INDIANAPOLIS
It might be easy to forget Roncalli’s football team was trying to break a two-game losing streak against neighborhood rival Southport in Friday’s season opener, given the Royals are coming off a Class 4A state championship.
The host Royals made the Cardinals’ recent success within the rivalry feel like a distant memory, dominating the action from the start. They raced to a 28-0 lead behind dominant offensive line play and an equally staunch defense. Roncalli never let up in a 55-7 victory at Bob Tully Field.
The win extended the Royals’ winning streak to 13 games, dating back to last season. Although Roncalli and Southport didn’t play last season, the Cardinals defeated the Royals in 2018 and 2019 and had won seven of the last 10 meetings between the teams.
This time, Roncalli, ranked No. 1 in 4A to begin the season, dispensed with any drama early. The Royals scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and six of their first seven, while forcing Southport into punts on each of its first five possessions.
Roncalli’s offensive line rotation of Trevor Lauck, Grant Ray, Sam Secrest, Justin Lewis, Luke Skartvedt and Patrick Meek opened huge holes for Royal running backs all night. As a result, five Roncalli backs combined to score seven rushing touchdowns and compile 306 yards on 38 carries.
“I’ve coached some great offensive lines, and this might be the best offensive line I’ve ever seen,” Roncalli coach John Rodenberg said. “I think they can easily compete with any of the teams I’ve ever coached. They’re all coachable, they’re big, they’re strong, they’ve got some good quickness, and they’ve got a whole year of experience. You can’t replace that.”
Meanwhile, highly touted senior quarterback Aidan Leffler completed 12 of 19 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown, a fade route on which Kyle Lockard made an impressive leaping catch to extend the Royals’ lead to 35-7 with 2:10 to play in the first half.
Lockard was Leffler’s favorite target, catching nine passes for 103 yards.
Caden Gore led the Royals’ rushing effort, compiling 107 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries, and he sat out most of the second half. Michael Gallagher (two), Luke Hansen, and Ben Brandenburg scored Roncalli’s other rushing touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Roncalli’s defense forced six punts and allowed just 143 yards, 32 rushing and 111 passing. Southport’s lone touchdown came with 3:17 left in the first half, when Jihad Wilson caught an 11-yard slant pass from Zachary Shepherd.
The second-half running clock was familiar territory for the Royals. During last year’s state tournament run, Roncalli forced a running clock in all three of its sectional victories.
“It concerns me early in the season, because you want them to play a whole game,” said Rodenberg, who pulled his starters midway through the third quarter after the Royals built their lead to 48-7. “It’s hot, and I want them a little fatigued, but at the same time, I’m not going to try to run the score up on somebody. They executed well enough that I wasn’t worried about pulling them.”
Roncalli plays next Friday at another nearby rival, Franklin Central.
