Watertown slayed the giant for the first time in seven years last season. The Arrows claimed their first state football championship since 2001 after knocking off seven-time defending champs Pierre in a nail-biting 14-13 victory. This season, Watertown opens as the No. 5 team in the preseason prep media poll with 24 points. Pierre starts as the preseason favorite receiving all but one first-place vote and 79 total points. Yankton received 48 points in second place, Brookings sits in third with 44 points while Tea Area took the other first-place vote and 25 points with a fourth-place spot.

Storylines to watch

Will Pierre bounce back?: The Governors didn’t win the Class 11AA state title for the first time since 2016 last season. After opening the preseason as the top-ranked team in the class, all eyes will be on Steve Steele and the Pierre Governors this upcoming season.

Can Watertown continue the momentum?: After winning its first state title in over two decades last year, will the Arrows be able to keep riding the momentum or is it time for another team to step up to the throne in Vermillion?

Who else will emerge?: Each of the top-5 teams in the preseason poll have earned a spot in the title game in the past five seasons. But two teams to keep an eye on will be Spearfish, a rising team who finished just behind Watertown with 18 total points, and Aberdeen Central, who netted two points as well.

Players to watch

Note: These are returning all-state players

Cooper Terwilliger, Pierre: Terwilliger was a monster for Pierre in his sophomore season. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound tight end caught 33 passes for 455 yards and four touchdowns last season, bringing his career total to 52 catches for 729 yards and eight touchdowns. Terwilliger is a four-star prospect with several power four FBS offers.

Bergan Tetzlaff, Brookings: Tetzlaff was a do-it-all player last season in Brookings. He recorded 21 receptions for 503 yards and eight touchdowns, adding one passing touchdown and three rushing touchdowns as well. Tetzlaff also totaled 128 tackles and two sacks defensively. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior is a South Dakota State University football commit.

Felipe Gonzalez, Aberdeen Central: Gonzalez, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman, recorded 44 tackles (6 tackles for loss), two sacks, one forced fumble and recovery last season for the Golden Eagles. Gonzalez also blocked four kicks for AC last season.

Kaden Decker, Watertown: Decker is a returning piece for the state champion Arrows. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound linebacker recorded 67 tackles (13 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception in the Arrows championship season.

Anderson Porisch, Huron: Porisch caught 41 passes for 532 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore for the Tigers. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound receiver/punter also averaged 43.3 yards per punt last season.

Joey Dallmann, Aberdeen Central: Dallman rushed 65 times for 235 yards and two touchdowns as a fullback last season. The 6-foot, 215-pound senior also totaled 14 receptions for 112 yards as well.

Carter Merrill, Pierre: Merrill was the workhorse back for the runners up Pierre last season. The 6-foot, 175-pound running back tallied 722 yards and three rushing touchdowns, adding four catches for 71 yards and a receiving touchdown as well.

Carter Schiefelbein, Pierre: Pierre brings back another important passcatcher from last season. Schiefelbein caught 40 passes for 506 yards and five touchdowns in his first season as a starter. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound receiver was an all-state honorable mention selection as a sophomore a year ago.

Cale Haselhorst, Yankton: Haselhorst returns with eight career interceptions to his name. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound defensive back also tallied 22 tackles and nine pass break-ups last season.

Chase DeBoer, Tea Area: DeBoer recorded 34 tackles (6 tackles for loss), three sacks and three pass break-ups as a junior for the Titans. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound defensive end also recovered two fumbles last season.