My View/Your View: Finding a way to stop Carmel simply no easy task

I’m starting to think that the only way Carmel High School’s football team won’t play in a fourth straight Class 5 state championship game could only happen if the Greyhounds become completely unraveled and lose focus.

And I really don’t think that’s a likely scenario. The top-ranked Greyhounds are too good at finding a way to fight and survive to play another day.

It starts and ends with defense, and boy what a defense, one that hits with reckless abandon no matter what the circumstance.

“We always find a way to win. No matter what, our defense always steps up. We really do have a great defense and a great group of seniors,’’ Carmel Coach Mo Moriarity said after Friday night’s 17-9 Sectional 4 championship victory over seventh-ranked Hamilton Southeastern (10-2).

Yep, I’m sure that Hamilton Southeastern, which also has a relentless defense, would agree. The Royals gave Carmel a late scare and their best shot. It just wasn’t good enough.

The Greyhounds (11-1), who allow only 8.4 points per game in 5A, second only to HSE’s 7.3 average, have not allowed a touchdown in the past two games, shutting down Fishers 7-0 and holding the Royals to three field goals.

So, it’s little wonder they’ll ride momentum, stemming mainly from that rock-solid defense, and an 11-game winning streak into this week’s regional match-up at Fort Wayne Snider (10-2), a team they beat a year ago in the regional.

Only two more wins are needed to return to Lucas Oil Stadium.

“There’s no looking ahead,’’ said Moriarity, who owns three state titles, two at Bloomington South and one at Carmel (2007). “That’s what it’s all about. Just think about the next opponent and keep on fighting as hard as we can. That’s all we can do . . . that’s what we’ve got to do.’’

The Greyhounds certainly seem to be playing with purpose.

When asked if the Greyhounds are playing with a chip on their shoulders after losing the lead and eventually the state championship game to Center Grove last year, Carmel quarterback Adam Shaffer paused momentarily, and replied with a smile, “Yeah, a little bit, but we don’t like to harp on it, so much.’’

Shaffer, who performed superbly in the first half and was a key figure in Carmel’s 17-3 halftime lead, said the Greyhounds are all about team.

“It’s not about one player or anything like that.,’’ he said. “When the defense gives us good field position, like in the first half, the offense usually moves the ball. It’s just always a total team effort.’’

Ironically, the offense only had the ball for 10 plays from scrimmage in the second half, and on four of those, Shaffer carried three times in an attempt to run seconds off the clock, then later took a quarterback kneel to end the fierce battle. That should give you an idea of HSE’s effort the bullet Carmel dodged.

Again, the Greyhounds can attribute where they are today to having just enough offense, a whole lot of defense, and some exceptional special teams play. Great kickoff coverage, excellent strategic punting and booming kickoffs by sophomore Mark Shanklin, and Jordan Babcock’s best-ever 44-yard field goal were so instrumental in Carmel winning the school’s fourth sectional crown in a row and a state-leading 23rd overall. Babcock, a junior, is 7-for-7 on field goals this season.

But when it’s all said and done, it still comes down to defense. I’m not sure any team does it better than these Greyhounds. From start to finish, that is.

Around the Indianapolis area, where 10 other teams advanced:

• Class 4A No. 1 Cathedral (11-1) and 3A No. 1 Bishop Chatard (11-1) won sectionals as expected. Chatard, which has won 20 sectionals, second only to Carmel, had a more difficult time in disposing of Brebeuf Jesuit 21-7. Cathedral powered past Plainfield 48-21. Their regional opponents won’t be pushers. The Irish take on New Palestine (10-2), which rolled over Anderson Highland 48-22, and the Trojans visit unbeaten Batesville, which slugged Hamilton Heights 27-6.

• One unbeaten season came to an end and another was extended. Seventh-ranked Indian Creek (11-1) lost at No. 3 Heritage Hills 7-0, and 2A No. 2 Monrovia needed a 95-yard interception return from Grant Watson to win its first sectional since 1989, setting up a showdown with top-ranked Cardinal Ritter (11-1), which spanked Speedway 41-17. Monrovia, which wins on defense, has given up only 4.0 points per game en route to a 12-0 record.

• In 5A, No. 3 Warren Central (10-2) beat Lawrence Central 28-14 and will meet Brownsburg (9-3), which won its first sectional since 1985 by thumping Avon 42-14. Reigning state champion Center Grove (9-3) blitzed Bloomington North 48-7 and sets its sights on visiting Floyd Central.

• In Class A, Lutheran (8-4) turned back Scecina13-7, winning the school’s first sectional in football. The Saints will entertain Clinton Central (8-4), a 27-6 winner over Guerin Catholic.

Mark Morrow is an online columnist for VYPE High School Sports Magazine, Central Indiana. He can be reached at mediamarko@sbcglobal.net or by leaving a comment.