Over the past nine weeks, this Carmel team has solidified themselves as the worst in decades. The dominant week 1 victory over Homestead proved to be no good omen for the remainder of the season, as the hounds would go on to lose six of their next eight, including all four home games, to finish the season with a painful 3-6 record. Thankfully, within the rules of IHSAA football, every team gets a chance to play in the postseason, and the Hounds drew a best-case scenario, matching up with another 3-6 team in the form of Zionsville.
Carmel fans had no shortage of complaints regarding the state of this team throughout the year; whether it was injuries, dropped passes, missed kicks, or embarrassing loses (including a homecoming loss to Brebeuf, which happened to also be the program’s only loss to Brebeuf in a series that dates back to 1973), there was never a true scapegoat to blame for the poor performance of the team. However, there was a bright spot in the form of Anthony Coellner, who finished his regular season with a completion percentage over 60%, nearly 1,900 yards in the air, 17 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions, which shows great improvement from his sophomore season, and should be expected to carry into his senior year.
The bad news for Carmel came during the week 9 contest against Lawrence Central, in which Coellner exited early due to injury, which should also be a familiar sight to Carmel fans. Backup quarterback, Jackson Treadway has stepped up when needed, however, the sophomore’s lack of experience has been evident when the team has required his services. Combining the minimal minutes between seven games this season, Treadway posted 8 completions over 14 attempts, for a total of 54 yards, to accompany two interceptions and no touchdowns.
Despite this, in a surprising move, Nate Williams has been slotted into the QB1 position entering this sectional matchup, and is expected to split snaps with the backup, Treadway. Williams has been a rock for Carmel’s offense as a receiver, and has played both sides of the ball on many occasions throughout the year, including a three-interception night, which not only leads the team for most in a game, but also crowns him as the squad’s interception leader for the season. Williams’ quarterbacking skills have yet to be truly tested, while he has been slotted into a wildcat formation on occasion, but he’s been given an ideal week to oil the works, as Zionsville’s defense has allowed an astonishing 32.2 points per game, and could allow for Williams to salvage the season for the injured Anthony Coellner.
Carmel’s defense has proven to be their weaker side of the ball, allowing 26 points per game, but with the injuries piling up, that average has soared to just over 35 per game over the past three weeks against Ben Davis, Warren Central, and Lawrence Central, which were also all losses. Injuries to names such as John Luke Getchell, Ozzy Pollard, and Will Massey, as well as some off-field issues, the depth of Carmel’s defense will need to show up if the team hopes to make it out of Zionsville
On the other sideline, Zionsville has extended their streak of losing seasons to three, after a disappointing 3-6 campaign, which concluded with a four-game skid, that the Eagles will hope to snap on Friday. Hounds fans should be familiar with the play of Zionsville’s offense, as it’s being quarterbacked by former Greyhound, Zach Trent, who has rattled off a respectable season, but nothing that the Hounds’ defense isn’t used to. The real star of this Eagles team has been Eugene Hilton Jr, who has completed his third straight 500 yard receiving season, to go along with his team’s three consecutive losing seasons. Hilton’s twelve touchdowns over nine games is certainly on the radar of the Hounds, and will make him public enemy number one for Carmel cornerbacks Aaron Fedorcha, and Dylan Gould.
As the Hounds travel to Zionsville on Friday to face Trent and the Eagles, it can be expected that most of their student body will not travel with them, as student section attendance at Carmel Stadium has dropped dramatically in the midst of this historically disappointing season.
The winner of this contest awaits the winner of Harrison (6-3), and Westfield (8-1), who edged Carmel in a rain-delayed week two game 17-13. This sectional game kicks off at 7 at Zionsville Stadium.
