RUSHVILLE, Ind. -- Bishop Chatard's celebration after winning the Class 3A Sectional 22 football championship Friday was relatively subdued. The co-No. 1 Trojans, the two-time defending state champions, are pretty tough self-critics.
Behind a workhorse effort from tailback Ari Pappas, pinpoint passing from quarterback Steve Commiskey and a staunch defensive effort that held Rushville without a first down for a 24-minute stretch, the Trojans rolled to a 41-13 win against the host Lions.
But Pappas -- who ran for 152 yards and four touchdowns -- said his team didn't meet its potential.
"I just think we're not really pleased with our performance," he said. "We didn't play as well as we can. You always have to be happy with the victory. But we just haven't put it all together this year. When we do, we'll be tough to beat."
The 10-1 Trojans, who host No. 3 North Montgomery (11-0) in the regional next Friday, got a strong game from Commiskey, who hit 6-of-7 passes for 102 yards.
Chatard's defense allowed only 60 yards in the first half and held the Lions to 20.5 points below their season scoring average.
The 7-5 Lions, enjoying their best season since 2000, gave their standing-room only crowd reason to cheer early. After a 47-yard Pappas scoring run, Rushville came back with a 56-yard drive of its own. Craig Jones capped it with a 5-yard touchdown run, but the Trojans blocked the extra-point try to keep the lead at 7-6.
Behind Pappas and crisp passing from Commiskey (5-of-6, 66 yards in the first half), the Trojans put together consecutive touchdown drives, both ending with short runs from Pappas. Meanwhile, the Trojans defense held Rushville to six yards on its final seven offensive plays of the half, forcing three-and-outs on two straight possessions.
Chatard had a chance to add to the lead just before the half, but Rushville came up with a stop on fourth-and-2 at its own 4-yard line with 22 seconds left in the second quarter.
Pappas opened the third with a 55-yard kickoff return to set up an eight-play, 36-yard scoring drive that took more than four minutes and essentially wrapped up the game.
| Bishop Chatard | 7 | 14 | 14 | 6 | -- 41 |
| Rushville | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | -- 13 |
- BC -- Ari Pappas 47 run (Cody Dickson kick)
- R -- Craig Jones 5 run (kick blocked)
- BC -- Pappas 1 run (Dickson kick)
- BC -- Pappas 5 run (Dickson kick)
- BC -- Pappas 1 run (Dickson kick)
- BC -- Mike Adkins 1 run (Dickson kick)
- R -- Adam Holstein 5 run (Matt Zinnamen kick)
- BC --Luke Engle 50 yard fumble return (kick fail)
| B.C. | Rushville | |
| First Downs | 12 | 12 |
| Rushes-Yards | 40-185 | 36-114 |
| Passing Yards | 102 | 47 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 6-7-1 | 5-10-1 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 5-1 |
| Penalties-Yards | 8-37 | 3-35 |
| Punts-Avg. | 1-27.0 | 4-29.3 |
Rushing -- Chatard: Pappas 25-152, Andrew McDonald 6-35, Adkins 2-6, Nolan Miller 1-4, Patrick Rivelli 1-0, Michael Goetz 2-(-1), Steve Commiskey 2-(-5), Daniel Hurrie 1-(-6). Rushville: Holstein 9-63, Zach Comer 7-35, Spencer Comer 15-24, Jones 1-5, team 4-(-13).
Passing -- Chatard: Commiskey 6-7-1 102. Rushville: S. Comer 5-10-1 47.
Receiving -- Chatard: Bobby Akin 4-88, T.J. Agnew 1-10, Garrett Arnold 1-9. Rushville: Blaek Combs 3-24, Jones 2-23.