(LEFT) Carmel’s Andrew Pemberton has rushed for 1,084 yards this season and scored 11 touchdowns. (RIGHT) Westfield’s Cooper Melvin completed 13 of 15 attempts during the Shamrocks’ sectional win over Zionsville last Friday, Oct. 31.
By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
No. 5 Westfield Shamrocks (8-2) at No. 2 Carmel Greyhounds (9-1)
Friday night’s meeting at Greyhound Stadium is the 22nd overall, but just the sixth in the playoffs between Westfield and Carmel. The Greyhounds lead all-time 14-7 and hold a 3-2 record in the postseason.
Carmel won the regular season matchup, also at home, back on Aug. 29, 34-10. Westfield won the latest playoff meeting in 2023 (37-21) on the way to a semi-state appearance.
While Westfield has won five straight sectional titles, Carmel is in search of its first since 2020.
Last week in the sectional semifinals, Westfield had no problems at all with Hoosier Crossroads Conference rival Zionsville, sending the Eagles back to Boone County on the short end of a 48-20 outcome.
There’s nothing like exciting playoff football. It was a complete rarity last week as Westfield’s Cato June returned the opening kickoff 99 yards to go up 7-0 immediately. Zionsville’s Liam Salapka took the ensuing kickoff back 93 yards to tie it 7-7 before one offensive play had even been snapped.
They would trade scores again to make it 14-14 and by the end of the first it was 17-14 Rocks.
Westfield was up 31-14 at halftime and then cruised to the four-score win.
Baylor Conner highlighted the offense with a career-high 126 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. Aiden Grabowski scored two rushing TDs, ran for 57 yards and also was 3 of 3 passing for 14 yards.
Cooper Melvin went 13 out of 15 through the air for 144 yards. Elliott Clevenger also ran for 38 yards and a touchdown. Diego Herrera also kicked five extra points and two field goals.
Josh Miracle is 20-4 in his second season as the Shamrocks’ head coach.
On the season, Melvin and Grabowski are 124 of 201 for 1,494 yards with nine touchdowns. They also run when called upon with Grabowski (404 yards) leading in rushing touchdowns with 10, Melvin (82 yards) with three.
Also contributing to the ground game of late are Conner (279) and Clevenger (195), along with Broc Parker (134).
Olumide Fapetu tops the Rocks defense with 78 stops. Alex Aramboles has 23.5 tackles for a loss, including 12.5 sacks and Logan Loring tops the secondary with six interceptions.
Head coach Kevin Wright is in his first season back with Carmel. Previously, Wright was the Greyhounds’ head coach from 2010-14 when he was 54-10, winning the 2011 5A state title and also was runner-up twice (2013-14). He has an overall high school coaching record of 238-66 in 21 seasons. Wright has also been tight ends coach at Indiana University, but a majority of his coaching has been at Carmel, IMG Academy (Fla.), Western Kentucky (offensive coordinator), Union (Okla.), Louisville Trinity, Noblesville and Frankfort.
The Greyhounds jumped out to a 35-0 lead at the end of the first, Carmel had it on autopilot the rest of the way for a 56-7 semifinal win over Harrison.
Andrew Pemberton crossed 100 yards rushing in the first quarter alone, taking runs of 66 and 44 in for touchdowns, well on his way to 132 on six carries and three rushing scores. Pemberton’s now over 1,000 with 1,084 yards on 136 carries and has 11 touchdowns.
All-time passing yards leader Anthony Coellner was 12 of 15 for 150 yards and a TD. His 1,640 this season gives him 4,367, surpassing former Hound, Boilermaker Mark Herrmann (4,327). Herrmann was drafted in 1981 by the Denver Broncos, then also played for the Chargers, Rams and finished up a 12-year NFL career at home with the Colts.
Coellner also has 524 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns as a dual threat quarterback. Ayden Johnson (439) and Josiah Gilmore (301) provide backfield depth, combining for 13 rushing scores.
Jacob Bellin’s 572 receiving yards top the pass catchers. Carson Clark (379), Spencer Sell (267) and Dominic Shockley (260) give Coellner many options in the pocket.
Will Massey leads the defense with 98 tackles, an interception and fumble recovery. Sophomore Drake Coellner has four picks, including a 40-yarder for a touchdown against Harrison.
