Forced to play people in different positions because of injuries, Aberdeen Roncalli rose to the challenge Thursday night at Dacotah Bank Stadium.
The Cavaliers, using a quarterback who hadn’t started under center in four years, recorded their first win of the season with an 18-6 non-conference football decision over Miller-Highmore-Harrold. While it wasn’t necessarily an error-free contest, Roncalli will definitely take it.
“That was the number one thing we wanted to do, just win the football game, no matter what it looked like,” said Roncalli coach Billy Young. “With so many guys playing out of position, it’s hard to get any consistency.”
With regular quarterback Austin Fisher out with an injury, Jett Johnson was forced into being the signal caller for the Cavaliers.
“He hasn’t taken a snap since his ninth-grade year playing JV quarterback,” Young said. “He’s been a receiver since then.”
The senior looked like a natural, completing five of his first six passes, and finishing the night with 150 yards passing, including 99 of those yards to Luke Kaiser who out jumped defenders for multiple big catches on the night.
“I was kind of nervous at first,” Johnson said, ” but I knew that I had Luke Kaiser … He’s probably the best athlete on the field, so I think it’s smart that we actually lob it up to him.”
Roncalli was also able to run the ball consistently all game led by Will Haskell, who finished with 89 yards and short touchdown runs in the first, second and fourth quarters.
“We just had a hole. That’s the difference,” Haskell said. “We just had a good hole that I could hit and then I could work my way to different areas from there. A big shout to my big guys up front. We just did a lot better this week up front.”
The Cavaliers decided to switch up a few schemes on offense and it helped to pave the way for Haskell’s big night.
“The offensive line did a really good job for him tonight,” Young said. “We changed some of our angles that we were using for blocking and we got a little bit more push than we’ve been getting, and adjusted our splits some. I think that helped a lot.”
Roncalli center Grady Jett talked about the change up front.
“We changed the offense so we overloaded one side,” Jett said, “and we just pounded the one side, just get everyone a down block and open up gaps for him.”
Jett was also a difference maker on defense, recovering a pair of fumbles in the contest.
“Right place, right time,” Jett said.
While the Rustlers were able to gain some yards on the ground, they were never able to break free for a big play.
“Everyone had their assigned gaps,” Jett said, “so we all played our gap really well and that led to our good defensive game.”
One of the biggest factors in the contest was Roncalli’s ability to contain standout receiver Isaak Hunter, who managed just two catches for two total yards.
“We doubled covered him. We played a linebacker right over him and a safety over the top of him,” Young said. “You have to stop him. If you don’t, you have zero chance to win the game.”
Hunter did have a 22-yard run on a fake punt attempt.
“He’s an elite athlete,” Young said. “He’s definitely one of the top 2-3 athletes we’ll see all year.”
The win gave the Cavaliers an opportunity to smile following a tough start to the season, in which they were shutout in three of their first four games.
“It definitely feels really good, especially getting out and scoring,” Haskell said. “It’s just really positive, it feels good for the whole team.”
Johnson was proud of the way his teammates adjusted to the circumstances.
“I’m really proud of all of them, just to adapt,” Johnson said. “We just have to keep our foot on the pedal and just keep on playing hard.”
Roncalli has a road game at Webster next week. The Cavaliers will look to finish the second half of the season strong.
“We told them tonight, the second half of the season we’re starting 0-0,” Young said, “we’re putting the first half behind us.”
The Cavaliers, who have three games left in the regular season, plan on taking each opponent as it comes.
“We just got to take it one game at a time and whatever happens, happens,” Johnson said. “We just got to strategize each week and play as hard as we possibly can.”
Miller-Highmore-Harrold (1-3) 0 0 0 6 – 6
Aberdeen Roncalli (1-4) 6 6 0 6 – 18
First Quarter
AR – Will Haskell 3 run (run failed), 3:22.
Second Quarter
AR – Haskell 1 run (run failed), 9:43.
Fourth Quarter
AR – Haskell 5 run (kick blocked), 8:49.
MHH – Talon Ping 7 run (pass failed), 4:22.
OFFENSE: Miller-Highmore-Harrold, rushing 36-169 (Chase Hurd 15-78, Ping 18-70, Isaak Hunter 2-22), passing 2-7-1 for 2 (Hurd 2-7-1 for 2), receiving (Hunter 2-2), first downs 8; Aberdeen Roncalli, rushing 36-101 (Haskell 21-89, Jean Anthony Thomas 5-23), passing 11-15-0 for 150 (Johnson 11-15-0 for 150), receiving (Luke Kaiser 4-99, Haskell 2-26, Ian Kramer 3-19, Thomas 2-6), first downs 16.
DEFENSE: Miller-Highmore-Harrold, William Resel 6 tackles and 1 sack, Sam Crago 5 tackles, Vincent Grupe 5 tackles, Oliver Fritzsche 1 fumble recovery; Aberdeen Roncalli, Haskell 8 tackles, Thomas 6 tackles, Austin Schmit 5 tackles, Grady Jett 2 fumble recoveries, Kramer 1 interception.
