By Jessica Brooks
Staff Writer
CARMEL – The Class 5A No. 2 Carmel Greyhounds sealed their ticket to their third straight state championship game Nov. 21 with a 38-3 home victory over No. 11 Penn.
Carmel’s success against Penn was greatly attributed to senior quarterback Morgan Newton. The 6’4″, 215-pound University of Kentucky recruit passed for 106 yards and three touchdowns. He finished out the night 10 of 14 and also tallied 85 rushing yards on 16 carries that included a seven-yard touchdown run.
Also excelling on the offensive side were senior wide receivers Eric Ardaiolo and Troy Stratford. Ardaiolo caught 12- and eight-yard touchdown passes, while Stratford snared a 23-yard TD. Senior Evan Bergman assisted the team with 84 yards on a dozen carries that included a 12-yard touchdown.
Penn scored on a field goal during the first possession to start off the game. But from then on, the Greyhounds’ defense barely let the Kingsmen move. Penn missed its second and only other field goal attempt.
Starting off the second half, Carmel’s Nick Logan received the kickoff and ran it to his own 40-yard line. Carmel marched its way to the Penn 35, but they were forced to punt. An out-of-bounds kick led to a Penn takeover at its own 18.
A few plays later, Greyhounds linebacker Steven Baskerville intercepted a pass, and Carmel took over at the Penn 30. Carmel stopped short of a TD at the 11, but kicker Jordan Babcock’s field goal attempt was successful.
Penn punted on its next possession, and Carmel marched down the field to the Penn 18 before adding another Babcock field goal in the third quarter.
Penn took possession but soon turned it over on an interception by Carmel defensive back Chase Varndell, who had two INTs on the night. Carmel started at the Penn 43, moving all the way to the 1-yard line and first and goal. A quarterback sack pushed the Greyhounds back eight yards, but they scored on the next play with a pass to Ardaiolo.
Penn received the kickoff and returned it to its own 26. The Kingsmen’s next pass was intercepted by defensive back Scott Dehnke, but a defensive holding penalty allowed Penn to maintain possession. The clock ran out before Penn could score.
“What you’ve done so far has been unbelievable,” Carmel coach Mo Moriarity said in a postgame speech to his team. “We’ve just got one more.”
Carmel (13-1) will face off for the 5A state championship against top-ranked Center Grove (13-1) Nov. 29 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Back in September, Carmel squeaked out a 33-32 win over Center Grove
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