Editor’s Note: 605 Sports will unveil team preview capsules on all football classes leading up to the 2023 season openers. The information provided was submitted by coaches in response to an email sent by 605 Sports. 

Pierre’s quest for a seventh-straight Class 11AA state championship begins Friday. 

The Governors have won six consecutive Class 11AA state titles and will be chasing No. 7 this season. 

Pierre, which begins the season at Aberdeen Central, returns 32 letterwinners from last season’s state championship. The Governors were picked No. 1 in the preseason South Dakota Prep Media Football Poll and received 14 of the 16 first-place votes.

Tea Area, which finished second to Pierre the past two seasons, received the other two first-place votes and was No. 2 in the poll. Yankton, Brookings and Aberdeen Central round out the top-five teams. 

Team capsules (listed in alphabetical order): 

Douglas

Coach: William Velez  

Last year’s record: 0-9 

Key returnees: OT, Wyatt Hill, 6-0, 230, senior; OT, Tanner Jamison, 6-2, 230, senior; QB, Aiden Russell, 6-3, 165, junior; WR, Marcus Woods, 6-1, 170, senior; DT Lucas Giersberg, 5-10, 245, junior; DT, Sylvan Kent, 5-10, 215, junior; FS, Steven Koper, 5-10, 160, senior; SS, Matthew Denekamp, 5-10, 165, senior; DB, Isaiah Brewer, 5-10, 155, sophomore. 

Top newcomers: TE/LB, Jason Fisher, 6-4, 180, senior; OL, Paul Cline, 6-0, 220, junior; RB/LB, Reilly Knodell, 6-1, 200, junior; Fs, Kaetom Wanzek, 5-9, 135, junior; OL, Kannon Shay, 6-4, 190, junior; OL/LB, Shane Howie, 5-11, 200, junior; RB, Ricky Davis, 5-8, 145, junior; RB/LB, Talan Rice, 6-1, 150, junior; RB/LB, Ian Fleming, 5-10, 135.

Outlook: The Patriots will look to make strides after last season’s 0-9 campaign, and they’ll focus on development throughout the 2023 season. 

“We are a young team with folks playing at the varsity level,” Douglas coach William Velez said. “This year’s focus is to continue to make positive gains from last season. We want to play aggressive and play whistle to whistle. Our philosophy is to stick with the basics and develop the skills to perfect those and do not worry about the mistakes.”

Pierre 

Coach: Steve Steele (67-15 coaching record) 

Last year’s record: 12-0 (Class 11AA state champs)  

Key returnees: WR, Cade Kaiser, 6-1, 190, senior; TE, Jett Zabel, 6-4, 210, senior; RB, Brock Moser, 5-9, 180, senior; OL, Matthew Coverdale, 6-5, 245, senior; OL, Matthew Brewer, 6-1, 240, senior; LB, Trey Lewis, 5-11, 190, senior; DL, Emmit Andersen, 6-1, 240, senior; LB, Chance Carda, 6-0, 190, senior; DB, Spencer Easland, 6-1, 175, senior; DB, Spencer Skjonsberg, 6-1, 185, senior.

Top newcomers: DL, Elijah Boutchee, 6-2, 225, junior; LB, Trevor Rounds, 5-11, 175, junior; DL, Baxter Schrempp, 5-10, 260, junior; WR, George Stalley, 5-9, 160, junior; TE, Cooper Terwilliger, 6-5, 170, freshman; OL, Zayden Rounds, 6-0, 230, junior; OL, Jake Mikkonen, 6-4, 210; OL, Lucas Chamberlin, 6-2, 200, senior. 

Outlook: The Governors return 32 letterwinners — five starters on defense and five starters on offense — from last season’s Class 11AA state championship team. Pierre has won the past six Class 11AA state championships and will chase No. 7 with a blend of familiar and unfamiliar faces. The Governors graduated quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, the state’s all-time leading passer and current Ohio State University freshman. The cupboard still isn’t bare for Pierre, which returns all-staters Jett Zabel, Matthew Coverdale and Cade Kaiser. 

Zabel, an all-state tight end, has committed to play at North Dakota State University. He hauled in 79 catches for 1,309 yards and caught 17 touchdowns last season. Kaiser recorded 71 catches for 1,253 yards and 18 touchdown receptions last season. Running back Brock Moser rushed for 988 yards and six touchdowns. 

