By Rich Winter

605 Sports

VERMILLION — Somewhere legendary Winner coach Harvey Naasz was smiling as the Winner Warriors won a 10th state football championship Friday with a 20-14 win over Sioux Valley.

In 1981, Naasz used the Power I offense and now current winner coach Trent Olson uses the double-wing offense. Forty-three years ago it was Jack Sharkey who led Winner to a 31-21 win over Vermillion. On Friday, the Warriors ground out 219 yards led by Joe Robbie MVP Karson Keiser who led Winner with 87 yards and a touchdown. 

“Grandpa started it all when he moved to town and got the weight room going,” Nathan Naasz, Winner assistant coach said. “He preached hard work and the saying on the back of the shirt was something he always preached, ‘Take care of the work and the scoreboard will take care of itself.’” 

Naasz is part of three generations of Naasz’s who have coached in Winner. Harvey’s son Brian was a head coach for the Warriors and his son Nathan said the team has a lot of third-generation players whose dads and grandfathers were in the stands Friday. 

“Parker Mathis, our starring center, and his dad Tom Mathis (T-Bone), was the Joe Robbie Award winner back in 1989,” Naasz said. “I’m coaching kids that are third generation players in this program. Today’s win is really special and it's something that the words hard work and dedication don’t quite do justice to .” 

Parker Mathis, who wears the No. 60 wasn’t exactly sure of the significance the No. 60 had in relation to Harvey Naasz, until it was brought to his attention this week. During his 24 years as the head coach of Winner, Harvey Naasz compiled a record of 171 wins, 56 losses and four ties. He wore the No. 60 as a player at the University of Nebraska and University of South Dakota.

“We didn’t know much about the ‘10 For 60’ until the coaches brought it up,” Mathis said. “Today we went out and played for Harvey and won a state championship.”

The '10 for 60' sign posted next to the 2024 Class 11B state championship trophy - (Rich Winter / 605 Sports)

For years, Tom Mathis and his son have talked about the 1989 state championship team. With the 2024 state title father and son have equal footing in the state football championship conversations.

“We talk about it all the time,” Mathis said. “He loves watching the dome games and when it snows we find time to watch the dome games. He was a running back and I am an offensive lineman.”

Another link to the Harvey Naasz coaching tree comes from assistant coach Austin Calhoon who was a member of the 2010 state championship team. 

“When I was in middle school he led us into the weight room and he came and watched us play,” Calhoon. “Harvey is still part of the culture around here. I love being around these guys and they are very easy to coach.”

Winner has played in a championship game 20 times since the playoffs first began in 1981. The Warriors have state championships from 1981, 1987, 1989, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2024. 

Naasz said the drive to the 2024 champions started this summer behind the leadership of Keiser, Shawn Hammerbeck and Evan Bartels. 

“The senior leadership on this team is special,” Naasz said. “They started keeping attendance this summer and if guys missed summer workouts the whole team would have to run the hill. If you have ever been to Winner you know that hill is no fun.”

And now, an entire new generation of Winner football players may be looking up to the 2024 championship team. 

“We are lucky to get here as many times as we have and the kids know that when we get to the dome it's a lucky thing that we get to experience,” Naasz said. “We get to experience it due to their hard work and dedication and the tradition lives on.”