northrop 48-21, Bishop Dwenger 21-13 and Bishop Luers 33-14.
Snider’s two losses were to Carroll 38-14 and Wayne 21-7. The Panthers played all of their regular season games against Summit Conference opponents, a 10-team league. Snider tied for second with Wayne in the Summit standings; but was the only team to beat Bishop Dwenger, the league champion with an 8-1 record.
In sectional play, the Panthers avenged their loss to Carroll by beating them 49-30, then took care of Homestead 49-35.
Snider’s quarterback is junior Jon Barnes Jr. He has passed the ball well, completing 106 of 175 passes for 1300 yards and 15 touchdowns. Alonzo Derrick is the Panthers’ top receiver with 33 catches, including two scores, while senior Simon Dellinger has the most touchdown catches with five; he has 27 overall.
On the ground, senior Anyis Lockett has been a force. Lockett has gained 1,248 yards for the season in 207 carries, including 17 scores. Senior Tavareon Scott leads the Snider defense with 77 tackles, including 12 for a loss, and six sacks. Junior Gianini Belizaire has 15 tackles for a loss.
Carmel is also 9-2 for the year. The Greyhounds have regular-season wins over Louisville Trinity 24-21, Noblesville 34-7, Pike 28-13, Lawrence North 23-9, North Central 41-40 (in triple overtime), Ben Davis 21-7 and Lawrence Central 16-14. Carmel’s losses were to Center Grove 17-7 and Warren Central 41-17; the ‘Hounds finished tied for second in the Metropolitan Conference with a 5-2 record.
In the post-season, Carmel beat Westfield 28-7, then Lafayette Jeff 41-21. The Bronchos got a quick 14-0 lead on the Greyhounds in the first quarter before Carmel came back and dominated the next three quarters.
The ‘Hounds have used two quarterbacks this season. Tyler Trent has completed 66 of 163 passes for 936 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Gabe Quigley is 25-of-44 for 337 yards and five TDs. Christian Williams leads the receivers with 26 catches, followed by Sam Rogers with 24. Both have caught five touchdown passes.
Zach White is Carmel’s rushing leader with 949 yards in 156 carries and nine scores. Dylan Downing is next in line, with 626 yards in 108 carries and four touchdowns.
Carmel’s Christian Williams scored a rushing touchdown during the Greyhounds’ win over Ben Davis. Williams is also Carmel’s leading receiver with 26 catches. The Greyhounds host Fort Wayne Snider Friday for the Class 6A Regional 2 championship. (Richie Hall/File photo)