After getting a first-quarter shock from Lafayette Jefferson, Carmel came back to dominate the next three quarters.
The No. 3 Greyhounds recovered from a two-touchdown deficit to beat the No. 8 Bronchos 41-21 to win the Class 6A Sectional 4 championship Friday night at Jeff’s Schuemann Stadium. The victory marks the 30th sectional title for Carmel, making the Greyhounds the first football program in IHSAA history to reach that mark. Carmel will host Fort Wayne Snider next Friday for the Regional 2 title.
The Bronchos quickly went up 14-0 thanks to two long touchdown passes by quarterback Maximus Grimes. The sophomore hit Brian Jenkins for a 50-yard score, then connected with Derrick Matthews two minutes later on a 67-yard TD throw.
The ‘Hounds were able to get some momentum after scoring with 33 seconds left in the first period. Gabe Quigley ran the ball in for a three-yard touchdown, and Spencer Hanna’s kick cut Jefferson’s lead to 14-7.
That was the start of 35 unanswered points for Carmel. Quigley’s 35-yard pass to Sam Rogers tied the game in the middle of the second quarter, then Zach White rumbled into the end zone with 1:22 left in the half. Hanna made both kicks, and the Greyhounds led 21-14 at the break.
Neither team scored in the third period, but Carmel made up for that early in the fourth. Haakon Van Beynen took a 17-yard Quigley pass in to score with 10:36 left. Thirty seconds later, Joey Schmidt nabbed a 37-yard interception return and took it in to score. Hanna again made both kicks, giving him a 5-for-5 effort.
The Bronchos got one more score when Grimes caught a 32-yard touchdown throw from Grimes with 1:07 left. But the Greyhounds answered that immediately, as Schmidt took a 44-yard kickoff return into the end zone.
Quigley had a remarkable night, completing 11 of 13 passes for 146 yards and the two TDs. Rogers had four catches. White finished the game with 20 carries totaling 111 yards.
Carmel is now 9-2 for the season.
