Carmel coach John Hebert believes the Greyhounds’ Friday win at Lawrence North might be his team’s most complete game so far this season.
It would be hard to argue that, since Carmel was completely dominant against the Wildcats during its 38-14 win at LN’s Dwayne Bell Stadium. The victory is the third in a row for the ‘Hounds and gets them above the .500 mark for the first time in 2022.
Reece Bellin got Carmel on the board within the first minute and a half of the game, catching a 78-yard touchdown throw from Jack Kazmierczak. Later in the first quarter, a new face stepped up for the Greyhounds: Freshman Levell Stewart. He scored his first-ever touchdown with a one-yard run.
“We started working him in at running back on Wednesday, and he just had a really good night,” said Stewart. “We thought this was possible, but you don’t know for sure until he went out there. He ran really hard. He’s a talented kid.”
Ben Sponsler kicked both extra points, and he also gave Carmel its only points of the second quarter on a field goal just 14 seconds into the period. That gave the Greyhounds a 17-0 lead at halftime.
“Halftime was pretty spirited, trying to get everyone to realize how important the upcoming segment was going to be,” said Hebert.
It took Carmel a while to score again, but the ‘Hounds were unstoppable once they found the end zone. Christian Peterson zoomed in to score from 12 yards with 4:08 left in the third quarter, then minutes later took a 57-yard punt return into the end zone.
Stewart then got the last score of the quarter on a four-yard run. Sponsler made each kick, and Carmel led 38-0 after three quarters. The Wildcats scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, but the game was well in hand for Carmel by then.
“The whole defense was really good,” said Hebert. “Ben Sponsler kicked a nice field goal.” Hebert also mentioned the “new faces running the ball because some guys are banged up. Jack Kazmierczak continues to be really, really solid. I thought the offensive line, at times, the run blocking was very good.”
Kazmierczak finished the game 16-of-22 for 193 yards, with Bellin making six catches. Stewart led the rushing with 62 yards.
Carmel is 3-2 and goes back on the road next Friday to play at North Central.
CARMEL 38, LAWRENCE NORTH 14
Score by Quarters
Carmel 14 3 21 0 – 38
Lawrence North 0 0 0 14 – 14
Team Stats CAR LN
First Downs 16 9
By Rush 8 4
By Pass 7 5
By Penalty 1 0
Rushes-Yards 32-131 22-50
Yards Passing 193 128
Comp-Att-Int-TD 16-23-0-1 11-20-1-1
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 3-25 3-30
Punts-Average 2-35.0 7-38.7
Carmel Scoring
First Quarter
10:38 – Reece Bellin 78-yard pass from Jack Kazmierczak (Ben Sponsler kick)
5:21 – Levell Stewart 1-yard run (Sponsler kick)
Second Quarter
11:46 – Sponsler 37-yard field goal
Third Quarter
4:08 – Christian Peterson 12-yard run (Sponsler kick)
2:12 – Peterson 57-yard punt return (Sponsler kick)
0:00 – Stewart 4-yard run (Sponsler kick)
Carmel individual stats
Rushing: Stewart 11-62, Alijah Alfayyad 8-48, Peterson 2-22, Craig Kepler 5-14, Bellin 1-3, Cam Carmichael 1-minus 1, Kazmierczak 4-minus 17.
Passing: Kazmericzak 16-22-193, Carmichael 0-1-0.
Receiving: Bellin 6-99, Blake Matthews 5-36, Nathan Rodgers 3-43, Alfayyad 1-11, Aydrian Caldwell 1-4.