I was at the ticket booth (already freezing) and decided, screw it, drove 6 miles home and watched the televised live game on TV-along with a few cups of hot chocolate.
BTW, Tango, if my aged brain recalls correctly weren’t we trying to gather at the nearby Skyline pregame that year but you had to cancel the planned dogsled trip up to these northern climes?
Like many, I remember that game well. With that, the weather that day was tailor made for Coach L’s offense in those days…..that game played at LOS would have looked very different.
I could see them taking down Mooresville certainly but I don’t think they have the horses to handle Roncalli……that said, I ate a lot of crow after the Roncalli/Mt. Vernon game last year. Still consider that a monster upset.
It’s always a great game. As much as I admire Roncalli, I am of the opinion East Central will have to wait until next year for a Roncalli rematch. I think New Pal is likely the team to beat this year in a strong, resurgent 4A.
Outside of the Indy Metro, any Sectional south of I-70 and east of I-65 with East Central as a participant IS by definition an East Central Invitational. They are the dominant team in any class for that quarter of the State - in any class.
The almost annual Roncalli/East Central (or Chatard/East Central in those years Roncalli was unavailable) is a great game for Indiana HS football.
Roncalli 21
East Central 19
Final
Turnover laden game with EC having, I believe, 4 turnovers that most likely cost them the game. No question EC is the dominant football team in Southeast and East central (no pun intended) portion of Indiana.
The game was tied 14-14 when Chatard blocked a field goal after a goal line stand with around 2 minutes to go. Afterwards, Chatard was driving (and appeared to have all the momentum) until a fumble turnover following a pass completion near the 50 yd line with around 1:30 to go. Roncalli marched it down within field goal range and won per Gonzo’s comments above.
It really was an entertaining game between 2 teams with very different strengths offensively.