Roncalli coach Eric Quintana guided the Royals to a 12-2 record in his first season.
Daily Journal file photo
Roncalli running back Ben Brandenburg might not be looking at many — or, for that matter, any — 25-carry games this season.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior is certainly capable, though given Brandenburg’s wide range of defensive responsibilities, his main value is going to be helping spearhead what appears poised to be an extremely stingy Royals’ defense.
Brandenburg, along with fellow inside linebacker J.J. Prendergast, rang up respective totals of 63 and 64 tackles a year ago for a squad that finished 12-2 in coach Eric Quintana’s first season.
Roncalli graduated 28 seniors from the 2022 team, a reality that could lead to naysayers predicting a step back for a school that has posted a 37-4 record over the past three seasons.
Brandenburg, for one, isn’t buying it.
“No doubt about it. We did lose a lot of studs on both sides of the ball. But I do believe that we are a lot better than most people are giving us credit for,” Brandenburg said. “J.J. and I started last year, but we were kind of behind some of the seniors.
“It feels great to be able to show people what we’re made of.”
Last fall, the Royals advanced all the way to the Class 4A semistate before losing a 24-21 overtime decision at eventual state champion East Central.
Five starters are back for a defense that shut out three opponents and limited three others to seven points.
“Our defense is going to be the backbone of this team, and it starts with our inside linebackers,” Quintana said. “It’s being smart, being physical and being able to adapt. That’s what (Brandenburg and Prendergast) do, and the younger ones follow them.”
Besides Brandenburg and Prendergast, Roncalli features experience in the form of senior linebacker Dylan Henry (36 tackles), junior defensive linemen Nathan Turner (24) and Sam Neu (23), and juniors A.J. Richardson (23) and Sam Roeder (17) leading the secondary.
Key personnel back on offense includes receiver Christian Swiezy (13 catches, 206 yards, four touchdowns) and tight end Charlie Elsener (16-197, 4 TDs), both seniors.
A lot of new faces, but Quintana has enjoyed this squad, which is led by a somewhat small — at least by Roncalli standards — senior class of 23 players.
“It’s been great. It’s an opportunity to see guys in all phases step up to get better and attempt to replace that great senior class we had the last four years,” Quintana said. “We really have a brand new offense, and we have a great quarterback (junior Jayden Buchanan) who does a lot of good things for us.
“The offensive line is a different group of guys who are dynamic.”
The 5-foot-7, 147-pound Buchanan is capable of running and passing the pigskin; that, along with the return of 5-9 junior running back Henry Adams, has Quintana looking at a more perimeter-oriented offense than last season.
Graduation took away the entire offensive line, but again, a more downsized unit in the trenches isn’t scaling back anyone’s expectations.
Not for a program that has 10 state championship trophies dominating its trophy case.
The Royals open the season against Southport on Friday, then embark on an eight-game journey that features the likes of 16-time state champ Bishop Chatard in Week 3, a drive to Kentucky powerhouse Louisville Male in Week 7 and the daunting task of hosting Cathedral and East Central (and their combined 17 state championships) the final two weeks of the regular season.
“This is probably the hardest schedule Roncalli has ever had,” Quintana said. “(But) the expectations are always the same. We want to go in and not only compete, but win every game on our schedule.
“Our kids have totally bought in and are getting better every day.”
SCOUTING THE ROYALS
Coach: Eric Quintana
Last season: 12-2, lost to East Central in Class 4A semistate
Key returnees: RB/LB Ben Brandenburg, TE Charlie Elsener, LB Dylan Henry, LB J.J. Prendergast, WR Christian Swiezy and K/P Levi Wisler, seniors; DL Sam Neu, DB A.J. Richardson, DB Sam Roeder and DT Nathan Turner, juniors
Top newcomers: DL Justyn Anciso and OL Matthew Hellinga, seniors; RB Henry Adams, QB Jayden Buchanan and OL Johnny Jaffe, juniors
Outlook: Victorious in 37 of 41 games over the past three seasons, the Royals look to continue their momentum against one of central Indiana’s more imposing schedules. Graduation hit the program hard, but Quintana feels his team’s defense, propelled by linebackers J.J. Prendergast and Ben Brandenburg, could be special. The offense brings back only two starters, but possesses the type of young talent to progress as the season goes on.
“We have a solid group of returning starters that are winners,” Quintana said. “We have been working hard in all aspects of football this off season. We are going to be extremely athletic, and tough. Goals and expectations stay the same with Roncalli — compete for a state championship.”
2023 SCHEDULE
Date;Opponent;Time
Friday;Southport;7 p.m.
Aug. 25;at Franklin Central;7 p.m.
Sept. 1;at Bishop Chatard;7 p.m.
Sept. 8;Columbus North;7 p.m.
Sept. 15;at Guerin Catholic;7 p.m.
Sept. 22;Brebeuf Jesuit;7 p.m.
Sept. 29;at Louisville Male;7 p.m.
Oct. 6;Cathedral;7 p.m.
Oct. 13;East Central;7:30 p.m.
