Faced with the prospect of being eliminated from postseason play on the same football field as a year ago, panic wasn’t an option for the Roncalli Rebels.
Presented with the challenge of playing where one of the program’s greatest heartbreaks occurred only two years earlier, Center Grove didn’t flinch.
Hostile environments and less-than-ideal playing conditions call for composure.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Click here to purchase photos from this galleryBoth programs demonstrated plenty Friday night.
It’s why the Rebels and Trojans are about to compete for state football championships in Class 4A and 6A, respectively.
Trailing 21-14 at the half in a semistate at East Central on Friday, Roncalli’s defense to that point had surrendered 212 rushing yards and three scores on only 21 carries.
Adjustments were made, strategy plotted and assignments carried out.
East Central carried the football 14 times over the final two quarters for a total of 48 yards.
Superb second-half defense, combined with the second game-winning field goal by Patrick Sandler this postseason, did the trick. It was nothing new for the Rebels (14-0), who have won eight of their games by eight points or less.
“We’ve had so many games that have been within one score. Probably the majority of them have come down to the last minute of the game,” Rebels coach Bruce Scifres said. “It’s just been an extraordinary group.
“They have a ton of poise, they have a ton of fight and just a will to win. They’re able to put it together and pull things out when the game is on the line.”
Around the time Sandler’s 30-yard effort was making its way through the uprights, defending Class 6A state champion Center Grove was applying the finishing touches to its 42-22 semistate triumph at Ben Davis.
In a 2014 semistate, the Trojans were dominating the Giants until injuries sidelined running backs Max Norris and Titus McCoy. Ben Davis rallied for a 49-45 victory and won state two weeks later at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Trojans exorcised those demons Friday evening, withstanding a one-hour weather delay and bolting to a 28-8 halftime advantage on the Giants’ home turf.
Center Grove, led by explosive senior running back/receiver Russ Yeast, then cruised into Friday night’s 6A title matchup against Copper Kettle rival Carmel.
It all starts up front, according to 18th-year Center Grove coach Eric Moore.
“We have a left tackle (Clay Hadley) who has started 40 games or more, a left guard (Nick Davis) that’s at something like 38 and a center (Bailey Smith) who has started 24,” Moore said. “We have a right guard (Dylan Bramlett) who is a senior, our right tackle (Ethan Hart) has started 24 and our tight end (Cory Heinrichs) 24 or 25 games.
“And we’ve just got a lot of experience with our running backs and on defense.”
Senior backs McCoy, Trevor Hohlt and Triston Clark have no less than three seasons of varsity experience carrying the football. Defensive stalwarts Bailey Bennett, Logan Bontrager, Nick Arbuckle, Dan Root, Sam Bolin, Corbin Laque, Parker Ferguson and Seth Ferrando have also enjoyed solid senior seasons.
They’ll try to finish with a bang Friday. Don’t expect them to freeze up when the heat is on.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
STATE FINALS
At Lucas Oil Stadium
Friday
Class 2A – Eastbrook (13-1) vs. Ritter (10-4), noon
Class 4A – NorthWood (14-0) vs. Roncalli (14-0), 3:30 p.m.
Class 6A – Carmel (9-4) vs. Center Grove (13-1), 7:05 p.m.
Saturday
Class A – Pioneer (14-0) vs. Linton (14-0), noon
Class 3A – Fort Wayne Concordia (12-2) vs. Lawrenceburg (13-1), 3:30 p.m.
Class 5A – Westfield (11-2) vs. Columbus East (13-1), 7:05 p.m.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
