IHSAA football Class 4A finals preview: Roncalli's moves ignite offense

It might sound unusual to want redemption for a win.

Way back in the warm days of August, Roncalli defeated Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 3-0, the only points coming on a 32-yard fourth-quarter field goal by Gavin Louthain.

More than three months later, those same teams will meet on Saturday afternoon for a much bigger prize under the bright lights of Lucas Oil Stadium in the Class 4A state championship. Roncalli’s players, particularly those who play offense, expect a better showing.

“It was a horrible performance,” junior running back Alex Jarvis said. “I think we all just kind of want to redeem ourselves. That was the worst performance most of us have played in our lives. The defensive was outstanding that game. It was just from an offensive standpoint.”

The challenge for fifth-ranked Roncalli (11-3) remains a big one against No. 7 Dwenger (12-2), which features one of the toughest defenses in the state. The Saints allow just 8.1 points per game, ranking third in the state.

But the Royals are also a different offense than they were in Week 1. Jarvis, a 6-1, 200-pound running back, had two touches on offense in that game – a 6-yard run and a 27-yard catch. Luke Roeder, a 6-2, 190-pound junior receiver, had none. As the season progressed, both Jarvis and Roeder became much more integral parts of the offense.

In the first seven games, Jarvis had eight carries combined. In the seven most-recent games, Jarvis has averaged 17 carries per game and totaled 744 rushing yards and nine TDs. He is also second on the team – behind Roeder – with 29 catches for 617 yards and five TDs.

“We started to use our guys with more speed out in the open and used our power guys up the middle,” Jarvis said. “That has definitely helped. But it was also the offensive line. They also just completely switched their mentality.”

Like Jarvis, Roeder has seen his production jump since the start of October. He has 15 catches for 308 yards and three TDs in five tournament games and leads the Royals for the season with 39 catches for 683 yards and nine TDs.

“The first couple games I played out wide 100% of the time,” Roeder said. “Since about the (Cincinnati) LaSalle game, they’ve been putting me in the H-back and slot a little more, so I can block more and let the outside guys use their speed.”

Roncalli coach Sam Otley, in his second season, said his team “learned some hard lessons early” about formations and where to best utilize its personnel. Roncalli started 1-2 with losses to Franklin Central and Bishop Chatard. Roncalli averaged just 9.7 points in those games. Since then, the Royals are averaging 39.6 points with a 10-1 record.

“When you take a look at those first three games, we were figuring those things out,” Otley said. “Getting Luke Roeder, Jarvis, (running back Zach) Dozier, (quarterback) Collin (Ash) and putting our wide receiver core in better position and getting reps at that, just made us more confident and more successful. Then it’s about solving problems defenses give us. They are playing with a lot of confidence, so it’s a fun group to coach.”

Saturday will be the first time in five years Roncalli has reached the state finals. The Royals won the 4A title that year (its 10th overall), beating Hobart 49-7.

“I remember watching that game and thinking those players were the biggest guys and the best players in the world,” Jarvis said. “It’s just cool to think I’m in that position now.”

Here is a look at the Class 4A title game:

Matchup

Roncalli (11-3) vs. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (12-2)

Rankings

Roncalli No. 5 in USA TODAY Network Indiana poll; Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger No. 7

Kickoff

3 p.m. Saturday, at Lucas Oil Stadium

How to watch

IHSAAtv.org

Championships

Roncalli is making its 14th state finals appearance (ranks fifth in state history) and seeking its 10th title (which would tie for fourth with Ben Davis). The most recent championship was in 2020 when Roncalli defeated Hobart 49-7 for the 4A title. Roncalli has 21 state championships overall in athletics with softball (five) ranking second. Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger has five state championships, most recently a 16-10 four-overtime win over Evansville Central in 2018 for the 4A title in a game that was tied 0-0 at the end of regulation. Dwenger defeated Roncalli 22-21 for the 3A title in 1983. Roncalli defeated Dwenger 24-21 for the 4A title in 2002.

