Norris runs wild as No. 2 Center Grove defeats No. 5 Carmel 35-26
By CRAIG DRAGASH
ISL Correspondent
You wouldn’t think someone who only carries the ball eight times in a game would be considered a factor.
But when those eight carries turn into 216 yards and three touchdowns, not only is that player a factor, he’s the star of the game.
That was the night junior running back Max Norris had against 6A No. 5 Carmel, as his No. 2 Trojans defeated the Greyhounds 35-26. In Center Grove’s first two games, Norris had a total of 18 carries for 104 yards. In the first five minutes of this game, Norris had three carries for 194.
Carmel was in perfect situations on two of its first three defensive possessions, forcing a third-and-18 from the Center Grove 2-yard line, and a first-and-24 from the Center Grove 6-yard line after a penalty.
Center Grove had 14 points to show for it.
Norris broke the first long run 98 yards after shedding several Greyhound tackles, then he nearly duplicated that effort, going 94 yards, and the Trojans had a 14-7 lead less than four minutes into the contest — a Shakir Paschall touchdown run from five yards out for the Greyhounds separated Norris’ long runs.
Carmel started its next possession with great field position at its 48-yard line after the kickoff, and the Greyhounds ran 13 plays, getting down to the Center Grove 23-yard line before three straight incomplete passes from quarterback John Lampe stalled the Greyhounds drive.
After a Center Grove punt gave the ball back to Carmel at its 25 early in the second quarter. Lampe hit UCLA-bound Austin Roberts in the middle of the field, and he streaked down the field for a 75-yard score to tie the game at 14. Roberts would finish the night with 10 catches for 158 yards after going without a reception the week before against Louisville Trinity while nursing an injury.
On Center Grove’s next possession, Luke Calvert completed a pass to tight end Cameron Tidd for 15 yards on second-and-10 from the Carmel 28. On the next play, Calvin Daggett ran the ball in from the 13 to give the lead back to Center Grove, 21-14.
After a three and out for Carmel, Center Grove scored a key touchdown right before the half as Calvert found Lane Morris for a 1-yard scoring strike, and the Trojans took a 28-14 lead into halftime.
Carmel would take the first possession of the second half and drive 65 yards for a touchdown, capped by a six yard run by Carmel’s other quarterback, Isaac James, but two straight false start penalties on the extra point backed the Greyhounds up to kick a 30-yard conversion, which was no good, and Carmel trailed 28-20.
Center Grove then went three and out on its next possession, and the Greyhounds were gaining momentum with good field position at their 42. But a holding penalty, followed by a sack, backed Carmel into a second-and-22, and the Greyhounds would eventually punt the ball back to Center Grove.
Starting from their 28-yard line, Center Grove would move the ball to the Carmel 48 before punting the ball back to Carmel, which took possession at its 12. Two plays later, Chris Perkins fumbled the ball, and Center Grove recovered at the Carmel 37. The Trojans capitalized, as Norris scored his third touchdown on the night with a 12-yard carry to give Center Grove a 35-20 lead with 6:58 to play.
Lampe would answer with a 36-yard scoring strike to Thomas Baldwin, and the Greyhounds went for two points to cut the lead to seven. But Lampe’s pass to Baldwin fell incomplete, and Center Grove ran out the clock to secure the 35-26 victory.
Calvert had a very efficient passing effort, completing 15 of 20 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown. The Trojans finished the night with 326 yards rushing and 452 total yards on the night, compared to Carmel’s 386.
James led the Greyhounds for 78 yards rushing and Perkins added 72 yards.
Center Grove moved to 3-0 on the season, and will host Pike next Friday. Carmel, now 1-2, will take on 6A #1 Lawrence Central at Lucas Oil Stadium.