“Offensively we will look pretty different this year with new faces at some skill positions and a couple new OL,” Pierre coach Steve Steele said. “We need to get comfortable with the changes and gel quickly as a unit. We still have a lot of weapons but need everything to get aligned. Defensively is similar. We are replacing some key spots that will need some adjusting. The quicker we can do that, the better the regular season will be. As always, we need to stay healthy as injuries were our biggest challenge last season.”

Steele said the 2023 Governors will be athletic and possess some speed at key positions. But will look differently up front after graduating some key linemen. 

“The line of scrimmage will be a big area for us this year,” Steele said. “We will be smaller than we have been in years past and will need to be technically sound and work together well up front. Also, replacing Kienholz will be a major challenge on offense with a bit of a new look on that side of the ball.”

Steele anticipates Yankton, Tea Area, Brandon Valley and Aberdeen Central will present challenges on Pierre’s regular-season schedule. He expects Tea Area, Yankton, Aberdeen and Watertown to be among the top Class 11AA teams.

Spearfish

Coach: Dalton Wademan (49-139 coaching record) 

Last year’s record: 4-6  

Key returnees: OL/DL, Kolter Robbins, 6-1, 225, senior; OL/DL, Dawson Wood, 6-2, 295, senior; OL, Matthew Medina, 5-11, 230, junior; OL, Asher Peil, 5-10, 235, sophomore; WR/LB, Caden Langenfield, 5-10, 165, senior; WR/DB, Brayden Delahoyde, 6-4, 225, senior; WR/S, Dylon Doren, 6-0, 160, junior; QB, Seth Hamilton, 6-0, 185, senior; S, Hunter Walters, 6-0, 175, junior. 

Top newcomers: RB, Hunter Walters, 6-0, 175, junior; OL/DL, Layton Loup, 6-0, 230, junior; RB, Mick Bosh, 5-6, 145, sophomore; LB, Aiden Kracht, 6-0, 170, junior; LB, Evan Wilson, 6-0, 165, junior; RB/LB, Laythan Lucas, 6-0, 180, sophomore. 

Outlook: The Spartans bring back eight starters on offense and six starters back on defense from last season’s 4-6 team. Spearfish did graduate 12 seniors, but coach Dalton Wademan feels confident in the upcoming senior class to lead the 2023 team. 

“We have big shoes to fill with graduating 12 seniors,” Wademan said. “With that being said, the senior group this year were freshmen when our coaching staff came in. They are the first group that has been through the program for four years with this coaching staff. We will lean on them a lot to lead our team. They are able to hold the standard for everyone else on the team. They also have done a great job with the playbook and we are able to make quick adjustments because they have bought in and understand what is going on. We must be physical upfront and compete for every job. We must take care of the football and take advantage of the opportunities when they present themselves.”

Wademan said the Spartans will emphasize their rushing attack, which in turn should open up the passing game. 

“Our biggest challenge this year will be establishing the run game,” Wademan said. “We have struggled in the past with establishing the run game, so if we can get that going it will open up other opportunities for us to capitalize on. Teams we play are generally bigger than we are, which is no excuse. We must be technique sound and compete our tails off every play for four quarters. This is with a lot of guys playing both ways, so we must come into fall camp in shape and ready to go. That will happen throughout the summer weights program, which the kids have been doing a great job.”

Wademan expects Pierre, Yankton and Tea Area to be Spearfish’s toughest teams in the regular season. He anticipates the same three teams to be the top Class 11AA teams. 

Sturgis

Coach: Chris Koletzky (22-50 coaching record) 

Last year’s record: 4-6  

Key returnees: OL/DL, Zac Juelfs, 6-4, 245, senior; OL/DL, Aiden Werlinger, 6-3, 235, senior; LT, Connor Schmidt, 6-2, 225, junior; TE, Daylen Dschaak, 6-2, 190, junior; SS, Gavin Sundstrom, 5-9, 175, senior; LB, Dawson Inhofer, 6-0, 180, junior; OL/DL, Aaron Morovits, 6-3, 250, junior; QB/CB, Aidan Hedderman, 6-3, 186, senior; DB, Demetrious Daniels, 5-8, 145, senior.

