Roncalli’s Arik Moyers scores a touchdown against New Palestine during Friday’s regional.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
INDIANAPOLIS
If you spend any time around the Roncalli football team, you’re bound to hear about the best offensive line in the state.
The Royals have believed all year that their O-line was the best Indiana had to offer. Friday night’s Class 4A regional was their chance to prove it.
They didn’t disappoint.
The Roncalli offensive line dominated the top-ranked New Palestine Dragons. The defense contained the New Palestine offense and came up with huge plays when they needed them most. And for the 17th time in team history, the No. 2 Royals secured a regional championship, topping the Dragons, 20-7, advancing to a semistate game next Friday at fourth-ranked East Central.
“We’re the best offensive line in the state of Indiana, and our defensive line is not too bad either,” Roncalli coach Eric Quintana said. “I don’t think there’s any question. That’s not a shot on New Pal — they’ve got a great football team. We’re just in a different stage right now. We’re rolling.”
It all started up front.
The Roncalli offensive line had their way with the Dragons, as four Royals combined to rush for 282 yards.
Senior running back Luke Hansen had the bulk of the carries, rushing 34 times for 202 yards and a game-sealing touchdown.
“All across the offensive line, they’re all dogs,” Hansen said. “They get on that field and they get the job done. They do it the best. Best in the state.”
The Roncalli defense had a huge showing, too. They held the Dragons (12-1) to 118 yards rushing on 32 carries, and frustrated New Palestine quarterback Daniel Tippit, who finished 10 of 26 for 110 yards.
New Palestine struck first, scoring on the fourth drive of the game when Tippit found Isaiah Thacker for a 35-yard touchdown.
Roncalli responded. The Royals hit back with a nine-play, 68-yard drive. Hansen broke a 29-yard run to get inside the 10 and then scored from 5 yards out, tying the game early in the second quarter.
That was it for first-half scoring.
Roncalli senior Andrew Baugh returned the first New Palestine punt of the second half 22 yards into Dragons territory. Eleven plays later, Baugh put the hosts in front for the first time in the game, scoring from 3 yards out to give Roncalli a 14-7 lead with 2:32 left in the third quarter.
New Palestine looked like they tied the game on the first play of the final quarter, but a 44-yard touchdown pass was called back due to Tippit being beyond the line of scrimmage when he threw. The Roncalli defense took over from there, coming up with a huge stop on fourth and 1 with 10:37 left in the game, protecting a one-score lead.
They had to do it again just a few minutes later. With the visitors facing another fourth and 1, this time with just under 8 minutes left, the Roncalli defense again stuffed the Dragons, setting the stage for the offense to put the game away.
“Our defense has played great all year,” Quintana said. “We pay attention to detail, we’re fundamentally sound, we play hard. This is what we do. We don’t have any gimmicks; we just play hard. That’s it.”
The Royals (12-1) pounded the ball right at the Dragons on 10 straight plays, controlling the clock, marching down the field and putting the ball in the end zone to seal a semistate trip with a 2-yard run from Hansen with 1:30 remaining.
“You can talk about skill and all that, but at the end of the day, it’s all just heart,” Hansen said. “Everyone on our team just wants to win. We’re willing to sacrifice whatever. That’s what we did.”
The Royals won at East Central, 21-19, on Oct. 14. After taking down the state’s top-ranked team, the Royals plan to be ready for round two with the Trojans.
“We knew (New Palestine) was going to be a great team, but I feel like we were better,” Hansen said. “We know we are, now.
“It’s time to lock back in. It’s not over. We know the end goal is the state championship. Nothing less than that.”
