INDIANAPOLIS — A defensive stand inside its own 1-yard line with 36 seconds remaining in the game secured a 21-14 victory for Class 4A No. 3 Roncalli over visiting Indianapolis Chatard.
The Rebels (3-0) have now won two of the past three meetings between the two schools, but Friday’s win was the Rebels’ first regular-season victory against Chatard since 2010.
A sack by Roncalli’s Jones Asher with 9:41 remaining ultimately set the tone for the Rebels’ winning drive. Following a Trojan punt, Roncalli assumed possession on the Chatard 26. After five consecutive carries by senior quarterback Derek O’Connor took the ball to Chatard’s four-yard line, the Rebels took the lead for good when O’Connor took a snap and flipped the ball back to backup quarterback Connor Gore, who lofted a touchdown pass to O’Connor in the back corner of the end zone.
On the ensuing possession, the Trojans took control on their own 20-yard-line with 5:11 left in the game and quickly marched down field, thanks to runs by senior running back Gabe Coleman and senior quarterback Jarrod Stiver, a personal foul by the Rebels and a pass completion by Stiver.
During a fourth-and-goal situation from inside the Roncalli 1-yard-line, Stiver was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage on what appeared to be a quarterback keeper.
Overall, O’Connor completed seven of 13 pass attempts for 115 yards and one score.
Rebels running back Kenny Gillum carried the ball 12 times for 84 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 25 yards.
Gillum scored what proved to be the only touchdown in the game’s opening quarter when he ran for a 39-yard score at the 5:32 mark.
Trailing 7-0 early in the second, the Trojans slowly took control of the game, scoring 14 consecutive points to secure a halftime lead.
Chatard’s first points of the game came courtesy of a six-yard touchdown run by Coleman. The 6-foot senior also set up the Trojans’ second touchdown with a 30-yard run deep into Roncalli territory. That Chatard scoring drive culminated in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Dury to senior tight end Matthew Annee.
Coleman ran for 117 yards in the opening half while the Rebels combined for 79 ground yards.
Roncalli tied the game during its opening possession of the second half when O’Connor hit senior receiver Luke Smock on a 38-yard touchdown pass.
Roncalli travels to Plainfield on Friday.
