This is what Aberdeen Roncalli had in mind when the season started.

It took a few tweaks and turns, but the Cavaliers are definitely hitting their stride. Roncalli scored four rushing touchdowns, added a pair of defensive TDs and rolled to a 42-0 non-conference football victory over Mobridge-Pollock Friday night at Dacotah Bank Stadium.

“We’ve had times in the past, the last couple of years, things never seemed to go our way, but it seemed like tonight we got all the breaks,” said Roncalli coach Billy Young. “Balls bounced our way, the timing was just perfect on a lot of stuff, and our kids just came out ready to play.”

After being shutout in its season opener, Roncalli has found its footing in the past couple of games.

“We keep building, we keep growing from week to week, and that’s what I’m really looking for is that growth and trying to improve on last week, and next week we’ll try to improve on this week,” Young said. “I’m just really happy with how we played tonight.”

The contest saw the return to action of Roncalli senior Brody Weinmeister, who made an immediate impact with a 24-yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown as well as an interception.

“All credit goes to the team. They really just set me up for success,” Weinmeister said. “I really believe I was just in the right place at the right time, so all credit goes to them.”

Weinmeister has been out of action after recovering from a shoulder injury, and just joined active practices this past week.

“I found out I was cleared on Tuesday,” Weinmeister said. “I only had two days of practice, did my job, and just happened to be in the right place, right time.”

Young said Weinmeister’s impact on the team was felt even when he was sidelined with the injury.

“He’d become one our leaders in the weight room all spring and even this summer when he was hurt and he couldn’t do anything, he was still there every morning, encouraging guys,” Young said. “He’s definitely a leader and we’re glad to have him back.”

Aiden Fisher was his usual shifty self at the quarterback position, picking his way through blockers for three touchdown runs on the night. The senior doesn’t need much space before breaking into the open.

“All we have to do is create those holes and he does the rest,” said Roncalli senior lineman Carter Samson. “After that first game against Clark we struggled a lot. We had to make some offensive changes and these past two games, we definitely have changed.”

Those changes have come about in a variety of spots, mainly on offense.

“We’ve had different blocking schemes, the play calling’s been different,” Samson said. “The runners in the backfield, they’ve been different. They’ve been running way harder than the first game. The first game was just a spook and now we’re ready to roll.”

While Roncalli’s offense put up more than enough points against the Tigers, it was the defense that pitched a shutout while forcing three turnovers and scoring twice. Brooks Jett had a 58-yard pass interception return in the victory.

Mobridge-Pollock managed just 75 yards of total offense from scrimmage.

“I think the most important part was us getting in the backfield,” Samson said. “We knew (Mobridge-Pollock quarterback Jackson) Eisemann was injured. He pulled his hamstring this last game, so we knew if we got into the backfield and put pressure on him, he can’t scramble all that well. Force him to throw and then our DBs and safety did the rest.”

As a result of the recent changes and the addition of a leader like Weismeister, the Cavaliers have outscored their last two opponents by a combined margin of 63-12.

“We’re kind of starting to use our guys’ strengths more, figure out what each guy is good at,” Weinmeister said. “I think that’s just been our success, putting guys in positions for them to succeed.”

Roncalli, 2-1 on the season, will look to keep things going with a trip to Miller next week to take on Miller-Highmore-Harrold.

“They’re a very potent offense,” Young said. “They put up a lot of passing yards.”

Mobridge-Pollock (2-2) 0 0 0 0 – 0

Aberdeen Roncalli (2-1) 21 7 7 7 – 42

First Quarter

AR – Aiden Fisher 15 run (Fisher kick), 6:24.

AR – Fisher 11 run (Fisher kick), 3:23.

AR – Brody Weinmeister 24 fumble recovery return (Fisher kick), 2:29.

Second Quarter

AR – Brooks Jett 58 pass interception return (Fisher kick), 10:13.

Third Quarter

AR – Fisher 32 run (Fisher kick), 5:00.

Fourth Quarter

AR – Ryder Shaving 1 run (Caleb Stoks kick), 1:23.

OFFENSE: Mobridge-Pollock, rushing 18-33 (Mack Saxon 8-28, Trueth Crow Ghost 4-9, Shooter Frederick 1-8); passing 6-15-3 for 42 (Jackson Eisemann 6-12-2 for 42, Frederick 0-2-0 for 0, Wyatt Henderson 0-1-1 for 0), receiving (Shane Henderson 3-26, Saxon 1-9, Easton Eisemann 1-6, Kellen Pfitzer 1-1), 3 first downs; Aberdeen Roncalli, rushing 37-178 (Zane Backous 12-62, Aiden Fisher 7-48, Kaden Larson 5-33, Austin Fisher 5-19 Shaving 5-13, Brody Weinmeister 3-3, passing 8-14-1 for 105 (Aiden Fisher 8-14-1 for 105), receiving (Noah Kramer 2-35, James Behan 1-29, Weinmeister 2-18, Luke Kaiser 1-12, Jett Johnson 2-11).

DEFENSE: Mobridge-Pollock, E. Eisemann 13 tackles, Pfitzer 7 tackles, Carter Hinsz 5 tackles, Brayden Wientjes 5 tackles, S. Henderson 4 tackles, Sam Schneider 4 tackles, Tyler Schlomer 1 interception; Aberdeen Roncalli, Weinmeister 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery return for a touchdown, and 1 interception, Jean Anthony Thomas 3 tackles, Jett 2 tackles and 1 interception return for a touchdown, Will Haskell 2 tackles and 1 interception, Carter Samson 2 tackles, Kramer 2 tackles, Backous 2 tackles.