The Bishop Chatard High School football team hadn't allowed Class 4A No. 7 Roncalli positive yardage on a play in over 16 minutes and held a 195-to-minus-7 yard edge in total offense with less than a minute to play in the first half.
Then, suddenly, it was a ballgame.
Roncalli tailback Ben Polizzi went 89 yards to the Trojans' 7-yard line to set up a touchdown with seven seconds left in the second quarter, with the two-point conversion cutting the deficit to 16-8. Both teams spent the second half threatening but neither scored, allowing Chatard to hold on -- just barely -- for the victory.
"It was fun," Chatard defensive lineman Steve Webster said after his team beat its Southside rival for the sixth time in seven years. "It was big play after big play. Their defense played great. Then our defense stepped up. Their offense would step up then our offense would step up. It was one of the most fun games I've ever played in."
Chatard (3-0), ranked No. 1 in 3A, dominated the first 23 minutes of the game. Tailback Ari Pappas scored on 43- and 2-yard runs, and defensive back Jack Treesh tackled Polizzi in the end zone, after Pappas fumbled at the 1-yard line, for a safety to build a 16-0 lead.
Chatard punter Kevin O'Brien forced Roncalli to take over at its own 4-yard line with 1:24 remaining in the half and fullback Jordan Fuller was dropped for no gain, the Rebels' sixth straight play without gaining a yard. On the next snap, however, Polizzi went 89 yards. A holding penalty backed up Roncalli (2-1) but Kevin Banich hit a wide-open Polizzi for a 20-yard touchdown.
On the first possession of the second half, Banich found Ray Stallings for an 83-yard gain on third-and-12 from his own 10, but Chatard held and a bad snap kept Roncalli from trying a field goal.
"I think we let our guard down a little but we regrouped and stopped them," said Chatard linebacker Daniel Hurrle, one of five starters returning from last year's 3A state champions.
Roncalli reached the Chatard 26 but a triple reverse pass on fourth-and-8 was broken up. The Trojans were moving the ball until a pass bounced off O'Brien's arms and into the hands of Stallings, setting Roncalli up at midfield. The Rebels were stopped on downs but it was Chatard's turn to miss a field goal.
Roncalli took over at its own 20 with 3:24 left and reached the Chatard 29 as Banich converted a fourth-and-12 with a 23-yard scramble. But Banich was sacked by Webster on third-and-6 and, under pressure, couldn't connect with Stallings in the end zone to seal the victory for Chatard.
"Inexperience is always an issue and this was a great learning experience," Chatard coach Vince Lorenzano said. "We were lucky to get the win but we learned a great deal and that's (more) important."
Bishop Chatard 7 9 0 0 16 Roncalli 0 8 0 0 8
B -- Ari Pappas 43 run (Cody Dickson kick)
B -- Safety, Jack Treesh tackles Ben Polizzi in end zone
B -- Pappas 2 run (Dickson kick)
R -- Polizzi 20 pass from Kevin Banich (Drew Oechsle pass from Banich)
BCHs Roncalli First Downs 12 9 Rushes-Yards 42-224 32-87 Passing Yards 44 147 Comp-Att-Int 2-5-1 6-19-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards 7-55 3-22 Punts-Avg. 3-26.7 2-35.0
Rushing -- Bishop Chatard: Pappas 35-221, Michael Adkins 3-6, Treesh 1-2, Steve Commiskey 3-(-5). Roncalli: Polizzi 14-105, Jordan Fuller 1-0, Luke Scifres 1-(-2), Banich 15-(-4), Tom Young 1-(-12).
Passing -- Bishop Chatard: Commiskey 2-5-1 44. Roncalli: Banich 6-18-0 147, Ray Stallings 0-1-0 0.
Receiving -- Bishop Chatard: Bobby Akin 1-25, Treesh 1-19. Roncalli: Stallings 1-83, Polizzi 2-28, Fuller 1-16, Dan Lauck 1-16, Connor Mullin 1-9.
Missed Field Goals -- Bishop Chatard: Dickson 28. Roncalli: None.