Intriguing matchup in Class 4A South Semi-State between Heritage Hills, Roncalli
By HPG Staff
Heritage Hills and Roncalli.
Two teams that know a thing or two about having success late in November and advancing to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Friday's game will no doubt be one of the best across the Hoosier State, regardless of classification. Heritage Hills enters with a 12-1 record, while Roncalli is 10-3.
Roncalli has been playing extremely well as of late, knocking off Yorktown, 31-27, last week in the regional. The win was the sixth in a row for the Royals, who got another solid outing from quarterback Collin Ash. In the game, Ash rushed for 53 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing for 218 yards and another score. Alex Jarvis also had a big game for Roncalli, rushing for 201 yards and two touchdowns. As a unit, the Royals rushed for 247 yards and have rushed for over 180 yards in the last six games.
On the season, Ash has over 1,700 yards passing and has rushed for almost another 1,000 yards. Zach Dozier and Jarvis have balanced the running attack for the Royals.
Heritage Hills, on the other hand, survived a scare from Martinsville, 35-19, thanks in part to the play of senior quarterback and Ole Miss commit Jett Goldsberry, who made another argument for his campaign for Mr. Football.
The regional title was the third in a row for the Patriots, who got 184 yards and three touchdowns on 23 touches and 131 yards and a touchdown through the air from Goldsberry, who was hampered by a knee injury sustained in the sectional round of the tournament.
With Martinsville blanketing Tyler Ruxer, who has committed to Oklahoma, wide receiver Micah Toler stepped up, catching six passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.
As good as the offense was, special teams was just as bad for Heritage Hills. There were three missed point after attempts, as well as an onside kick that was recovered to open the second half. In addition, penalties proved to be costly for the Patriots.
Those are things Heritage Hills must clean up if they are going to win on the road Friday night against a very good Roncalli team. Pats coach Todd Wilkerson knows how good Roncalli is, telling HPG this game will come down to which team's defense has a better night.
If that is the case, one of the biggest question marks coming in is how will the Roncalli secondary do against Goldsberry. A week ago, Yorktown's Sam Tokar torched Roncalli for 293 yards and three touchdowns through the air. If Goldsberry has time to throw and pick the Roncalli defense apart and if Toler has another big night should the Royals take Ruxer out of the equation, it could be a very long night for the home team.
By the same token, can Heritage Hills play assignment defense and limit the running attack Roncalli is sure to bring?
This one ought to be a very good one, folks.
Prediction: Heritage Hills 28, Roncalli 27