Episode 32: Westfield vs Carmel Sectional Preview

This week we break down the upcoming matchup vs Carmel!

Episode Transcript

(00:05):
Hello, Hello, Hello, Welcometo the Shamrock sportscast. I'm Rowan Elbert,
joined by Calie Siegler, Drew Taylor, no Will Holmes or Adrienne Wolf
today Tristan Cook, Dennis probably nevergoing to come back unfortunately. And how
y'all doing today? Man doing good. It's a good day to be a
Rock and it is a very goodday. Can't wait for tomorrow though,

(00:27):
Oh yeah, tomorrow. That's whatwe're here for to talk to you all
about Carmel, a rematch of lastyear's sectional, Westfield picking up the big
time win last year, winning bytwenty now here we are a rematch,
and let's first off. We usuallystart by talking about Westfield in the previous

(00:49):
game, but I think we shouldstart by talking about Carmel. They had
a loss to Laurence Central twenty oneseventeen and Lawrence Central if you remember against
Westfield Week two, game of thecentury, Westfield winning that one in overtime.
And the biggest takeaway really I thinkat quarterback is Anthony Koehlner, a

(01:14):
guy which I think the key wordfor him is potential. Anthony Colner a
lot of potential, but he's prettyyoung. One touchdown, one interception,
fifty seven percent completion. I guessjust watching Colner this year, what has
been your main takeaways. I thinkhe's got tremendous upside and I think by

(01:36):
when we get to like my senioryear, you could potentially be looking at
one of the best quarterbacks in thestate for his class. Tremendous talent,
great physicality, I mean really intense. Mean we saw that in the Westfield
Carmel scrimmage when he got taken outby Andrew Lisky. He got up and
he was ready to throw hands.So yeah, I think it is physicality

(01:57):
miss with throw hand wow. Yeah, Yeah, I agree with him.
I think he's still building on,Like you know, it's hard sometimes just
being thrown thrown in without having reallya veteran quarterback. So I think he's
by like Drew said his senior year, he could be really dangerous. Yeah,
but this year eight interceptions to sixtouchdowns passing wise and a fifty eighth

(02:24):
bro a fifty eight point nine QBrating. Kohler man, He's it's been
very up and down. But Ithink when he's hot, he's hot,
and the stats, you know,they don't look good. But I think
at this point, you really haveto just you know, go into it

(02:46):
expecting the unexpected and expect him tobe at his very best. And that's
what playoff football is all about.Let's go over to the defense, and
a big change from last year wasArmy commit Artemis Bryant moving from defensive end
over to linebacker, and he's beengreat at linebacker, seventy nine tackles,

(03:10):
two sacks. He does blitz veryoften, which we all expected. Just
how much of a factor do youthink it is that Artemis Bryant is no
longer upfront but instead amongst the linebackingcorps there. I think either way,
he's going to be disruptive in whateverposition he is, where he's on the

(03:34):
d liner and the backfield or asa linebacker. So I think it's not
that big of a factor. ButI definitely think when he blitzes, it's
definitely going to put pressure on Jacksonand get rid of it quick because I
don't know how long our line cancontain him. Yeah, I agree.
I think he has the experience ofplaying two positions and he can play bolts
and if we blitz, if helike blitz unexpectedly, we probably can't stop

(03:57):
him. Yeah, and another guyon defense. I want to bring up
Christian Peterson, and I you committhe guy's unreal two way player. He's
a pretty solid receiver as five receptionsfor fifty yards on the year, but
also on defense has an interception overthirty tackles. I talked to coach Gilbert

(04:18):
yesterday and he was like, yeah, that Peterson kid is going to be
hard to stop. I just what'sthe mindset of like having to deal with
a guy like Christian Peterson, notonly on defense, but especially on offense
too. I mean, how doyou deal with a guy like Christian Peterson.

(04:38):
It's kind of like in a situation, kind of like Travis Hunter two
way player, and I think thatthe best thing you have to do is
you got to contain him to thebest your ability, locking him down when
he runs downfield and then trying tobeat him out when he's playing corner.
So I think just trying to keephim on his heels and not knowing what's
coming next kind of throw him infor a was how you could tain him.

(05:01):
Yeah, I completely agree. Ithink it's like a Travis Hunter situation
where we just have to contain himand get him off his toes and off
balanced. Oh yeah, And Ithink the main way to stop him,
I guess, not stop him butnot feel his wrath is do what worked
last year against Carmel, run thefootball and Kendall Garnet he can do it.

