VOLGA – Sioux Valley quarterback Wyatt Hardt called his own number early and often and led a potent Cossacks ground attack that paced fifth-rated Sioux Valley to a 30-6 victory over Aberdeen Roncalli Friday night in the opening game of the season.
Hardt scored twice in the game, but also picked up yardage in chunks between scores, helping keep a determined Roncalli squad at bay.
The Cavaliers, for their part, had a solid start to the season, putting together a first half that saw no penalties, two forced fumbles (and subsequent recoveries) and a red zone defensive stand at the end of the half, all while weathering more than an hour’s worth of lightning delays that interrupted its first possession of the first quarter.
“I’m happy with how we competed,” said Roncalli coach Billy Young. “We are a really young team with a lot of guys making their first start.”
Those efforts helped limit the Cossacks to just one score per quarter, but a handful of missed connections in the receiving game and a limited amount of open space in the run game kept the Cavaliers out of the end zone until midway through the third quarter.
“We had our chances,” Young said. “We probably left 20 points on the field. I think we had the ball in the red zone three times and came away with no points.”
That’s when Austin Fisher broke off a big run to get Roncalli deep into Cossacks territory. Ian Kramer hit a reverse down inside the 10-yard line before Fisher capped the drive with a 4-yard plunge.
That score could not, however, stem the Cossacks tide. Sioux Valley added one more touchdown in the fourth quarter and had another – an 82 yard run from Trey Wyman – negated by a penalty. Wyman did eventually find the endzone on a 20-yard run later in the quarter.
Hardt finished the game with 210 yards on the ground and another 72 yards passing. Logan Mohn added 115 rushing yards for the Cossacks.
Roncalli was led by Fisher’s 58 yards rushing. He also completed five passes for 63 yards, including a big catch-and-run to Will Haskell in the third quarter. Haskell ended his day with 41 receiving yards.
“We will grow from (the loss) and get better,” Young said. “I think we have the potential to be a good football team.”
Roncalli will host Flandreau next Friday for its home-opener at Dacotah Bank Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Aberdeen Roncalli 0 0 6 0 – 6
Sioux Valley 8 8 8 6 – 30
Scoring
First Quarter
SV – Wyatt Hardt 25 run (Hardt run), 9:19.
Second Quarter
SV – Logan Mohn 27 run (Wyatt Nelson run), 8:19.
Third Quarter
SV – Hardt 6 run (Hardt run).
AR – Austin Fisher4 run (run failed).
Fourth Quarter
SV – Trey Wyman 20 run (run failed).
OFFENSE: Roncalli rushing 33-151 (Fisher 8-58, Ian Kramer 3-39); passing (Fisher 5-14 for 63); Receiving (5-15-0 for 63); receiving (Will Haskell 1-41). Sioux Valley rushing 40-444 (Hardt 17-210, Mohn 10-115, Wyman 4-81); passing (Hardt 6-11-0 for 72); receiving (Ashton Warne 2-21, Garrett Cotton 1-30).
