GROTON – Groton took away Aberdeen Roncalli’s top game plan, but it didn’t have an answer for the Cavaliers’ other options Friday night.

In a game where yards were hard to come by, Brody Weinmeister found some prime real estate to help power Roncalli to a 14-0 non-conference football victory. With Groton’s defense focused on stopping interior rushing, Weinmeister broke free to the outside for the first of two rushing touchdowns in the win.

“Groton had a great game plan. They were going to take our power away,” said Roncalli coach Billy Young. “They know what we do best. They were going to take it away and so it would force us to go to plan B and C, and we were able to run our buck sweep play and that’s what Brody scored on.”

The game was scoreless in the third quarter when Weinmeister ran a sweep around the left end and sprinted untouched 25 yards into the end zone.

“I saw the edge open. I got good blocks from all my guys and I saw the lane,” Weinmeister said of the crucial play. “I knew Zane (Backous) behind me was shouting it was a touchdown, and I just ran with all I had and made it in there.”

That score with 8:14 remaining in the period, gave the Cavaliers a shot of energy and took the wind out of the sails of the Tigers.

“I think my first touchdown kind of gave us a spark, gave us the energy,” Weinmeister said, “and we just kept rolling from there.”

Weinmeister then added an insurance TD later in the quarter, picking his way through the middle of the pack for a 6-yard score.

Both squads had chances in the opening half, but neither could cash in. Roncalli got inside the Groton 20, thanks in part to a 48-yard pass from Backous to Weinmeister, but the drive stalled.

The Tigers had the best chance to score in the first 24 minutes, getting the ball down to the Roncalli 3-yard-line. However, Groton was denied on back-to-back plays changing the complexion of the contest.

“I thought if we could take that one in, then momentum’s a little bit on our side,” said Groton coach Shaun Wanner.

Instead, it was the Cavaliers who came off the field celebrating after their defensive stand.

“We were hyped after every play, every stop,” said Roncalli lineman Landon Zikmund. “As soon as they got to third down we knew they weren’t making anything in, because we were so high on energy at that point.”

The Tigers, who have speed and athleticism at multiple skill positions, were able to convert a few big plays, but never able to break free and get into the end zone.

Young told his players they might give up a few big plays during the contest, “but if we give up a big play, we have to put it behind us and refocus and just play the next down. If you win more of those battles than you lose, then you’re probably going to win the game.”

Zikmund was proud of the way his teammates were able to stay focused and disciplined on defense to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard.

“They came at us with a lot of stuff that we didn’t work in practice,” Zikmund said, “and I really commend our guys for battling back and making a good comeback, and reading their plays and just staying to their assignments.”

Groton’s Lane Tietz threw for 73 yards, while Korbin Kucker rushed for 54 yards and passed for 35 more.

In the end, it was Roncalli’s ability to make the big play and thwart Groton’s strategy that proved to be the difference.

“They went outside on us a little bit more than we thought,” Wanner said. “We thought they were just going to run everything between the tight ends like they have over the years. That’s just good game planning by Roncalli’s coaching staff.”

Weinmeister, who played on the offensive line a year ago, finished the contest with 74 yards rushing, 53 yards receiving and five tackles.

“We know what kind of athlete he is,” Young said. “He’s fast, strong, powerful; he can catch the ball a little bit.”

And on this night, he and the rest of the Cavaliers were definitely motivated to face Groton to get the season started.

“We’ve been preparing for this one since November. We’ve been counting the days,” Weinmeister said. “This is a big one and it’s a good start to the season, and we’re just going to keep going from here.”

Roncalli will face a stiff test next week when it takes on Deuel at 7 p.m. Friday at Dacotah Bank Stadium. The Cardinals received votes in the preseason Class 11B poll.

“That will be a really physical game,” Zikmund said. “That was our closest game last year and it will be a really tough one to battle back against.”

Aberdeen Roncalli (1-0) 0 0 14 0 – 14

Groton (0-1) 0 0 0 0 – 0

Third Quarter

AR – Brody Weinmeister 25 run (Aiden Fisher kick), 8:14.

AR – Weinmeister 6 run (Fisher kick), 1:20.

OFFENSE: Aberdeen Roncalli, rushing 42-149 (Weinmeister 11-74, Kaden Larson 3-37, Zane Backous 18-34), passing 6-12 for 96 (Backous 6-12 for 96), receiving (Weinmeister 2-53, Jett Johnson 1-33), first downs 8; Groton, rushing 21-61 (Korbin Kucker 11-54), passing 12-31-1 for 108 (Lane Tietz 11-29-1 for 73, Kucker 1-2-0 for 35), receiving (Keegan Tracy 3-55, Teylor Diegel 3-23), Colby Dunker 3-15), first downs 8.

DEFENSE: Aberdeen Roncalli, Fisher 7 tackles, Noah Kramer 6 tackles and 1 interception, Weinmeister 5 tackles); Groton, Brevin Fliehs 11 tackles, Christian Ehresmann 7 tackles, Logan Ringgenberg 6 tackles and 1 sack, Karter Moody 4 tackles and 1 sack.