Roncalli2007Preseason

August 16, 2007 Class 4A High School Football Preview 4A: Archrivals Cathedral, Roncalli keep close watch on each other By Nat Newell

Jim O'Hara had just recited the classic coach's cliché about his Cathedral High School football team taking games one at a time, beginning with Friday's season opener at Class 5A state runner-up Carmel. Then he was asked about another opponent: Roncalli. "We always have an eye on them," said O'Hara, whose team's run to the 4A state championship started with a 28-0 victory over the Rebels that snapped a three-game postseason losing streak to their rivals. "We're always keeping track and following them. That's our biggest nemesis." The only difference at Roncalli was coach Bruce Scifres' choice of clichés -- "The most important game is the next one," he said -- as he, too, admitted paying attention to Cathedral after his team was eliminated in the first round of sectionals for the first time in 15 years. "We always have Cathedral in the back of our mind," Scifres said. One of the two Indianapolis Catholic schools has reached the state championship in each of the past five years. Roncalli won titles in 2002, '03 and '04, and lost the '05 championship game. The Rebels and Irish have combined to win seven of the past 11 4A state titles and will be among the favorites again. Cathedral lost tailback William Stubbs, the centerpiece of its offense, and will rely on sophomores Nick Najem and Larry Steel to replace him. Efficient quarterback Bobby Powers is also gone, but Andrew Pimentel added athleticism to the position to make the option more of a weapon. Linebacker Max Davis (team-high 114 tackles) and end K.J. Jamiru (21 sacks) lead the defense. Roncalli returns seven starters on defense, led by defensive back Tyler Peterman and end Jack Hawkins. Offensively, only three starters are back and Scifres will rely on tailback Evan LeMasters and lineman Bryan Elliott. Cathedral and Roncalli were pulled out of Sectional 13 -- which was one of the state's most tradition-rich with seven of the eight teams having played for a state title -- and moved to Sectional 14, where only Whiteland and New Palestine, moved from 3A, had winning records last season. Despite the loss of Cathedral and Roncalli, Sectional 13 remains loaded as Broad Ripple and Northwest were dropped in from 5A, Mooresville -- which returns quarterback/kicker Trent Mossbrucker and tailback Nick Bradford -- was shifted over and Frankfort, a sectional winner in 3A, was moved up. Zionsville, Plainfield (led by quarterback Nathan Ellis), Lebanon and Westfield also return. "(Losing in the first round of sectionals) provided us with motivation," Scifres said. "We've known for nine months that we had our work cut out for us and our kids have worked extremely hard to be in shape. I think there's going to be a lot of competitive teams in 4A."