Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.

9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

_________________________________________________________________________

November 24, 2007

 

CARMEL WINS FIRST FOOTBALL TITLE SINCE 1989

A state finals record crowd saw Carmel (13-2) win its sixth IHSAA football state championship, and first since 1989 after defeating Pike, 16-7, in the Class 5A football state championship game at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

 

The win gives coach Mo Moriarity his third title and first at Carmel. He joins Dick Dullaghan (Carmel and Ben Davis) as coaches who have won championships at two different schools. Moriarity coached Bloomington South to a pair of 5A titles in 1993 and 1998. He coached the Greyhounds to a state runner-up finish a year ago.

 

Pike jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter lead, scoring on a 52-yard touchdown pass from senior Josh Carpenter to senior wide receiver Jeremy Turner that was set up by a fumble recovery by junior defensive back Troy Smith.  Carmel responded on its ensuing possession with a 15 play, 67 yard drive that was capped by a 2-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Morgan Newton to senior tight end Jacob LaRosa. The Greyhounds added a field goal from senior kicker Cory Kemps as time expired in the first half to take a 10-7 halftime lead.

 

A pair of costly mistakes cost Carmel a scoring opportunity midway through the third quarter. The Greyhounds’ Chase Varndell picked off Pike quarterback Josh Carpenter and returned it to the five yard line. A 10 yard penalty moved it back to the 15. Three plays later, Newton was intercepted in the end zone by senior defensive back Kendall Flemings.

 

Kemps added a 32 yard field goal and a 25 yard field goal to push the Carmel lead to 16-7 halfway through the fourth quarter and set an overall state finals record for most field goals in a game.

 

The Red Devils (14-1) were led by Turner’s 84 receiving yards and a touchdown.  Carmel held Pike to 53 yards rushing on 25 attempts. Pike, which won its first sectional championship three weeks ago, was coached by first year leader Derek Moyers.

 

This year marked the last championship games to be played in the RCA Dome and this year’s five games drew a record 51,217 spectators. Saturday’s three games also drew a record 38,478.

 

After the game Pike’s Cameron Lowry was named as the recipient of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award.

 

PIKE’S CAMERON LOWRY NAMED MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER

Following the game, the IHSAA Executive Committee named Pike High School’s Cameron Lowry as the winner of the Phil N. Eskew Mental Attitude Award in Class 5A football.

 

Athletically, Lowry is the team’s leading blocker and is a four year starter at left tackle for the Red Devils. He has been named Junior All-State by the Indiana Football Coaches Assocation, Bloomington Herald All-State, All-Conference Indiana and All-Marion County by the Indianapolis Star. Besides football, Lowry also has thrown the discus and shot put for the school’s track and field team.

 

Outside of sports, he also is a member of the school’s symphonic orchestra.

 

Academically, Lowry rates among the best students in his class of 595 students. He maintains a spot on Pike’s honor roll and is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. He plans to study pharmacy at a college to be decided.

 

He is the son of Orlando and Penny Lowry of Indianapolis.

 

The award is presented annually to a senior participant in the state finals who was nominated by his principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. It is named in honor of the IHSAA’s third commissioner who served the association from 1962-76 and who helped initiate the state tournament in 1973.

 

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Pike High School in the name of Lowry.

Class 5A Game Quotes

 

Carmel coach Mo Moriarity

 

On Coming in Second Last Year

“We wanted to get back and win one.  We got down 7-zip but the kids didn’t blink.  That’s a great football team.  I’m just really happy for our kids and the community of Carmel.  The kicking game was big, and we were able to take advantage.  We were able to get the points when we needed them.  We thought special teams might be the key, and in the end, that was the case.”

 

On Carmel’s Tradition

“The last one (championship) was in 1989, and it feels good to be a part of bringing that back to Carmel.   We got close last year and this year we got it.” 

 

On the Closeness of the Game

“It was a hard game, but that’s what makes them so special.  To win a state championship in such a hard fought game … we were able to get it done and that’s really something.  When two teams are as evenly matched, it’s going to come down to something like the kicking game, and that was the case tonight.” 

 

On Kicker Cory Kemps

“We do have one heck of a kicker.  He’s been kicking well all year long, even though he hasn’t had to hit many field goals.  He has a strong, strong leg.” 

 

On Quarterback Morgan Newton

“Morgan is a very special 16-year old and he is going to get a lot of attention in the coming months.”

 

On Carmel’s Defense

“In the playoffs our defense has really been playing well … best of the year.  You have to be able to win with offense, defense or special teams, and tonight it was mainly defense and special teams.”

 

 

Pike coach Derek Moyers

“The difference in the game was when we had big plays, we had penalties.  Plus we had zero field position all night long.  A lot of that had to do with the kicking game.”

 

“The penalties came back to haunt us, and we turned the ball over too many times.  If you ask Carmel, that was the best defense they saw all year.  The defense kept us in the ball game.”

 

“I hope no one takes anything away from our players tonight.  No one in the state of Indiana thought we would be here tonight at the beginning of the season.  If we continue to do the things we did this year, there is no doubt that we will be back.  The only thing that would make me happier is if we would have won.”

 

“We didn’t have a lot of offense tonight, obviously Carmel had something to do with that.  Again, it was too many turnovers and penalties for us.”

 

“Anytime you lose a state championship game you are disappointed.  We made too many mistakes and good teams like Carmel capitalize on them.”

 

 

VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY

Visit our friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state championship events and one of the leading action photographers in the Midwest. VSN, which was on site Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE STILL AVAILABLE

For t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.

 

STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

Couldn’t be there for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA Office (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order, have your Visa or MasterCard ready and call us at 317-846-6601 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EST).