CLEAR LAKE – Aberdeen Roncalli passed its first road test of the season Friday night.

The Cavaliers found themselves in a typical battle against Deuel and came away with a hard-fought 14-7 Northeast Conference football victory.

The two teams have historically had bruising contests that have gone down to the wire, including last year’s overtime contest.

“It was everything that we thought it would be in terms of physicality and how they played,” said Roncalli coach Billy Young.

The Cavaliers came out and dominated much of the opening half. Roncalli took the opening kick, drove down the field and scored when Abe Kretchman ran into the end zone from 18 yards out.

Roncalli tacked on another score in the second period when Maddox May ran for a 3-yard touchdown.

However, things began to slowly change from there as the Cardinals began to gain some momentum.

An interception gave Deuel a short-field in the third quarter and the host responded with a touchdown to cut a 14-point deficit in half.

The Cardinals had one more solid opportunity midway the fourth quarter on another short field. However, Roncalli’s defense rose to the challenge to preserve the victory.

“I felt like we played well enough to win on offense,” Young said, “but really played outstanding defensively.”

Deuel managed just four first downs in the contest.

While there wasn’t much margin for error in the one-possession game, Young knows that his team beat a quality opponent.

“We could see these guys again in the playoffs,” Young said. “They’ll probably finish with a high seed.”

Young was pleased with the way everyone responded to pull out the tough road victory.

“I’m really proud of our kids and coaches,” Young said. “I thought it was an all-around great effort tonight to go on the road and pick up a big conference win against a tough opponent.”

The Cavaliers finished with 192 yards rushing, led by May with 72 yards.

Roncalli, 2-0 on the season, heads to Redfield next week. Young noted that the Pheasants pushed the Cavaliers to the limit in last year’s playoffs and also beat Roncalli in back-to-back seasons not that long ago.

“I think those guys are going to step onto the field with some confidence,” Young said. “I don’t anticipate those guys backing down from us at all.”

Aberdeen Roncalli (2-0) 7 7 0 0 – 14

Deuel (1-1) 0 0 7 0 – 7

AR – Abe Kretchman 18 run (Jackson Isakson kick).

AR – Maddox May 3 run (Isakson kick).

D – Trey Maaland 1 run (Josh Mussi kick).

OFFENSE: Aberdeen Roncalli rushing 50-192 (May 21-72, Isakson 11-57, Kretchman 12-42), passing 6-14-1 for 49 (Isakson 6-14-1 for 49), receiving (Aiden Fischer 1-11, Kretchman 1-10, Zane Backous 1-10), first downs 18; Deuel rushing 29-70 (Owen Quail 12-21, Maaland 13-37), passing 1-6-0 for 9 (Maaland 1-6-0 for 9), receiving (Quail 1-9), first downs 4.

DEFENSE: Aberdeen Roncalli, Brenden Livermont 4 tackles; Deuel, Ty Lovre 10 tackles, Quail 9 tackles and 1 interception, Dominic Constant 9 tackles, Robbie Begalka 6 tackles, Carter Notherm 5 tackles.