October 14th 2011
Five things we learned: Carmel vs. Ben Davis
There was no conference championship on the line (Warren Central whacked Center Grove to wrap up the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference title), but . Here are five things we learned:
1. Carmel’s defense is serious: Ben Davis got a little bit of a running game established in the first half, but got zilch done on the ground on the second half and virtually nothing at all on offense. It was reminiscent of the second half of the Warren Central game for Carmel’s defense. The line seemed to get stronger and stronger as the game wore on, especially Langston Newton and Shawn Heffern. Ben Davis finished with just 51 rushing yards and 199 through the air, although 80 of that came on one play (a first-half touchdown pass from Matt Brock to Lamont Osborn). Carmel’s defense has been as strong as any in the state this season, including Warren Central’s.
2. Riding Duncan: There aren’t a lot of secrets about the Carmel offense. Coach Kevin Wright likes to ride senior running back Jalen Duncan and chew up the clock, then rely on his talented defense. Duncan and his offensive line came through on Friday as he finished with 166 yards on 35 carries and a touchdown. Duncan might not be the most heralded running back in the state, but he’s tough and strong. I don’t think Wright would hesitate to hand it off to him 35 times every game and take his chances.
3. Big play for Denning: There were lots of big, momentum-changing or momentum-sustaining plays in this game, but one really stands out: With the game tied 10-10 very early in the fourth quarter, Carmel was faced with fourth-and-10 from the Ben Davis 34. Too far for a field goal, too close for a punt. Carmel quarterback Brandon Denning was rushed heavily, but eluded the pressure, rolled to his left and found Sean Barrett for a 13-yard gain. Cool, heady play by Denning. One play later, Duncan bounced around the left end 21 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
4. No spark for Ben Davis: I kept waiting for Brock or Osborn to make a big play in the second half that would get the Giants back on track, like they’d done all year. It never happened on Friday. Looking back, Ben Davis missed some opportunities to take an even bigger halftime lead than 10-0. And an inadvertent whistle cost Ben Davis what should have been a first-quarter touchdown on a fumbled punt. It was instead whistled dead at the Carmel 15 and the Giants settled for a field goal. With a 10-0 lead just before halftime, quarterback Brock was sacked by Race Johnson and fumbled at the Carmel 17. Those missed opportunities early really cost the Giants.
5. Time to look ahead: The playoffs are here and the games really matter now. I’m curious to see how Ben Davis responds to probably it’s most demoralizing game of the season. The Giants travel to 5-4 Zionsville, which closed the season with Brownsburg, Avon and Ben Davis. Carmel hosts Perry Meridian (4-5) in its opener, then gets either Lawrence Central (8-1) or Southport (5-4) in the semfinal. It would not be a shock to see Ben Davis and Carmel playing again in the regional.
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Tags: Carmel, Five Things
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