INDIANAPOLIS
Mother Nature cut short a football game Friday night that has blossomed into one of the area’s better rivalries in recent years.
Host Roncalli led neighboring southside rival Franklin Central 13-10 at halftime and had just received the second-half kickoff when officials suspended play due to lightning in the area. About 15 minutes later, the schools opted to resume play on Saturday afternoon.
In the morning, though, Roncalli announced the game would not resume and would be a “no contest.” Roncalli cited “inclement weather and already-scheduled events at the stadium” as the reason they chose not to resume the game.
Up to that point, Friday’s game had lived up to rivalry’s recent outcomes. The Royals and Flashes had split the last six games in the series.
“It has that neighborhood rivalry or turf-war feel,” Roncalli coach Sam Otley said. “A lot of the folks in the community know each other, and that increases the intensity and makes it a little more personal between the teams. Both teams are prepared and coached well. We love playing that game. As a Week 2 game, it’s a good test for us.”
The game mirrored recent head-to-head results, in its closeness and its back-and-forth nature. Roncalli (1-0) dominated the first quarter, building a 13-0 lead. Franklin Central (1-0) controlled the second, responding with 10 unanswered points.
“I liked the way we came out offensively,” Otley said. “It was a dynamic first quarter. We had some guys that made some big plays and that was exciting to see. The defense played a great game both quarters, getting to the ball and tackling well.”
The game might not have been as close as it was if it weren’t for a blocked punt on Roncalli’s first possession of the second quarter, which gave Franklin Central the ball at the Royals’ 29-yard line. The Flashes scored their lone touchdown six plays later, with 1:48 remaining in the first half.
Roncalli’s defense limited Franklin Central to just 39 yards rushing. Flashes quarterback Nevan Tutterow had some success against the Royals, completing 9 of 16 passes for 110 yards, but he also threw an interception to Will Hegwood with 46 seconds left in the half.
Royals quarterback Jayden Buchanan, meanwhile, completed 9 of 15 for 161 yards and an impressive touchdown to Conner Kesler where he scrambled to extend the play and found Kesler wide open in the end zone for the game-opening touchdown. That completed a 12-play, 86-yard drive that ate up 5:26.
Zach Dozier scored Roncalli’s other touchdown, a 10-yard run with 1:54 left in the first quarter. He finished with 49 yards on 13 carries.
Brody Heidelberger led the Royals’ defense with seven tackles.
Roncalli opens Circle City Conference play Friday when it hosts Class 4A No. 2 Indianapolis Chatard.
