INDIANAPOLIS
Missed opportunities by Roncalli — and big-play capability by host Franklin Central — doomed the Royals in their neighborhood rivalry Friday against the Golden Flashes.
Franklin Central parlayed a 99-yard touchdown run, a 45-yard touchdown pass and a long touchdown drive on their second drive of the game. The Flashes’ defense, meanwhile, shut out Class 4A No. 2 Roncalli’s offense en route to a 20-6 victory.
The Royals’ lone score came on a 56-yard Ben Brandenburg interception return for a touchdown with 1:24 remaining in the first quarter. Roncalli (1-1) missed the extra point, which made the score 7-6 at the time, but the Royals, despite a couple of solid opportunities after that — did not score again.
“Our defense overall held stout and did a good job, but we gave up too many big plays,” Roncalli coach Eric Quintana said. “Offensively, we’ve just got to shore some things up. We’ll be a lot better next week.”
The Royals’ best chance at scoring offensively came on their final possession of the first half. They pieced together an 18-play, 84-yard drive that ate up 4:57 of time and pushed the ball to the Flashes’ 17. The drive stalled there with three straight incomplete passes, and then Roncalli missed a 35-yard field-goal try wide left with 19 seconds left in the half.
Franklin Central (2-0), meanwhile, was backed up on its own 1-yard line on its first possession of the second half, but the Flashes’ Braylen Gillard slipped out of a couple of tackles, tiptoed the sideline and galloped 99 yards for a touchdown that gave Franklin Central a 13-6 edge (the Flashes’ extra-point try was blocked).
They added another score that effectively put the game out of reach with 50.4 seconds left in the third quarter, when William McKinley broke a tackle to secure a 45-yard touchdown reception and conclude the scoring.
“We had a stunt called, and we didn’t run the stunt,” Quintana said of the 99-yard touchdown. “We didn’t do what we were supposed to do assignment-wise, and it cost us.”
Roncalli’s two other missed scoring chances came on its first possession, when a drive stalled at the Franklin Central 20, and on its first possession of the fourth quarter, when they started their drive at their own 46 after the Flashes shanked a punt. The Royals gained 20 yards on their first four plays, but momentum fizzled with an illegal procedure penalty, a sack and an incompletion, forcing a punt.
Henry Adams led Roncalli’s rushing attack with 68 yards on 22 carries. Quarterback Collin Ash completed 9 of 22 passes for 89 yards. Christian Swiezy was his favorite target, catching six passes for 59 yards.
Roncalli next Friday at Circle City Conference rival Chatard.
