Carlyle football opens with 26-14 win over Lawrenceville

Four touchdowns - Eli Gray had two rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns in the Carlyle football team’s 26-14 win over Lawrenceville. PHOTO BY MATT WILSON    The Carlyle football team was able to celebrate a victory on its turf field for the first time following a 26-14 win over Lawrenceville on Friday, Aug. 21.
    The win snapped a 10-game losing streak for Carlyle. Carlyle went 0-5 on its turf field last year. Carlyle won its first opener in a fall season since 2017 when they beat Nashville 34-27.
    The Indians also handed Dalton Tieman his first win as a varsity head coach.
    "It's about them more than it is about me," Tieman said. "We have had a number on the board of how many days since we have won a game here at Carlyle, and I'm just so happy that these guys get to erase that number and put a one up there. Ultimately this is what you play for and what you coach for, to see these guys so excited about this win."
    Junior Eli Gray scored all four of the Indian touchdowns. He finished the game with 66 rushing yards and two touchdowns and 97 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
    "This win feels amazing," Gray said. "0-9 last year really just tore us down and to build our confidence back up with this first win is amazing for us and the Carlyle community in general."
    Carlyle never trailed in the victory.
Three catches - Ethan Peebles had three catches for 33 yards in the Carlyle football team’s win over Lawrenceville. PHOTO BY MATT WILSON    The Indian defense didn't allow Lawrenceville a first down as Carlyle had a 7-0 lead following the opening quarter. The Indian defense limited Lawrenceville to a combined four yards on its first three offensive plays. Lawrenceville was back in punt formation but a bad snap forced the punter to go back and grab the football. Carlyle tackled the punter on the Lawreneville 6-yard line.
    The Indians wasted no time reaching the end zone as on the first play of its drive, Gray had a 6-yard touchdown run.
    Carlyle used some trickery to extend its lead two minutes into the second quarter. On a 3rd-and-12 play from its own 32-yard line, Carlyle junior quarterback Colin Rahm completed a pass to senior Gannon Meyer. Meyer pitched the ball to Gray for a 68-yard touchdown on a hook-and-ladder play.
    "They were over cheating on everything and I saw that side wide open," Gray said. "I told coach the outside was open and the hook and ladder could work. And it turns out it did work."
Two touchdowns - Colin Rahm threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns in the Carlyle football team's 26-14 win over Lawrenceville. PHOTO BY MATT WILSON    Lawrenceville began to find its offense in the second quarter. Lawrenceville was on a nine-play, 40-yard drive that brought them to the Carlyle 30-yard line. On a third-and-1 play, Carlyle junior Eli Weh intercepted a Blayton Gossett pass to give Carlyle the ball on the Lawrenceville 49-yard line.
    "Eli Weh is just one of those kids that does everything right," Tieman said. "Anything you tell him to do, he does it, and he does is right. He played well all night."
    Carlyle was unable to capitalize on the turnover and gave the ball back to Lawrenceville on its own 21-yard line. Lawrenceville went 79 yards in six plays capped by a 24-yard touchdown from Gossett to senior Isaac Vennard on a pass that was tipped by a Lawrenceville player.
    Carlyle took over on its down 43-yard line. The Indians got the ball down to the Lawrenceville 39-yard line for a final play of the first half. Rahm connected with Gray for a 39-yard touchdown catch to give Carlyle a 19-7 lead going into halftime.
    "Eli Gray was huge for us all night," Tieman said. "He is a great kid and a great worker. He is one of those players that when you need a big play, he's going to be the guy to step up and do it."
    Lawrenceville got within 19-14 on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Gossett to sophomore Korbin Shaffer with one minute left in the third quarter.
    Carlyle went on a 12-play, 70-yard drive capped by a Gray 3-yard touchdown run and an extra point from junior Zach Beckemeyer, put the Indians up 26-14 with 6:30 left in the game. Carlyle converted on two third downs during the drive, the last of those on a Rahm 12-yard run on a third-and-10 play.
    Lawrenceville got a first down on a 16-yard completion on the first play of its next drive. After an 8-yard pass completion from Gossett to senior Luke Schultz, Carlyle limited Lawrenceville to a combined minus three yards on its next three plays to get the ball back.
    Rahm finished 12-for-18 for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
    "Colin played a good game," Tieman said. "He made so many good reads, which is exactly what we were hoping for and exactly what we knew he could do. He knows exactly what he needs to do and makes all the right reads."
    Four different Carlyle players had at least one catch. Beckemeryer had three catches for 24 yards and had 54 rushing yards. Junior Ethan Peebles had three catches for 33 yards. Meyer had two catches for 10 yards.
    Gossett was 12-for-20 for 177 yards and two touchdowns for Lawrenceville. Vennard had four catches for 77 yards and one touchdown. Shaffer had four catches for 67 yards and one touchdown. 
    Carlyle plays at Pinckneyville on Friday.
    Notes: Following the game, the two teams met at midfield to pray for Lawrenceville sophomore Knox Pritchard. Pritchard was injured in a diving incident on Aug. 3. The prayer was led by Lawrenceville assistant coach Chester Lewis.