5A: Carmel edges Snider for title

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - It was a tale of two halves at Wayne Stadium Friday night.  Snider's game with Carmel was moved from Spuller Stadium to Wayne Stadium due to the poor field conditions at Northrop High School, but unfortunately the result was the same.  For the third straight year, Carmel traveled north to play Snider and rode home victorious as regional champions.

In the first half, Snider's defense set the tone.  Zachary Barnes netted a huge sack to fire up the Panthers defense on Carmel's opening drive.  However, Carmel would strike first when quarterback Adam Shaffer busted loose on a 46-yard gain to set up Jordan Babcock's 30-yard field goal to give the Greyhounds a 3-0 lead.

The regional championship game was all about the big plays.  Snider would make the second big play of the night when quarterback Tyler Bobilya connected with Akeim Kelsaw on a 71-yard touchdown pass that gave the Panthers a 7-3 lead heading into the half.

It looked like all the momentum was in Snider's favor to start the second half as Carmel, deep in Panther territory, decided to go for it on fourth down only to see Shaffer's pass fall incomplete.  But Snider was unable to capitalize going three-and-out.  On the ensuing possession, it looked like Snider's defense would force a turnover, but Carmel recovered the fumble forced by the Panthers to keep the drive alive. 

The Greyhounds then struck with the third big play of the night.  On third-and-17, Shaffer hit Jon Schmidt for a reception, Schmidt broke a tackle and took the pass 39 yards for the go-ahead score.  Carmel led 10-7 in the third quarter.

The Greyhounds defense came in highly touted and delivered when it mattered most in the second half.  Carmel held Snider to just a single first down the final 24 minutes.  The only first down came in Snider's final drive of the game with less than a minute to go, ultimately ended with a Greyhounds' interception.

Snider finishes the season 10-3 under first year head coach Kurt Tippmann while top-ranked Carmel moves on to face Merrillville at semi-state.