CARMEL, Ind. – Detroit (Mich.) King five-star quarterback Dante Moore was so good on Friday night playing on the road at Carmel (Ind.) High, it was going to take something heroic, perhaps miraculous, to take down the 2023 blue-chipper and his Crusaders teammates.
The Top247’s No. 3 ranked passer threw for 438 yards and four touchdowns, with his last pass of the night hushing a massive home crowd, giving King a 40-36 lead with eight seconds left.
But a short kickoff saw the Greyhounds return it inside their 40. Then on the game’s final play Jack Kazmierczak threw it up and Reece Bellin won the jump ball in the end zone and Carmel came away victorious in a battle of Midwest heavyweights.
Carmel beats Detroit King on this Hail Mary from Jack Kazmierczak to Reece Bellin 42-40 final. @MaxPreps pic.twitter.com/TGkum6wgnn
Outside of that unbelievable finish, the 6-foot-2 195-pound Moore was the talk of the night.
“Oh my goodness he’s special and very, very poised,” Carmel head coach John Hebert said. “He can do anything. I think really, really read our coverages better than I thought we were going to get. We were looking at last year’s tape, so he’s matured I can tell. His arm strength and touch is amazing.
“Again we were lucky to walk out of here with a win.”
Prior to the game King offensive coordinator Terel Patrick said Moore was going to throw it around. He certainly did, to the tune of 265 yards and three touchdowns in the first half as the Crusaders went into the locker room with a 26-21 lead at intermission. Carmel’s defense tightened up some in the second half but when his team needed it, Moore stepped up and proved clutch. He led what looked like a game-winning drive there on his last series including a terrific 4th and 6th snap where he extended the play keeping his eyes downfield and hitting his receiver with precision to move the chains and keep his team’s hopes alive.
Detroit King Top247 QB Dante Moore just did this on 4th and 6 to keep the game alive down 36-33 at Carmel pic.twitter.com/l8nUJcJ0Dt
“He made some plays man,” King head coach Ty Spencer said. Moore ranks as the nation’s No. 16 prospect overall and has already been invited to play in the All-American Bowl following his senior season. “He escaped quite well in the pocket and made some plays down the field which was awesome. He took a big hit when he threw one. He was tough, he made plays and he gives us a chance.”
“He’s fully taken control of this football team and he’s really the Alpha guy when it comes to leadership,” Patrick added.
Moore has the arm talent to get the football to any part of the field, he made quick decisions, he was accurate and put his playmakers in position to make things happen after the catch. The electric Lynn Wyche-El Jr. had a pair of touchdowns, and so did Joseph Williams. Terrence Brown ran a kick back for a touchdown and Terrence Moore had a rushing score for King. Wyche-El, Brown, Terence Maize and Jameel Croft and Corey Webb were a few more that made big impacts for King.
“I loved it,” Spencer said. “I told them, when they caught the ball, I mean it was one of those plays, we made plays, they made plays, they just made the last one at the end. But to come down here and play an opponent like this in this type of environment gets us ready for our season. Like I told them, there is no reason for them to put their heads down or anything, they played great.”
Moore wasn’t the only standout quarterback on the field. Colgate quarterback commit Zach Osborne shredded King’s defense with his arm and his legs and had a couple rushing touchdowns. He also got banged up a couple times setting the stage for Kazmierczak’s memorable heave. Kazmierczak actually tossed two touchdowns off the bench. Running back Ethan Hall gashed the Crusaders defense all evening and 2023 wide out Desmond Duffy had several big plays as well.
“Desmond Duffy he’s a big-time player and I hope this proves it,” Hebert stated. “Out there against their perimeter players who have multiple offers, some of them over 10 offers and Desmond was a handful.”
Winston Berglund is a hard-hitting safety that flies to the football and Will Heldt was disruptive rushing off the edge. Carmel’s offensive line played really well led by Ryan Pauley, Jack Stark and Eric Keffer, three seniors.
But the talk of the evening was certainly Moore. A Carmel track coach in attendance could be heard saying “he’s worth the price of admission” after Moore’s final touchdown. It was easy to see why he’s blossomed into one of the more coveted prospects nationally in his class.
Detroit King Top247 2023 QB Dante Moore with his third TD pass of the first half, look at the route Lynn Wyche-El runs to get open. This was 4th down too. Moore up to 265 yards passing and King leads 19-14 at Carmel: https://t.co/mAom4QTtOc pic.twitter.com/Ey5WhZYpE4
“Dante it’s up in the air but I know a lot of schools have been doing really good,” Spencer said of the suitors. “Michigan State, Notre Dame, Michigan, LSU, Florida State, they have all been doing a really good job with him but he’s just open right now.
“I would say LSU, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Ohio State I believe,” Patrick added regarding some early contenders.
Carmel improves to 2-0 after defeating defending Kentucky state champ Louisville Trinity the Friday prior. This was the opener for King who certainly looks like a Michigan state contender on the field this fall.
