INDIANAPOLIS
Roncalli’s football team found itself in an unfamiliar position this season entering Friday’s Class 4A sectional opener against visiting Frankfort.
The host Rebels, who started 1-4 and then rallied to win four of their last five games, knew they needed to guard against overconfidence against the winless Hot Dogs. They passed that test with ease, building a 35-0 halftime lead and easing to a 42-0 victory.
The win propels Roncalli (5-5) into next Friday’s semifinal matchup against Crispus Attucks. Frankfort ended its season 0-10.
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“We can’t get overconfident now, because later in the (sectional), if we keep doing that, we’re not going to get anywhere,” said senior offensive lineman Daniel Heinrich, who helped the Rebels’ ground game gain 283 yards Friday. “Once we started scoring, getting more points (earlier in the season), doing the right things, we started getting more confident and more comfortable.”
Roncalli never had any reason to be uncomfortable Friday. The Rebels’ defense allowed just three first downs the entire game, and limited Frankfort to 2 of 11 on third-down conversions. The Hot Dogs managed just 42 rushing yards on 23 carries, and 99 all-purpose yards.
Meanwhile, Roncalli’s offense set the tone early, particularly on the ground. Baron Huebler rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries, and he was pulled from the game midway through the second quarter. Joe Curd added 61 yards and a touchdown, while Michael Gallagher rushed for 49 yards on just six carries, all in the second quarter.
Rebels quarterback Aidan Leffler only played the first quarter, and his first completion set a single-season school record for completions. He hooked up with Noah Cissell on a touchdown pass just 2:11 into the game for Roncalli’s first score.
Caden Gore took over at quarterback from there. He threw one touchdown pass (a 10-yard strike to Tommy Mullin) and ran for another (5 yards).
Roncalli shut out an opponent for the first time since a 7-0 win at Plainfield during the Rebels’ 2016 state championship season. It was their first win by 40 or more points since a 42-0 first-round sectional win at Indianapolis Northwest in 2014.
“The amount of growth in this group from Week 1 until Week 10 is incredible,” Rebels coach Scott Marsh said. “The young kids are playing like old kids now. The experience is starting to show.”
