Carmel football

The belief was when three-time 1,000 yard tailback Covossay Windham went down with a season ending knee injury, Carmel's bid for perfection was in jeopardy.
 Not so fast.
 In his absence, the Padres have produced 106 points in their last two games, completing their fourth undefeated regular season in eight years.
 No doubt Windham's absence presents challenges for Carmel.
 Yet, players are answering the challenge, perhaps playing with a chip on their shoulder, or playing for Windham.
 Quarterback Daniel Higman has accounted for 11 touchdowns in the last two games, throwing six touchdown passes while rushing for five.
While Windham was a game changer, Higman is a playmaker.
 The senior has put the team on his shoulders with his arm and legs, as Higman has accounted for 30 touchdowns either threw the air or on the ground.
 The next man up mentality watched Luke Melcher rush for over 100 yards against Pacific Grove. He came into the game with 52 yards all year.
 Don't discount the Padres offensive line, which opens holes and provides time for Higman to pick apart opponents.
 What's going to dictate the Padres path in the playoffs is their defense. It didn't bend until the offense built a 31-10 lead in the third quarter Saturday against Pacific Grove.
 It's an unheralded group that shows up in big games. From this point, each game gets bigger.