The Northeast Conference football game at 5 p.m. at Swisher Field is part of the annual Hub City Bowl. The American News Game of the Week also mark's Roncalli's Homecoming, and it is the Cavaliers' first chance this fall to take the field as the top-rated Class 11B team in the state.
"I'm pretty sure there's a lot of teams at this particular point that think that they could probably be in there," said Roncalli coach Terry Dosch of the newly claimed top spot. "To my knowledge, that ranking and a buck will get a can of Coke."
Facing a solid squad is nothing knew for Groton. Last week, the Tigers played Parkston, the third-rated team in 11B this week.
"We knew playing Parkston and Aberdeen this week, those are two of the better teams in 11B," said Groton coach Shaun Wanner. "You can't push the panic button. That's just going to make us a little bit better for the next six games."
Roncalli struck quickly in its win over Redfield-Doland last week. The Cavaliers used a variety of big plays to offset less yardage and time of possession.
"We want to be able to run the ball better and control it a little bit more," Dosch noted. "We played a lot of defense. We just need to execute a little bit better and I think that will come."
While Dosch said there was room for improvement on defense, he was pleased that his squad forced five turnovers last week.
"We just have to be aggressive and get to the ball and make things happen," he said.
Groton features an experienced team, and while the Tigers failed to score to last week, Wanner saw plenty of reason for optimism.
"I thought for 2 1/2 quarters last week we played pretty good," Wanner pointed out. "They just kind of wore us down a little bit."
Groton quarterback Parker Rossow threw for nearly 1,000 yards last season, but Wanner is looking for a balanced attack.
"We need to run the ball a little bit better," Wanner said. "That's one of my main concerns right now, because I know we can throw it."
Wanner's biggest concern at the moment is Roncalli's big-play ability.
"They have some of the best skill kids in 11B," Wanner said. "That's what scares me a little bit, because I know they have a lot of different weapons at their skill positions. Every time they snap it, they can go the distance, whether throwing it or running it."
Dosch knows that with the new number-one ranking, homecoming and Groton coming to town there will be plenty of commotion surrounding the game.
"You can't get too caught up in the all of the hurrah around who you're playing," Dosch cautioned. "Our jobs as coaches are to stay focused on the task at hand."
Game notes: Roncalli defeated Groton last year in Groton during a thrilling season opener for both squads. Roncalli scored on the final play of the contest and added the PAT to pull out a 14-13 victory . . . Roncalli plays host to Flandreau at 7 p.m. next Friday . . . Groton is on the road again next week, traveling to Mobridge to take on Mobridge-Pollock . . . Tonight's game will be streamed live with commentary at AberdeenNews.com and will also be broadcast on Pheasant Country 103.7 FM.
Starting Lineups
Groton
OFFENSE
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
WR Reilly Ell 6-4 195 Sr.
OT Dylan Vogel 5-11 205 Jr.
OG Logan Lane 5-10 195 Jr.
OC Sheldon Herr 5-9 170 Jr.
OG Alec Voss 5-10 190 Jr.
OT Nick Dalchow 6-2 225 Jr.
TE Wyatt Lone 6-2 190 Sr.
WR Mason Madsen 6-4 180 Sr.
QB Parker Rossow 5-10 160 Sr.
RB Kasey Kurtz 5-10 185 Sr.
RB Jackson Doeden 6-0 180 Jr.
DEFENSE
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
DT Nick Dalchow 6-2 225 Jr.
NG Alec Oleson 5-7 185 Sr.
DT Logan Lane 5-10 195 Jr.
LB Reilly Ell 6-4 195 Sr.
LB Logan Lane 5-10 195 Jr.
LB Jackson Doeden 6-0 180 Jr.
LB Kasey Kurtz 5-10 185 Sr.
CB Mason Madsen 6-4 180 Sr.
CB Jeric Albrecht 5-10 165 Sr.
SS Adam Herman 5-9 165 So.
FS Parker Rossow 5-10 160 Sr.
Aberdeen Roncalli
OFFENSE
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
TE Brayden McNeary 6-3 210 Jr.
OT Austin Maag 6-3 180 Jr.
OG Sam Maunu 6-0 200 Jr.
OC Matt Schlosser 6-2 220 Jr.
OG Tyson Mitzel 5-9 175 Sr.
OT Zach Andera 6-1 195 Sr.
WR Dan Gallagher 5-9 155 Sr.
or Zach Schaefbauer 6-2 170 Sr.
QB Zach Lundquist 6-1 185 Jr.
FB Brayden Hilton 5-9 165 Sr.
RB Dalton Cox 6-1 205 Sr.
RB Layne Holzer 5-11 160 Sr.
DEFENSE
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
DE Zach Andera 6-1 195 Sr.
DT Austin Maag 6-3 180 Jr.
NG Tyson Mitzel 5-9 175 Sr.
DT Sam Maunu 6-0 200 Jr.
DE Lucas Lorenz 6-1 210 Sr.
LB Dalton Cox 6-1 205 Sr.
LB Landon Hoellein 6-2 190 Jr.
CB Brayden Hilton 5-9 165 Sr.
CB Brayden McNeary 6-3 210 Jr.
S Layne Holzer 5-11 160 Sr.
S Zach Schaefbauer 6-2 170 Sr.
Game of the Week
What: The 11th annual McDonald's Hub City Bowl.
When/Who: Friday night: Aberdeen Roncalli vs. Groton at 5 p.m., followed by Aberdeen Central vs. Brookings at 8.
Where: Swisher Field in Aberdeen.
At stake: Both are important conference games, the first a Northeast Conference clash between rivals and the second an Eastern South Dakota Conference affair.
Watch it live: The games will be live-streamed at aberdeennews.com/sports with Will Elkins of the American News providing commentary of the first game, beginning with a pre-game show at 4:45 p.m. Fans can Tweet scores and updates of the games they are watching with the hashtag, #ANscores, so they can be seen on AberdeenNews.com and the American News sports app.
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