(05:28):
I mean we saw in the Jamboree. Let's go back to the Jamboree,
which was back all the way inAugust, a game me and DT
called I believe, yep, andyeah. It was a very interesting and
eye opening performance for both teams.Westfield was a fourteen to nothing at the
I mean jamboree games don't count,but Westfield was up fourteen to nothing or

(05:51):
twenty one nothing. Kendall Garnet hadan eighty yard touchdown, Micah Webster was
running all over them too. MaxNosler would have had a touchdown if not
for a penalty. Rushing wise,I mean, it seemed like in that
Jamboree, Carmel could not contain therun. Obviously a lot has changed since

(06:13):
then, but anyway, but no, I will say that Carmel might struggle
with containing the run. And Ithink what plays a big factor in that
is maybe Artemis Bryant not being upfront. But at the same time, he
could still be a big disrupt bigdisruptor at linebacker. And I do want

(06:34):
to talk about with Carmel. Lastyear res bellens that that receiver of Resa
Belan's not having him this year becausehe graduated. I think that plays a
big factor because looking at the receivingroles, I mean, no one hasn't
no one has really, you know, taken on that number one guy type

(06:58):
of role. I mean, NathanRodgers, He's been pretty good this year,
but not on that level. Justhow much do you think not having,
like I guess, a solidified numberone option affects Carmel. I think
it actually has a huge part becausethe Colner obviously is coming in. He's

(07:19):
young, not much varsity experience,and to have a nut guys who aren't
solidified at their position long term isnot good. It's kind of like what
Justin Fields came into his rookie yearwhen he just really and honestly his second
year, we just didn't really havea solidified wide receiver one because Mooney was

(07:40):
hurt all the time. So Ithink it definitely plays a role. I
think Cohner has handled it well,and I think that this underclassman. When
they get to overtime, will bewill fill that role, but at the
moment it definitely hurts him. Yeah, I completely agree. That's what I
would have said. And yeah,I mean I have to completely agree with

(08:00):
that. Norville Tucker as well.He's been a guy who's been used in
both the rushing and the receiving aspectof the game. But the running back
like committee. They have like arunning back committee this year, which is
interesting. Colin Johnson, he's gettingthe bulk of the carries, has over
four hundred yards ninety carries. ThenAl Fayed the senior, which I expected

(08:24):
him to get the majority of thecarries, instead only twenty seven, which
that also plays a big factor.But the reason why he doesn't have that
many carries is because he's only playedfour games. But Colin Johnson, we
saw him in the jamboree, himand Al Fayed going back and forth.

(08:46):
But I will say Colin Johnson isa guy who should not underestimate in the
run game. But let's start bytalking about Westfield. Now, let's go
over to Westfield, our guys,and I want to look at their final
stats for the regular season and justyour takeaways from it. Jackson Gilbert eighteen
touchdowns, seven interceptions, sixty threepercent completion. What would be your grade

(09:11):
for Jackson Gilbert's performance this year inthe regular season. I think no one's
perfect, so I'll give him ana minus. But I will say,
and We've talked about this a lot, but he exceeded all expectations put upon
him. There was kind of adebate back in July and August or who
was going to early of or who'sgoing to be QB one or as whether

(09:35):
it's Melvin or Gilbert, and hesolidified himself as not only just a leader,
but a guy that can get hisguys ready weekend and week out.
And just his composure and collectiveness iswhat really is my biggest takeaway. Yeah,
I'd also have to take him ina minus because we really didn't see
much of him, and he reallyjust said and he really just said,

(09:56):
this is my name, and heliterally solidified it. I think if we
maybe had a different quarterback, wewould have been saying the same thing.
Who knows? And I think Jacksonreally stepped up and he got the job
done for Westfield. Okay, nowI want to talk about the defensive side
of the ball. Micah Webster anunreal talent, which I did not expect

(10:18):
him to have the year he had. But he's truly been one of the
best players in Indiana, not justthe HCC, one of the best players
in Indiana. Over one hundred tackles, two sacks, one interception. His
move to linebacker, it was unprecedented. But he comes in and he does

(10:43):
the unthinkable. What would you gradehim? I mean, I think it's
pretty obvious for me. A plus. But yeah, I'm gonna give him
an a plus too because just theway he's come in and he switched positions
late, kind of later in hiscareer because he was upperclassman when they did
it. He's exceeded all expectations,like I said, and he can play

(11:07):
both sides of the ball really well. Probably the best raw talent, one
of the best raw talents on histeam athleticism wise. So yeah, he's
gonna be someone that even next year, I can I would I like to
see continue to make strives. Yeah, I give him an a plus too.
All right, who is a playeron Westfield this year in the regular
season that went under the radar whenit comes to I guess how much you

(11:31):
know they were appreciated. I'll giveyou mine real quick, Drew Law.
Drew Law has been unreal this year. He's like, every time he's on
the field, he's everywhere, youknow, coming in, helping with tackles
and occasionally, you know, makinga big play. He's had fumble recoveries,

(11:52):
he had an interception, He's DrewLaw has just been a guy.
I did not expect him to havethe performance he's had this year. For
me, it's my guy, Alex. Aaron Bulls coming in his name was
kind of gave was kind of moreknown, and you didn't really know since
he was only a sophomore what hewas gonna do because coming on the year,

(12:13):
three sacks in the regular season,extremely disruptive on that defensive line.
So I gotta give to Alex.Okay, I'm going with the sophomore because
I'm gonna go Deacon King. Ohyeah, we've seen a lot of them,
especially defense. We've seen a lotof them, and he's disruptive and
I think the way he's playing hissenior year, he's gonna be like probably

