13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Warren Central, Carmel face off in state championship

Warren Central, Carmel face off in state championship

Will Crall/Eyewitness Sports

Indianapolis - Operation Football comes to a close this weekend with the state finals. In 5A, it's east side against north side as Warren Central faces Carmel Saturday night.

Once again, this year's 5A state football championship features two central Indiana powers. Warren Central and Carmel will face one another in the title game for the second time in four years.

"It will be a great challenge for us. Again, we've got a pretty relentless bunch, a group of kids that have always come out some how and find a way to win games, that's what we've got to do Saturday. We know we've got a challenge but we'll come out and play hard," said Mo Moriarity, Carmel head coach.

One of the challenges the Greyhounds will face is Warren Central running back Shakir Bell. He has rushed for over 2800 yards and 36 touchdowns this season.

"I think he's the best football player in the state of Indiana. We've got a great defense, offensively I think we're the number one offense all year and usually it takes a lot of people to get to that point but the best football player in the state in our opinion is Shakir Bell," said John Hart, Warren Central head coach.

Warren Central and Carmel know each other well. Week seven of the regular season the Greyhounds held off the Warriors 24-22 in one of the best games all year.

"They are a good football team. They were a good football team the first time we played them and there obviously still a good football team. They have the great running back and no one has really been able to stop him and obviously that is a challenge for us. Their defense is just very big, very physical and very talented," said Moriarity.

The Greyhound's playmaker on defense is Brian East. The 6 foot 3 linebacker has racked up 125 tackles and 10 sacks this season.

"Their whole back side really hurt us last time. As a matter of fact they were the difference in the ball game was the backside end and east. So those two guys are key for us offensively to make sure we account for them at all times. Defensively, yeah there's no doubt that the quarterback is the key, whether he is throwing it or running with it he has really became the primary part of their offense," said Hart.

Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium both teams will be looking to add a seventh state football championship to their schools record book.