Carmel defeats Pike, sets up showdown with Ben Davis for share of MIC title
By CRAIG DRAGASH
ISL Correspondent
CARMEL, Ind. — It was a true tale of two halves.
Pike’s offense got yards in big chunks consistently throughout the first half, amassing 259 yards against a normally strong Carmel defense, but the Greyhounds got their motor running in the second half as they got their running attack into high gear en route to a 40-32 comeback victory over the Red Devils, in a game that was showcased nationally on ESPNU.
Carmel’s Austin Roberts, who was honored during the pregame by being named to the Army All-American team, caught a pass on the third play from scrimmage, but he had the ball stripped as he was tackled, and Pike recovered with good field position at their own 48. Pike would drive 52 yards in nine plays, and Derrick Wilkerson scored his first of three first-half touchdowns to give the Red Devils an early 6-0 lead, as the 2-point conversion attempt failed.
Carmel’s second possession resulted in a punt, and a solid return gave Pike the ball at the Greyhounds’ 42-yard line. On fourth-and-6 from the Carmel 38, Brent Lyles would find tight end Nick McGrath for a 32-yard completion. Wilkerson would score his second touchdown of the half from 6 yards out on the next play to give Pike a 12-0 lead after another failed conversion less than seven minutes into the contest.
The Greyhounds finally put together a scoring drive on their third possession, going 70 yards in 15 plays, capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback John Lampe to Thomas Baldwin, and after missing their extra point, the Greyhounds trailed 12-6.
After a big stop on fourth down, Carmel had the ball on the Pike 49-yard line, but failed to convert as Adam Kremer missed a 33-yard field goal attempt. Pike would drive down the field again, and Wilkerson would get his third touchdown, again from 6 yards, and Pike led 18-6 after yet another failed conversion.
Starting at its own 34-yard line with 3:35 left in the half, junior quarterback Isaac James broke free for a 32-yard touchdown run, and this time the point after was good, cutting the Pike lead to 18-13. Then Pike, starting their drive on their 21 with 1:51 left, drove down to the Carmel 28, but the Greyhound defense held on fourth-and-1, and Carmel would try to go for one more score before the half.
But then disaster struck for the Greyhounds, as Lampe threw an ill-advised pass that was picked off by linebacker Quentin Moon, who ran it back for a touchdown, and Pike would take a 25-13 lead into halftime.
Carmel’s defense came out strong on Pike’s first possession, backing the Red Devils up to their 9-yard line after a sack by senior linebacker Nick Csenar, and Pike was forced to punt. A big runback by Jason Baldridge gave Carmel great field position at the Pike 28-yard line, and Shakir Paschall would score his first of two touchdowns in the second half from the 6 to cut Pike’s lead to 25-20. Paschall would put the Greyhounds on his back, gaining 100 of his 158 yards after halftime.
Pike, however, would come right back, as Trent Lyles found standout receiver Dominique Booth, a Tennessee commit, from 4 yards out, and Pike’s lead was 32-20. Carmel’s next possession was marred by penalties and mistakes, and they gave the ball back to Pike after a punt. But the Greyhound defense held this time, forcing a punt. The Greyhounds would cash when Chris Perkins punched it in from the 1, and Carmel trailed 32-27.
Facing third-and-6 on Pike’s next possession, senior safety Jack Conway intercepted Lyles, and the Greyhounds had the ball at the Pike 43-yard line with just under 8 minutes left, and a chance to take the lead. They did just that, as Paschall scored from 2 yards out. Carmel led 33-32 after their two point conversion attempt failed.
Pike would have the ball at their own 9 after a holding penalty on the kickoff, and on fourth-and-3, it was senior cornerback Zach Woods’ turn to intercept Lyles. The Greyhounds would have the ball at the Pike 31 with a chance to increase the lead with 3:16 to play. James would run it in from the 1, and Carmel led 40-32.
On Pike’s last possession starting with 1:49 remaining, they put fear into the hearts of the Greyhound fans as they steadily moved the ball down the field. They drove the ball down to the Carmel 13-yard line, when Lyles took an intentional grounding penalty after heavy pressure from the Greyhound defense. Facing fourth-and-19 from the Carmel 22, Lyles scrambled before throwing the ball into the back of the end zone, with Greyhound fans holding their collective breath. Woods deflected the pass away, and Carmel sealed the victory.
Lyles finished the night completing 30 of 45 passes for 258 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Wilkerson had 77 yards on the ground to go with his three touchdowns. Roberts would finish with six receptions, all in the first half, for 63 yards. He added 26 yards on the ground.
The win sets up a showdown at Ben Davis next Friday. With Center Grove’s victory over North Central, they finish their MIC conference play with a 6-1 record. Carmel and Ben Davis both stand at 5-1 in the conference; the winner next Friday will earn a share of the MIC conference title.
