AVON — Al’Shamon Gunter easily stands out for the Avon Pirates.

A 6-foot-6, 220-pound defensive end/tight end, Gunter is an imposing figure not often matched in South Dakota nine-man football. Gunter’s size and athleticism makes him the ultimate chess piece, allowing Avon coach Justin Lukkes to move him all over the field. 

“Al’Shamon played middle linebacker last year and we are like, ‘We need to put him back at his natural position,’ ” Lukkes said. “He played great at middle last year, but putting him at defensive end was great. We play him wide side or wherever. They don’t like to run at him, which I wouldn’t either.”

Last season, Gunter was an all-state linebacker, racking up 104 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, seven sacks and two interceptions. He added five touchdown receptions from his tight end position and helped block for an offense that produced 3,400 rushing yards. 

Gunter has helped the Class 9B No. 2 Pirates win their first four games of the season, outscoring their opponents by a 202-28 margin. 

Avon has a stable of outstanding running backs, but Gunter and the other Pirate linemen have been instrumental in opening running lanes. On defense, they’ve been key in allowing just 28 points and pitching two shutouts. 

They were again key in Avon’s 54-8 win over Corsica-Stickney on Sept. 12. 

“It was huge,” Gunter said. “Our guys started blocking. We started blocking to the whistle. Our effort was better and our whole team effort was just that much better. We got it switched around.”

Gunter, along with 6-foot-8, 200-pound Jaime Pelton, gives Avon a pair of defensive ends that tower over nine-man opponents not often seen at any level of South Dakota high school football. 

“He covers his side well, and I cover my side well,” Gunter said about pairing with Pelton. “We are a good duo. We hype each other up all the time. After we get a sack or tackle or something on defense then we normally get fired up.”

Lukke, who said someone joked the Pirates might have the tallest set of defensive ends in South Dakota, added the team is fortunate to have that size and height on their team. 

“My big thing is don’t let anybody outside of you and with those two I hope that’s the way it should be,” Lukkes said. “It’s very nice having that. We are very fortunate, especially in a small school like this.”

For Gunter, he’s naturally drawing the attention of college football coaches. He’s landed scholarship offers from NCAA Division II Northern State University and NAIA Dakota State University. He’s also been in contact with South Dakota State University and the University of Sioux Falls. 

Gunter said he would like to play Division I football, but will take whatever is the best opportunity for him. He said the coaches envision him playing defensive end at the next level. 

Lukke said Gunter, who also participates in basketball and track and field, is just scratching the surface of his athletic abilities. 

“The sky is the limit,” Lukkes said. “I hope he goes somewhere next year, and I think he will excel if he puts his mind to it.”

But first on the to-do list is a return trip to the DakotaDome. The Pirates won the 2023 Class 9B state championship, but lost in last year’s Class 9B quarterfinals to Canistota. 

Gunter and the Pirates have their sights set on advancing further this season. 

“I don’t want to upset my team,” Gunter said. “I don’t want to come out with any regrets. I want to leave it all out on the field.”