(12:35):
close to the top. I dowant to congratulate Deacon real quick on his
offer from Purdue Power five offer,his first of many Power five offers.
DT. You're a Purdue fan,how you feeling, man, I'm glad
I'm another future rocket pretty hopefully becausewe got theedom in there. He's lighting

(12:56):
it up, so it's good tosee. Yeah, I would have to
do the man. But is itpossible that Deacon and Dylan could play together?
That would be if Dylan played allfour years. Yeah, if Dylan
plays all four years, it's possiblethey could play together. Yeah, but
it's way too early in the morningto do math. And now the moment
you've all been waiting for. Let'sget a score prediction. Let's start with

(13:20):
anyone a score prediction for Westfield andCarmel, the matchup of the century.
But before we do that, Ihad to give you a little tease.
How about Noblesville and Zionsville. Let'sgo to the other end of the sectional.
What is your prediction there. Ithink it's gonna be a close game.
I think Noblesville's rushing game is wasgonna keep a minute. But I

(13:41):
have zions will win twenty one toseventeen. Wow. Yeah, I have
Zionsville because I last week we sawNoblesville lose to Avon, So I think
it's gonna be a tight game.So I'm gonna go twenty one seventeen.
I'm gonna go twenty one to seventeenas well. But the other end,
Noblesville getting the win. Logan Schaffneris going to have a big game.

(14:05):
I think he'll have all three ofthose touchdowns for Noblesville and he'll be inching
pretty close to two hundred yards.And with personal experience watching Zionsville of what
they let Kendall Garnett do back inWeek three, I just think Logan Schaffner
is going to be incredible in thismatchup, and Noblesville will get the win

(14:30):
and we will hopefully see Westfield andone of those teams in the next round.
But now Westfield Carmel score prediction,anyone in the room could answer,
I'm gonna go Westfield twenty four toten. I think we're gonna well.

(14:50):
I think we're The rushing game isgoing to open up holes and defense,
and I think we're gonna be ableto move our offense frequently down the field.
So I'm gonna go twenty four toten Westfield. Yeah, I'm gonna
go thirty one to ten. Wow, I'm going twenty four thirteen Westfield.
And the reason why I say thisis because people have said, oh,

(15:15):
Carmel's worse than last year and Westfield'sbetter than last year, and Westfield squashed
them last year. Unfortunately, that'snot really how it works. There are
times where a team you know,just you know it doesn't play to their
full potential. I'm not saying Westfieldwon't, but I'm saying Carmel might be
at their best and it would bethe perfect timing for them. Carmel might

(15:39):
be on their A game, andI think Westfield this team in the first
half, kind of like in theFranklin Central game. They might be a
little bit sluggish, but in thesecond half they're going to come out swinging.
Carmel five and four. On theyear, they've played some teams in
Missouri, Michigan, Kentucky, butalso losing to Bend d This Carmel team,

(16:00):
they might be on their A game. They've experienced a lot of great
teams this year. They might beon their A game and it'll be hard
for Westfield. I think it's harderthan what people think. But Westfield will
pick up that dub. In myopinion, I have a score prediction.
Oh yeah, baby, I'm gonnago Westfield twenty eight, Carmel nine.

(16:25):
Why nine? If they miss batthey score a field goal nine. Yeah.
Yeah, I like how you think, Alan. I think that's a
very conservative prediction and it's a goodprediction. Yeah. Now, before we
wrap up, I do want toask you all just a question about I
guess the national landscape of sports.Let's talk about World Series diamond Packs taking

(16:52):
on the Rangers. Let's get whatare your predictions for this series. I
have the Rangers, and I thinkAdulis Garcia, Dulas Garcia, Corey Seeger,
Marcus Simon, all those guys aregonna go yard a lot. And
I think that they edged the Diamondbackspretty quickly. Yeah, I was gonna

(17:15):
say Rangers in six. I'm goingRangers in five. I think Jovaldi Montgomery
are going to have incredible performances forTexas. The only guy I think for
the Rangers that might let up alot of runs pitching wise is Max Cherzer.
I think chures Are will maybe strugglea little bit. But this Rangers

(17:37):
seemed two teams that did not makethe playoffs last year in the World Series
and a guy that I mean obviouslyAdulas, Garcia, Corey, Seeger Marcus
Simion, but a guy who Ithink is going to have a big series,
the catcher Jonah Him. Jonah Himhas been one of the better catchers
all year. And yeah, theRangers are going to get revenge for what

(17:59):
happen. Happened to my Dodgers infive games. And yeah, man,
I think I think that's our show. Anyone have anything else to add?
I don't know, I have somethingto add. Watch Game day tomorrow morning.
What time am? Watch it live? Yeah, watch it live,
don't watch it after, Well,watch it after if you have to.

(18:22):
But eight fifteen live and hopefully alive broadcast. We don't know, we
don't know. We'll find out today. We'll find hopefully today And knock on
wood and yeah, that's it.Peace piece,