As wake-up calls go, last week’s narrow escape proved to be the coldest splash of water possible for unbeaten Roncalli.
Greenwood, as a result, had the Rebels’ full attention Friday night.
Roncalli jumped out to an early three-touchdown lead against the Woodmen and coasted to a 42-6 victory in the championship game of Class 4A’s Sectional 21.
“We got their best. Credit to them,” Greenwood coach Mike Campbell said after watching the Rebels limit his team’s traditionally potent running attack to 94 yards on 35 carries. “They outhit us, they out-physicaled us.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“That’s an excellent football team, and good luck to those guys in the state tournament because they’re going to be hard to handle.”
Senior quarterback Derek O’Connor’s pinpoint passing resulted in a 9-of-12 night for 167 yards and three touchdowns. Kenny Gillum proved potent on the ground, running behind the Rebels’ talented offensive line for 146 yards and a score.
Roncalli (12-0) dominated the battle of total yardage, 412-160.
On the road the past two week’s — including last week’s last-second 34-33 win at Lebanon — the Rebels return home for Friday night’s regional matchup against Delta (8-4).
“Last week’s game was just a war from the get-go, but our kids have hung in there all year and done a great job going from one game to the next,” Roncalli coach Bruce Scifres said. “We practiced and planned against (Greenwood’s) option, and they did pick up some yardage with that.
“They’ve got some good football players, and they’re well-coached. But offensively we thought we could maybe run some power stuff off the edge and then complement it with the passing game.”
Roncalli dominated early, jumping to a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter and outgaining the Woodmen in yards, 212-81, in the process.
The Rebels wasted no time, using O’Connor’s 71-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Jacob Luedeman on the game’s third play to open the scoring.
Greenwood looked to be in a position to counter on the ensuing possession, but a holding penalty wiped out Isaiah Borjas’ 22-yard touchdown run down the left sideline.
Campbell’s team would eventually come up empty with Damon Maynard’s 43-yard field goal attempt drifting left at 7:41 of the opening period.
Gillum’s 17-yard blast up the middle resulted in a score and a 14-0 Rebels advantage. Patrick McManama’s 2-yard touchdown run made it a three-touchdown lead.
Greenwood caught a break late in the first half to put itself in position for points.
Facing fourth down on its 45, Roncalli’s center snap sailed over the head and out of reach of punter Merrick Strykowski, who fell on the football on his team’s own 13.
The Woodmen eventually cashed in on fourth-and-3 when quarterback Seth Gallman rolled right and connected with junior tight end Conner Battinau for a 6-yard touchdown pass.
Greenwood finished with an 8-4 record for the program’s fourth winning season in six years.
Although Campbell will return numerous players who secured starting roles as underclassmen this season, he said the Woodmen will miss the seniors whose high school football careers are now over.
“I couldn’t be happier to be the coach in this program with my assistant coaches and with these seniors,” he said. “What a great group of young men. And as good of football players as they are, they’re better people in school.
“I told them it’s going to hurt a little bit when you lose your last game. But they certainly have bigger things in store for their lives.”
