Whenever the Carmel football team has had a successful run in the state tournament, it inevitably has to make one long trip up north.
This year, it’s a trip to Valparaiso that stands between the Greyhounds and the Class 6A state finals. Carmel will make the two and a half hour ride to the Vikings’ field on Friday for the 6A north semi-state championship. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time (7 p.m. Central Time).
The Greyhounds have a long history with Valpo, but not much of a rivalry. That’s because the two teams have only played each other three times, with the first time back in 1975.
That year, Carmel traveled to Valparaiso for the Class 3A state championship, back when there were only three football classes and a much different state tournament. The Greyhounds had beaten top-ranked Richmond in the state semi-finals, but lost to the Vikings 14-13 in the championship on a punt return, on a night that then-coach Dick Dullaghan remembered as “very cold.” (This year, the expected temperature at kickoff is 35 degrees.)
The two teams wouldn’t play each other again for over 35 years. They did have a brief series in 2011 and 2012, with Carmel winning both times: 49-0 in 2011 at Carmel Stadium, then 21-20 in 2012 at the Vikings’ field.
Valparaiso comes into the semi-state with a 10-2 record. The Vikings dropped their first two games of the season, to Penn 21-3 and to Mishawaka 29-20. After that, Valpo cruised to a 7-0 record in the Duneland Conference, over La Porte 38-8, Michigan City 14-7, Chesterton 23-0, Crown Point 38-7, Merrillville 20-6, Portage 17-7 and Lake Central 48-14.
In the tournament, the Vikings easily won Sectional 2 by taking care of Chesterton 55-7 in the semi-finals, then turning the tables on Penn 21-0 in the final. Valparaiso then beat Crown Point 23-6 for the Regional 1 championship. That marked the first sectional and regional titles for the Vikings since 2010.
Junior CJ Opperman is the Vikings’ quarterback; he has completed 89 of 191 passes for 1,121 yards and five touchdowns. The scores have been divided among junior Antonio Osorio, who has three TDs among his 24 season receptions, and senior Jesse Harper, who has 23 catches, including two scores.
Valpo’s runners are led by senior Jesse Kurth, who has 219 carries for 1,413 yards and Harper, who has 138 rushes for 929 yards. Both have scored 11 touchdowns. Senior Max Bukur leads the Vikings’ defense with 102 tackles, while senior Tyler Bukur has 10 tackles for a loss. Senior Troy Barton and sophomore Dylan Dingman each have eight sacks.
Carmel is also 10-2 for the season. The Greyhounds have defeated Louisville Trinity 24-21, Noblesville 34-7, Pike 28-13, Lawrence North 23-9, North Central 41-40 (in three overtimes), Ben Davis 21-7 and Lawrence Central 16-14. Carmel’s losses were to Center Grove 17-7 and Warren Central 41-17.
Carmel beat Westfield 28-7 in the Sectional 4 semi-finals, then defeated Lafayette Jefferson 41-21 in the championship. That sent the ‘Hounds to the Regional 2 title game, where they beat Fort Wayne Snider 20-6.
Two quarterbacks have been stepping up for Carmel: Tyler Trent has completed 66 of 163 passes for 936 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Gabe Quigley is throwing at a 41-of-80 clip for 475 yards and five TDs. Christian Williams has 30 catches and Sam Rogers is next with 24 receptions; both have caught five touchdown passes.
On the ground, Zach White broke the 1,000-yard mark last week; he is up to 1,013 yards and nine scores. Dylan Downing has rushed for 939 yards and four TDs, with Quigley running for six touchdowns.
As for the Carmel defense, Dominic Padjen has 90 total tackles (55 solo and 35 assists), with Nate Frey making 86 total stops (52 solo and 34 assists). Beau Robbins has the most solo tackles with 61.
