For all they have in common, Roncalli and Bishop Chatard have had opposite starts to the 2006 season.

The parochial counterparts are both football powerhouses; they are both known for running-heavy styles of play; they are both on the all-time state champion leaders list -- Roncalli with eight titles, Chatard seven.

But for all those similarities, the first two weeks of high school football have treated the teams, which meet at 7 p.m. today at Roncalli, very differently.

Chatard, the 2005 Class 3A state runner-up, is 2-0 after games against unranked Broad Ripple (58-13) and Arlington (49-7).

The Trojans, who return 16 starters from last year's team, won their first two games by a total of 87 points.

In coach Vince Lorenzano's words, the team is "doing just fine" in terms of injuries, and the expected backs, Joe Kleinschmidt and Joe Holland, have been impressive.

Roncalli, the 2005 4A state runner-up, is 1-1 after losing to 5A No. 8 Center Grove 13-3 and winning a close game against Franklin Central, 21-14. The Rebels are, coach Bruce Scifres said, "still very much stricken with injury."

In fact, three of the six returning starters are out with injuries, and Roncalli is down to its third-string running back.

Original starter Kirk Cahill has been suffering back spasms and did not play in last week's Franklin Central game. Dan Bohn started last week's game and ran for an impressive 160 yards but broke his collarbone in the third quarter.

Sophomore Ben Polizzi carried the ball 14 times for 73 yards and will likely start if Cahill's back is still a problem.

"(Polizzi) did a very nice job, but he's just a sophomore," Scifres said. "Obviously, I'm hoping Kirk Cahill can come back, but Ben did a very nice job."

While Roncalli's main objective will be to overcome its injury problems, Lorenzano said his team needs to focus on getting better and eliminating penalties, which have been an issue.

Last week against Arlington, the Trojans were penalized 11 times, costing them 95 yards.

"We're just trying to make sure we're doing the fundamental things better," Lorenzano said.

"I think if we do that, we'll see good things happen."