Ryan Henry’s explanation for Roncalli’s opportunistic defense through 12 games is neither long-winded nor complicated.
“We’re playmakers. We just make things happen,” said Henry, a senior strong safety, referring to the 22 interceptions, 16 sacks and 10 fumble recoveries the unit is responsible for going into tonight’s Class 4A home semistate game against No. 3 Mooresville. “We’re a combination of aggressive and athletic.”
Roncalli, ranked fourth, takes the field for the 16th semistate in its history allowing 17 points per contest this year, including a particularly stingy 8.5 points in its four postseason outings.
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Half of the team’s starting defensive secondary is made up of Johnson County residents. Henry, whose family lives in Franklin, is third on the team tackles with 96 to go along with his two interceptions. Junior cornerback Michael Hegwood is from Greenwood and has three picks — all in the last four games — and 44 tackles.
Another local product, senior defensive back Kaden Meek, has 20 tackles and a fumble recovery, but is mostly valued as a dependable special teams player.
Hegwood and Henry, standing 6-foot-3 and 6-2, respectively, benefit tremendously from their longer strides, which enable them to close gaps between themselves and an opposing receiver or running backs in a relatively short period of time.
Both are multi-sport athletes as well. Last year as a sophomore, Hegwood was a part-time starter on the boys basketball team. Henry, who is applying to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, is regarded as one of the area’s best baseball outfielders.
Senior free safety Dom Brown (101 tackles, three interceptions) and senior corner Ryan Papandria (39 tackles, four picks) complete the starting defensive backfield.
Brown, who will play baseball at the University of Indianapolis, is the hitter of the bunch. Papandria relies mostly on quickness.
“Our secondary is really athletic and really smart, and we’re able to do what our coaches are telling us to do,” Hegwood said. “Three out of the four of us are team captains. We expect to go out and make plays. Every day in practice we go up against great receivers and a great quarterback, which has helped us get better each and every day.”
Senior linebacker Sean Sinovic is Roncalli’s leading tackler with 129; junior linebacker Tyson Garrett has 91. Skyler Phillips, another linebacker, has a team-high 11 tackles for loss and 84 overall, with senior lineman Owen Volk at seven and 62 in those categories. Sophomore defensive tackle Luke Swartz is off to a good start in his varsity football career with 73 tackles.
Volk, Garrett and sophomore defensive lineman Brady Neu are Roncalli’s other defensive starters from Johnson County.
First-year Roncalli coach John Rodenberg likes the way all aspects of his team jelled as the season progressed. This isn’t to say there wasn’t a learning curve for the starters in the defensive secondary, but the improvement is noticeable.
“All of these (seniors) are returning starters, and you certainly can’t replicate game experience,” Rodenberg said. “It’s cliché, but (Henry) is a coach on the field, Dom plays with so much intensity, Pap is just so fluid in what he does and Hegwood has great athleticism.
“There’s just a great respect among each other on the team. A true friendship on the football field and a true desire for kids to do well.”
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Class 6A semistate
Center Grove at Ben Davis, 7 p.m.
Class 4A semistate
Mooresville at Roncalli, 7 p.m.
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