(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY STEVE PAGE)
Correspondent
Mooresville may have been favored in Friday’s Class 4A sectional semifinal matchup at Pioneer Stadium, but Roncalli came to play.
Instead of being stunned by a long punt return just after the start, the Royals stood tough on defense, forcing a 23-yard field goal by Tyler Church.
That’s the way the score remained into the fourth quarter, when the Pioneers outscored the Royals 14-9 to manage a 17-9 victory.
While the Pioneers, 6-5, advanced to the championship game, the Royals saw their season end at 4-7.
“Our defense played a great game, thanks to our seniors,” said Roncalli coach Eric Quintana. “They worked their tails off, never quit.
Sophomore running back Zach Dozier capped a late Roncalli rally with a one-yard run,, but the Pioneers blocked the conversion kick, maintaining a four-point advantage. Mooresville added to the advantage when senior quarterback Hogan Denny sprinted 90 yards down the left sideline for a 17-6 lead with 4:12 to play.
With time winding down, junior quarterback Jayden Buchanan directed another drive. On the final play of the game, Roncalli sophomore Gavin Louthain kicked a 24-yard field goal.
“That’s Catholic football; these are Catholic kids. They keep fighting,” Quintana said. “We just didn’t pull through.
“I’m going to talk with my seniors. I love these guys. They have done so much for this program. Great seniors.”
Though the Royals struggled on the ground, Buchanan completed 22 of 37 passes for 256 yards. With Denny going 13-23-0 for 231 yards, the two quarterbacks combined for nearly 500 passing yards.