INDIANAPOLIS — When you play football at Bishop Chatard, the expectation is to win — and win a lot.
Toughness is the price of admission. Senior running back Riley Kinnett epitomized that toughness at Lucas Oil Stadium Friday night, leading the Trojans to back-to-back state titles in Class 3A and a perfect season.
"To me, that just means we're upholding the culture that is Bishop Chatard," Kinnett said. "It's a winning culture, but how we do that is by working together."
Team first, self second — the fabric of any successful program — though Kinnett took it upon himself to lead Chatard to a fourth 3A state title in five seasons. Kinnett rolled up a whopping 158 yards and four rushing touchdowns — the latter tying a state championship single game record.
"Our offensive line was just incredible tonight," Kinnett humbly remarked. "They have been all season."
"You don't see a lot of Riley Kinnetts," Chatard head football coach Rob Doyle said.
Kinnett's performance is impressive by any standards, but how about doing all that with a broken wrist?
"It's just so sensitive. I even got it hit during this game. I had to come out for a second," Kinnett said after Friday's game.
It's been a constant battle to stay on the field this season for Kinnett. He broke his wrist for the first time last season, then it happened again in Week 3 of this season, sidelining him for eight weeks.
He was on and off the field during this postseason run, but nothing was keeping him out of the state title game.
"Obviously, it's pretty rough. The mental side is definitely harder than the physical. The way I've been able to push through it is always focus on my teammates. It's not all about me. It's about making sure that we can get to this place and have the opportunity to excel in every aspect," Kinnett said. "The most important thing is always being there for your teammates. I've missed them. Being back with them meant so much to me. Having those touchdowns and seeing my teammates, that was the most special part to me."
As humble as they come and a state champion once again — Riley Kinnett put an exclamation point to quite the career at Bishop Chatard.