CLARK – On a night that featured potent defenses by both teams, it was only fitting that the only score of the game was produced by the defense.

Clark-Willow Lake recorded a safety in the second quarter for the only points of the contest in a 2-0 season-opening football win over Aberdeen Roncalli Friday night.

Roncalli coach Billy Young said it was similiar to last year’s 7-2 victory over the Cyclones.

“Last year we were able to put one drive together,” Young said. ” This year every time we would take one step forward we took two steps back, and just shot ourselves in the foot too many times.”

A fumble deep in Roncalli territory gave the Cyclones an opportunity to score in the opening quarter. However, the Cavaliers produced a goal-line stand to stop Clark-Willow Lake just outside the end zone.

Roncalli’s defense was rock solid the entire game.

“If we play like that defensivley, we’re going to win our share of football games,” Young said, “but we’ve got to be consistent offensively and sustain drives, not have a big play followed by two or three setbacks, penalties and things like that.”

The only points of the evening were put on the board in the second period when Clark-Willow Lake’s Masyn Knock tackled a Roncalli ballcarrier in the end zone for a safety with 3:39 left in the first half.

The Cavaliers struggled to keep the Cyclones out of the backfield in the early stages of the game before making an adjustment in the second half.

“We had to change up some of our blocking scheme a little bit and make some adjustment there,” Young said. “They were bringing guys off the edge on the back side and they had one more guy than we had a blocker for, so we had to change some stuff there.”

Young said the Cavaliers will have to take a look at some film to determine what changes will need to made as the season progresses.

“There some things we’re going to have to do differently and we’re going to make some changes, probably personnel-wise and maybe a little better scheme-wise to try to find a better fit for what our kids are capable of doing right now,” he said.

The Cavaliers did have some chances in the second half. After the Cyclones had a 6-yard punt, Roncalli took over at the Clark-Willow Lake 36-yard line. However, the Cavaliers were unable to get a first down before a sack eventually gave the Cyclones the ball at their own 44.

“When you get the ball at the 36, you have to be able to come away with something, at least a field goal attempt,” Young said.

Roncalli had one last offensive possession and moved the ball to the Clark-Willow Lake 38-yard line with about three minutes to play. However, an interception stopped that drive and the Cavaliers never got the ball back.

The Cavaliers were rock solid on defense, allowing just a few big runs through the game, mainly to CWL quarter Emmerson Larson, who ran for 97 yards.

Roncalli was led on defense by Brad Harms, Zane Backous, Noah Kramer, and Carter Samson.

“There’s guys that made plays, and we knew those guys were going to be solid,” Young said. “And there were some younger guys that have never started before that stepped up.”

Roncalli has a bye week coming up, which will allow the Cavaliers an opportunity to regroup a bit.

“I do think it gives us a chance to reassess where we’re at and make some changes,” Young said. “I still believe we’re a good football team. We’ve just got to find a way to make some plays.”

Roncalli will host Deuel on Friday, Sept. 6 at Dacotah Bank Stadium.

“We’ve got two weeks to get ready for Deuel,” Young said, “and we’ll put this one behind us, put our nose to the grindstone and keep moving forward.”

Aberdeen Roncalli (0-1) 0 0 0 0 – 0

Clark-Willow Lake (1-0) 0 2 0 0 – 0

CWL – Safety, Masyn Knock tackled Kaden Larson in end zone.

OFFENSE: Aberdeen Roncalli, rushing 26-4, passing 3-13-2 for 49 (Backous 3-13-2 for 49), receiving (Noah Kramer 1-22, Brooks Jett 2-20), first downs 5; Clark-Willow Lake, rushing 40-136 (Emmerson Larson 26-97, Griffin Musser 8-35), passing 3-14-1 for 43 (Larson 3-14-1 for 43), receiving (Josh Kannegieter 2-28, Ernesto Garcia 1-15), first downs 9.