From the HSSTM Tailgate Party before the game until the final minute of action on the field at Carmel Stadium, it was an electric atmosphere Friday Night as the Class 5A No. 2 Carmel Greyhounds topped the Class 4A No. 1 Cathedral Irish 28-21.

The high school football season got underway in epic fashion. 

A physical battle throughout, Carmel got a much-desired season opening win, following two-straight season opening losses to Cathedral in 2005 and 2006. 

Carmel got outstanding play from senior All-State running back Aaron King, who finished the game with 180 yards and two touchdowns. But it was the play of junior quarterback Morgan Newton that caught my eye.  

The key moment of the game was a gutsy fourth-and-one call by Carmel coach Mo Moriarity with 3:27 left in the fourth quarter. 

Newton got a healthy push from his big, talented offensive line, but also made a spectacular second effort to ensure the clock kept running in the Greyhounds favor.

Carmel (1-0) was backed up inside their own 35 and would have been giving up a lot of valuable field position to the Irish, who were out of timeouts.

"On that quarterback sneak, I just listened to my players," said Moriarity. "I'll do that from time to time. It was Morgan's idea and they [the team] wanted to go for it."

Earlier in the game, Moriarity said he and his staff elected to punt on a fourth-and-one and the Greyhounds leader suggested that he wished they would have made a different decision.

Perhaps that's because Carmel sport's one of the state's best offensive lines, led by Louisville-bound senior Ryan Barnes (6-foot-7, 300 lbs.), All-State performer Matt Steele and Brooks Michel were too much for the Irish (0-1), blowing gaping holes for King and Newton to run through most of the night.

Yet despite giving up two huge offensive numbers to the Greyhounds - for the game, Carmel had 393 yards of total offense - the Irish hung in the game and made it interesting. 

Cathedral senior quarterback Andrew Pimentel threw for 146 yards, three touchdowns and two early interceptions. Despite losing numerous players from their 2006 state championship team, the Irish calmed their nerves and closed a 21-6 gap fairly quickly. 

It began with a furious drive to end the first half with a quick score, followed by another midway through the third quarter after Pimentel threw a miraculous completion down the visiting sideline to senior wide receiver Jonathan Horn. 

Yet it was Carmel's King who put the final scoring stamp on this classic with a five-yard touchdown run with under nine minutes to play in the fourth quarter.

From then on out, it as Carmel's defense, behind linebackers Brian East, Jordan Chapman, Conor O'Banion and Tyler Cruz, that seemed to sniff out every big Cathedral play.

"They got us stops when they had to and that allowed us to win the football game," Morairity said.

As for first-year starter Newton, Moriarity says he can't wait to see how the young signal caller progresses.

"What most people don't know about Morgan is that he just turned 16 a couple months ago," explained Moriarity. "We want to bring him along slowly, but he's got great vision and sees the field well. He's a natural leader."