Undefeated Rebels roll to big win

INDIANAPOLIS

What would evolve into the 15th regional championship in Roncalli’s rich football history had a very un-Rebels-like start.

Delta needed 57 seconds to score the game’s first touchdown in Friday night’s Class 4A regional.

The next 42 points belonged to the Rebels.

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Roncalli’s 42-7 victory improved the state’s top-ranked team to 13-0 entering next week’s semi-state game against either East Central or Evansville Reitz.

These programs play a regional this afternoon at the Reitz Bowl.

Should Reitz win, they will travel to Roncalli to play for the right to play in the 4A state championship game.

If East Central prevails, the Rebels will play there for a second consecutive season.

Either way, coach Bruce Scifres’ crew has shown it’s going to be a tough out.

Against Delta, the Rebels rushed for 325 yards. Three different Roncalli quarterbacks played and combined for 135 yards passing.

Roncalli is averaging 37 points a game in its last seven outings.

“When they put seven points on the board really early, you never like playing from behind,” said Scifres following what was the 400th win in program history. “We had a defensive back that bit on the run fake, and they had one of their receivers release upfield and was open.

“We got that corrected, and our defensive backs kept their eyes where they needed to be the rest of the game, and they did very well.”

The Rebels’ defense after surrendering the 66-yard touchdown early buckled down to give up only 114 total yards — 57 passing and 57 more on the ground — the rest of the game.

Roncalli produced 292 yards of offense over the first two quarters to take a 28-7 lead at the half.

Senior running back Kenny Gillum alone rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries to lead the Rebels offense, while quarterback Derek O’Connor completed 6 of 9 passes for 71 yards and a 31-yard TD over the middle to a wide-open Jacob Fryar.

O’Connor’s 1-yard sneak in the opening period and Patrick McManama’s 31-yard burst up the middle late in the second provided the Rebels with their other first-half touchdowns.

Gillum would finish the night with 186 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. McManama had eight carries for 79 yards and scoring runs covering 31 and 12 yards.

“I think that our passing game has evolved, and we’re able to supplement what we’re doing with the run with the passing game,” Scifres said. “We throw some play-action stuff, but Derek is very good at just dropping back and scrambling and making things happen that way.

“It’s been the process of blending our passing game better with our running game that has produced more points.”

Roncalli’s victory made the Rebels program one of 10 in Indiana with at least 15 regional championships.

It’s the third time in program history Roncalli has been 13-0.

“This has been an awesome group of kids. They work so hard in the off-season. Our seniors have been just phenomenal,” Scifres said. “The work ethic and the leadership they’ve shown. That’s what has been so fun.

“Watching these kids work hard and be loyal to each other, and seeing that come to fruition through success on the football field.”