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JASPER, Ind. -- Roncalli linebacker Nick Banich experienced the longest 20 seconds of his life Saturday night.
There was 1:18 on the game clock. Jasper had just run the ball on fourth-and-1 at Roncalli's 13-yard line. The Rebels led by five points, and the measuring sticks were on the field in the 4A semistate matchup.
Stopped cold: The Roncalli defense stops Jasper's Luke Schmidt in the first half. Schmidt rushed for 120 yards and one TD, but the Rebels stopped him on fourth-and-1 at their 13 with just over a minute remaining. - JUSTIN RUMBACH / Evansville Courier-Press
"We were all trying to lean up and see," Banich said. "We knew they were going to run that play. We blitzed that hole. I thought we had it. That was the most amazing thing of my life when those sticks dropped."
Jasper's star running back, Luke Schmidt, came up against Banich and Brandon Axum, who stopped him just short of a first down to help seal a 14-9 victory. Now Roncalli (12-2) will play for its fourth straight Class 4A state championship.
"Once again our kids did a great job," Roncalli coach Bruce Scifres said.
"Jasper's kids played their hearts out and it was an honor to coach against them."
Jasper's biggest threat was Schmidt, a 6-3, 235-pound tailback who has run through just about every defense in southern Indiana this season. He has committed to play at Notre Dame.
"(Schmidt) is an amazing football player," Scifres said. "Chris Belch, our defensive coordinator, did a masterful job of preparing for him."
The Rebels' defense held Schmidt in check, allowing him 120 yards and one touchdown.
The Wildcats (12-2) had less luck keeping Roncalli's offense under control.
Chris Merkel ran for 164 yards, including touchdowns of 10 and 25 yards. Merkel looked to be running into a wall early in the game, but by the second quarter the holes were opening.
"Chris just runs his heart out and our linemen block their hearts out for him," Scifres said.
"I think we got more confidence and the holes started opening up," Merkel said.
Quarterback Paul Corsaro was efficient, completing 6-of-8 passes for 59 yards.
Roncalli was on the other end of a fourth-and-inches call at the beginning of the second quarter. Trailing 3-0, Roncalli had a fourth down on Jasper's 13. Merkel came up just short and Roncalli turned the ball over on downs.
Roncalli scored on its next possession when Merkel capped a seven-play drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.
Roncalli expanded its lead to 14-3 in the third quarter on another Merkel touchdown.
Schmidt answered Merkel's touchdown to make the score 14-9. The Wildcats went for two but were intercepted in the end zone.
Rushing -- Roncalli, Merkel; 26-164, Kirk Cahill 7-36, Paul Corsaro 8-21; Jasper, Schmidt 28-120, Travis Gress 4-16, Sam Linette 2-9, Adam Klatla 1-0.
Passing -- Roncalli, Corsaro 6-8-59; Jasper, Mehringer 3-7-48.
Receiving -- Roncalli, Joe Britner 2-25, Jordan Agresta 2-25, Rory Babb 2-9; Jasper, Adam Klatka 2-41, Travis Gress 1-7.
There was 1:18 on the game clock. Jasper had just run the ball on fourth-and-1 at Roncalli's 13-yard line. The Rebels led by five points, and the measuring sticks were on the field in the 4A semistate matchup.
Stopped cold: The Roncalli defense stops Jasper's Luke Schmidt in the first half. Schmidt rushed for 120 yards and one TD, but the Rebels stopped him on fourth-and-1 at their 13 with just over a minute remaining. - JUSTIN RUMBACH / Evansville Courier-Press
"We were all trying to lean up and see," Banich said. "We knew they were going to run that play. We blitzed that hole. I thought we had it. That was the most amazing thing of my life when those sticks dropped."
Jasper's star running back, Luke Schmidt, came up against Banich and Brandon Axum, who stopped him just short of a first down to help seal a 14-9 victory. Now Roncalli (12-2) will play for its fourth straight Class 4A state championship.
"Once again our kids did a great job," Roncalli coach Bruce Scifres said.
"Jasper's kids played their hearts out and it was an honor to coach against them."
Jasper's biggest threat was Schmidt, a 6-3, 235-pound tailback who has run through just about every defense in southern Indiana this season. He has committed to play at Notre Dame.
"(Schmidt) is an amazing football player," Scifres said. "Chris Belch, our defensive coordinator, did a masterful job of preparing for him."
The Rebels' defense held Schmidt in check, allowing him 120 yards and one touchdown.
The Wildcats (12-2) had less luck keeping Roncalli's offense under control.
Chris Merkel ran for 164 yards, including touchdowns of 10 and 25 yards. Merkel looked to be running into a wall early in the game, but by the second quarter the holes were opening.
"Chris just runs his heart out and our linemen block their hearts out for him," Scifres said.
"I think we got more confidence and the holes started opening up," Merkel said.
Quarterback Paul Corsaro was efficient, completing 6-of-8 passes for 59 yards.
Roncalli was on the other end of a fourth-and-inches call at the beginning of the second quarter. Trailing 3-0, Roncalli had a fourth down on Jasper's 13. Merkel came up just short and Roncalli turned the ball over on downs.
Roncalli scored on its next possession when Merkel capped a seven-play drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.
Roncalli expanded its lead to 14-3 in the third quarter on another Merkel touchdown.
Schmidt answered Merkel's touchdown to make the score 14-9. The Wildcats went for two but were intercepted in the end zone.
Rushing -- Roncalli, Merkel; 26-164, Kirk Cahill 7-36, Paul Corsaro 8-21; Jasper, Schmidt 28-120, Travis Gress 4-16, Sam Linette 2-9, Adam Klatla 1-0.
Passing -- Roncalli, Corsaro 6-8-59; Jasper, Mehringer 3-7-48.
Receiving -- Roncalli, Joe Britner 2-25, Jordan Agresta 2-25, Rory Babb 2-9; Jasper, Adam Klatka 2-41, Travis Gress 1-7.
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