Roncalli2003

2003 Roncalli Rebels (12-3)
CLICK ON THE DATE TO GO TO A PAGE DEDICATED TO THAT GAME WITH STATS AND/OR NEWS ARTICLES

CLICK ON THE DATE TO GO TO A PAGE DEDICATED TO THAT GAME WITH STATS AND/OR NEWS ARTICLES

Statistics

 * Offensive and Kicking Game Stats
 * Defensive Stats
 * Post-Season Honor Teams
 * Players of the Week
 * Pre-Season Weight Lifting Results

Overtime 2-Point Conversion vs East Central - Semi-State Championship


Reflections on the Season
Bruce Scifres (Head Coach) - Dear Rebel Football Team Member, Congratulations once again on winning your second consecutive 4A State Football Championship. This was a wonderful accomplishment and a fitting way for this senior class to end your high school football careers. Your success was a surprise to many, especially considering some of the top players in this senior class were not able to play this year. You showed a lot of character in the way you handled yourselves this season. Throughout our lives, we will face challenges, what matters most is how we choose to deal with them. As the season progressed, you did a superb job with this!

The early part of our schedule is as tough as any team in the state, regardless of class. As we began the season with a very young and inexperienced team, it was obvious that we really had our work cut out for us. You have heard me say many times that the success of the offense starts and stops with the offensive line. With only one starter coming back up front, our offense sputtered early on. But each week, through hard work and determination, we became better. By the tournament time, this offensive line had improved as much as any group I have been around in my 24 years as a high school football coach. Combines with very talented skill positions, this offense became very explosive and demonstrated the ability to make the big play in clutch situations. Likewise, our defense improved tremendously through the course of the season. With a hard-nosed, disciplined and emotional style of play, this defense registered several shutouts. Your hard work, determination, and extreme level of “Rebel Pride” led us to the “Crown Jewel” of a high school defense; you pitched a shutout in the State Championship game! No other Roncalli team has ever done this. As you combined solid special teams play with an explosive offense and defensive pride, you became a great football team by season’s end. This is something you should all be very proud of! Seniors, there is no question that you were the main ingredient in the development of this team. What you lacked in size and overall natural ability, you more than made up for with great leadership, positive attitudes, determination, and an outright will to win. I firmly believe we have an obligation to make the most of the gifts God has given us. This season, seniors, you made the entire Roncalli family very proud as you proved to the entire state that you have what it takes to be Champions! Even more importantly, I believe you made God proud by using your gifts to the best of your ability. You became men in God’s eyes. His are the ones that count!

You will always be remembered as the team that proved what can happen when you combine work ethic, commitment, and belief in yourselves with a strong faith in God. This is one of those life lessons I hope you will take with you for the rest of your life. It will serve you well. Again, I wish you only the best always. I am very proud to say I was a part of the 2003 State Championship Team. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives. It has truly been an honor. Sincerely, Bruce Scifres Head Football Coach

Mark Evans (Senior Co-Captain) - The 2003 season was a special season for the Roncalli Rebels. The Rebels were coming off an emotional state championship year in 2002. There were only 4 starters coming back for the Roncalli Rebels that season. 2 of those starters were moved into different positions as well. So it did not look too bright for the Rebels this season. The Rebels started the season off 0-3, with blow out losses to very good Center Grove and Chatard teams, and a heartbreaking last second touchdown loss to the Franklin Central Flashes. The Chatard loss would be the last time the Rebels would face defeat.

The Rebels would real off 12 straight wins to win the state championship in 2003. Season matchup highlight wins came against Cathedral and Mooresville. Things were looking good going into the playoffs, especially with a pretty good draw going into the season.

The Rebels had pretty convincing wins against Westfield and Lafayette Harrison going into the Sectional championship against a very good Mark Nicolett led Zionzville Eagles team. The Eagles were extremely talented and their senior class had beaten the Rebel Senior class by 3 or 4 touchdowns just 3 years before. The Rebels played almost 100 percent mistake free and beat the Eagles 24-21.

The Regional matchup was a rematch with the Mooresville Pioneers. The Pioneers came out strong after losing a teammate in Steven Terrell just one week before in an auto accident. The Rebels prevailed, however, 35-14.

The semi-state matchup came with a trip to St Leon to play the East Central Trojans. It was a rematch of the regional championship the year before in which the Rebels won in Overtime by a touchdown. This game would end in similar fashion. The Trojans returned almost all of there starters from the year before. They were also considerably bigger than the Rebels on both sides of the ball. The Rebels came out strong and went into the lockerroom with a pretty decent lead. The Trojans would come out strong the second half and tie the ball game at the very end of regulation. This would send the game into overtime for the second year in a row. EC scored quick in the first part of the OT and took a quick 7 point lead. The Rebels would take 4 runs to get into the endzone and kicked the PAT, only to have a roughing the kicker call. Coach Scifres takes the point off the board and elects to go for 2. Tim Sergi would run the ball into the endzone barely getting past the goalline on a pitch to send the Rebels to the Dome for the second consecutive year.

The Rebels faces the East Noble Knights the next week for the right to be called back to back state champs. The Knights were ranked number 1 in 4a and had not faced defeat all season. The Rebels came out and scored right away. Tim Sergi had over 200 yards rushing as the Rebels went on to win and shutout the Knights 17-0 for their second consecutive 4a state title.

It was a magical season for Bruce Scifres and his Roncalli Rebels.