Coaches

Dwenger coach Jason Garrett, 55, is 72-28 in his eighth season. The 1988 Dwenger graduate played football and baseball at St. Joseph College. He is 230-106 in 11 seasons as the baseball coach at Dwenger. He coached as an assistant for six seasons at Dwenger before winning a state title in his first season as football coach in 2018.

Roncalli coach Sam Otley, 33, is in his second season as the Royals’ coach with a 17-8 record. Otley, a 2011 Roncalli graduate, played at Franklin College for four years before getting into coaching as a grad assistant at North Carolina Wesleyan in 2015. He was an assistant at Roncalli from 2016-23 before he was hired as head coach in 2024. Otley is the oldest of five boys who all played football at Roncalli.

A closer look at Fort Wayne Dwenger

Dwenger is known as a defensive team, allowing just 8.1 points per game. The Saints have three shutouts this season, including a 32-0 win over No. 1 East Noble, last year’s runner-up, in the sectional championship. Dwenger also knocked off No. 10 Leo 31-7 in the sectional opener.

Dwenger is loaded with players with impressive defensive stats, including Doug Henry (132 tackles, 16 TFLs), K.C. Pieper (121 tackles, 18 TFLs, three sacks), Cooper Campbell (104 tackles, 16 TFLs, two interceptions), Houston Ellinger (65 tackles, 13 ½ TFLs, 6 ½ sacks) and A.J. Shefferly (60 tackles, 17 TFLs, 6 ½ sacks). Quarterback Henry Jordan (1,311 passing yards, 12 TDs) has a top target in Beckham Russell (55 catches, 524 yards, two TDs). Shefferly (746 yards, 11 TDs) is the Saints’ top rusher.

A closer look at Roncalli

The Royals knocked off second-ranked Bishop Chatard 26-6 for the sectional championship, then defeated Yorktown 31-27 in the regional and third-ranked Heritage Hills 42-14 in the semistate.

Roncalli averages 211.4 rushing yards per game with three players – quarterback Collin Ash (1,015 yards, 23 TDs), running back Zach Dozier (869 yards, eight TDs) and running back/receiver Alex Jarvis (776 yards, nine TDs) – leading the ground attack. But the Royals can throw it, too. Ash has 1,843 passing yards and 17 TDs with Luke Roeder (39 catches, 683 yards, nine TDs) and Jarvis (29 catches, 617 yards, five TDs) as top targets. There are a lot of playmakers on defense, including Carson Keller (97 tackles, 5 ½ TFLs), Casey Horton (84 tackles, 9½ TFLs, 3½ sacks) and Will Hegwood (81 tackles, 4½ TFLs, three interceptions). The Royals have forced 21 turnovers.

Quotable

Roncalli’s Otley on leading program to state finals as alum:

“It’s special. Obviously, my family growing up, my grandpa (John Caito) went to Sacred Heart, my uncles are all graduates of Roncalli. The football program is almost hand in hand with our Catholic faith and our identity on the south side of Indianapolis. What an opportunity and privilege it is to represent the program as the head coach. It’s a responsibility. The guys understand we represent a winning tradition. As you get to this point, you understand there are a lot of guys before us who have done a lot of great things so that we can be here. It’s great for me to be a part of it. These kids have done such a great job. They have earned it week in and week out.”

How Dwenger can win

Keep it low scoring. It does not have to be 3-0, like the Week 1 game between the teams, but if Dwenger is going to win, this game will need to be played in the teens. Winning the turnover battle will be a key to a win. The Saints are plus-10 in the turnover category this season.

How Roncalli can win

Get on top and keep the momentum going. Roncalli has been playing its best football late in the season, including impressive wins over Chatard and Heritage Hills. If the Royals can avoid the big mistakes, this team is diverse enough on offense to move the ball through the air or on the ground.

Prediction

Roncalli 23, Dwenger 16.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar's high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Class 4A final: Fort Wayne Dwenger vs. Roncalli preview, prediction