High School Football Playoffs: Aberdeen Roncalli, Groton face off tonight

Source: American News, Aberdeen, S.mini storageD.Oct. 29--First-round playoff games usually feature teams familiar with each other.Tonight's Class 11B first-round game in Aberdeen is no different.Aberdeen Roncalli (8-0) will host rival Groton (4-4) at 7 p.m. tonight at Swisher Field. The two Northeast Conference rivals are separated by just 20 miles and play each other every year in all sports."We probably have a fairly good feel for what each other is going to do," Aberdeen Roncalli coach Terry Dosch said about tonight's matchup.Roncalli defeated Groton 19-0 during the second game of the season. The Shaun Wanner-led Tigers have since won four of their last six games."They've added some things over the course of the season that have helped them be a little bit more successful," Dosch said. "Shaun is an aggressive coach. His kids take on his personality. They are going to play hard. We are going to play hard. I'm sure it is going to be a very fun football game for people to watch."Groton's other three losses have been against Parkston (21-0), Redfield-Doland (21-14) and Sioux Valley (26-21). The Tigers have a three-game winning streak entering tonight's game."We've been doing some good things offensively and defensively we've been pretty steady there," Wanner said. "We've kept the same 11 kids on the field -- offensively and defensively. That is always a plus this time of year."Wanner also pointed to the team's defense as a reason for the strong finish to the season. The Tigers have allowed only 21 points during the last three games, while the offense has put up 101 points during that stretch."We have been playing a little bit better offensively," Wanner said. "We have been running the ball a little bit better offensively and throwing the ball a little bit here and there."The Tigers face a tough Cavaliers team that has recorded four shutouts this season and has given up only 40 points all season long. The Cavaliers are rolling right now, having posted three shutouts in the last four weeks."It seems like we've continued to progress and get better throughout the course of the season," Dosch said. "The kids have worked hard and we've pushed them along a little bit and try to help them realize their potential."Both coaches realize that at this time of the year it is about doing the little things in order to advance to the next round."It is really probably more mental preparation, I would say at this particular point, than anything too physical," Dosch said. "We've got our game plan in and now it is just a matter of executing."Wanner added that the Tigers have to eliminate turnovers and self storagereate Roncalli turnovers in order to have a chance. He also said the Tigers have to be ready to run the ball effectively, especially at this point of the season."We have to come out and get after it," Wanner said. "The little things are the big keys for us."Game notes: If Roncalli wins this evening, the Cavaliers will host a second-round contest on Monday at Swisher Field. . . . The Cavaliers have not lost a game at Swisher Field since Oct. 7, 2011. Roncalli has won 10 straight games at the facility. . . . Roncalli is one of two remaining unbeaten teams in Class 11B. The other one is Winner. . . . Tonight's game will be streamed live at .aberdeennews.com/sports/video and also be broadcast on Pheasant Country 103.7 FM.Follow @RyanDeal_AAN on Twitter.|Starting Lineups|Groton||OFFENSE|Pos. Name| Ht. Wt. Yr.OT Wyatt Larson...6-2 215 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.WR Reilly Ell...6-4 195 Sr.WR Mason Madsen...6-4 180 Sr.WR Jeric Albrecht...5-10 165 Sr.WR Spencer Knecht...5-10 170 Jr.QB Parker Rossow...5-10 160 Sr.RB Alec Oleson...5-7 185 Sr.|DEFENSE|Pos. Name| Ht. Wt. Yr.DE Sheldon Herr...5-9 170 Jr.DT Logan Lane...5-10 195 Jr.NG Wyatt Larson...6-2 215 Jr.DT Dylan Vogel...5-11 205 Jr.DE Reilly Ell...6-4 195 Sr.LB Alec Oleson...5-7 185 Sr.LB Carter Jondahl...5-8 190 So.CB Mason Madsen...6-4 180 Sr.CB Jeric Albrecht...5-10 165 Sr.SS Spencer Knecht...5-10 170 Jr.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 Layne Holzer...5-11 160 Sr.QB Zach Lundquist...6-1 185 Jr.FB Brayden Hilton...5-9 165 Sr.RB Dalton Cox...6-1 205 Sr.RB Lucas Lorenz...6-1 210 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.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.) Visit the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.) at .aberdeennews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