Top newcomers: QB, Aidan Hedderman, 6-3, 186, senior; RB, Owen Udager, 5-10, 175, senior; RB, Sully Jost, 5-8, 160, sophomore; LB, Kalvin Kettleson, 5-11, 175, junior; WR/CB, Jadon Blair, 6-1, 165, junior. 

Outlook: The Scoopers return 21 letterwinners — five starters on offense and seven starters on defense — from last season’s 4-6 campaign. Sturgis coach Chris Koletzky said the team will rely on senior leadership this season. 

“Senior Leadership will be key this season along with our ability to play sound football on offense and defense,” Koletzky said. “We will not be as athletic as a lot of teams we face this season so we will have to do a great job of taking care of the football and creating turnovers.”

Koletzky added, “We need to do a better job this year of protecting the ball on offense and eliminating the big plays on defense.”

Koletzky said Tea Area, Aberdeen Central, Spearfish, Douglas and St. Thomas More will be the team’s toughest opponents in the regular season. He said Pierre, Yankton and Tea Area will be the top Class 11AA teams. 

Tea Area

Coach: Scott Frey  

Last year’s record: 10-2 (Class 11AA runner-ups)   

Key returnees: FB/LB, Keegan DeYoung, 5-11, 190, senior; OL/DL, Carter Turek, 6-11, 211, senior; OL/DL, Garrett Wiebenga, 6-2, 175, senior; LB, Jessen Wiebenga, 6-2, 205, senior; DB, Ethan Vis, 6-0, 160, senior; LB, Sam Werdel, 5-10, 170, junior. 

Top newcomers: OL/DL, Jacob Jongejeugd, 6-3, 211, junior; OL/DL, Charlie Leslie, 5-11, 200, junior; RB, Tyler Rhead, 5-9, 160, junior; RB, Riley Svanda, 6-0, 156, junior; QB, Brenner Konrad, 6-2, 195, sophomore. 

Outlook: The Titans bring back 22 letterwinners — three starters on defense and three starters on offense — from last season’s Class 11AA state runner-up team. The Titans graduated a host of playmakers from last season’s team and coach Scott Frey said filling the void will be key early in the year. 

“With the loss of a great senior class, the younger players will need to step up and fill the positions that are open due to graduation,” Frey said. “We will also need to be relatively injury free.”

He also likes the chemistry within this year’s group. 

“I love the energy that the players have,” Frey said. “They are all united in getting better as a team every day. They also look out for each other and realize that we cannot reach our goals if we play as individuals or even individual classes.”

Frey said Pierre, Yankton, Aberdeen Central and Watertown will be the top Class 11AA teams this season. 

Yankton

Coach: Brady Muth (30-32 coaching record) 

Last year’s record: 6-5  

Key returnees: WR, Tucker Gilmore, 6-5, 200, senior; WR, Austin Gobel, 5-10, 160, senior; RB/LB, Shaylor Platt, 5-11, 95, senior; OL, Cayden Wavrunek, 6-3, 230, senior; RB/LB, Matthew Sheldon, 6-0, 220, junior; DE, Tyson Prouty, 6-2, 215, senior; DL, Peyton Eustace, 5-10, 220, sophomore; LS, Carson Conway, 5-11, 175, senior. 

Top newcomers: QB, Lucas Kampshoff, 6-1, 190, senior; OL/DL, Vaden Griel, 5-10, 225, senior; WR/DB, Payton Peterson, 5-9, 160, senior; TE/DE, Frank Int’Veld, 6-5, 205, senior; RB/LB, Trenton Jerke, 6-1, 190, senior; K/P, Josue Trujillo-Melgoza, 5-9, 165, senior; QB/DB, Easton Nelson, 6-0, 175, senior; WR/DB, Carson Ness, 6-0, 170, junior; RB/DB, Bode Thurman, 5-10, 165, junior; RB, Evan Serck, 5-9, 165, junior. 

Outlook: The Bucks bring back 22 letterwinners — five starters on offense and four starters on defense — from last season’s 6-5 campaign. Yankton graduated a host of key contributors from last season’s team, but coach Brady Muth says potential is there for a solid 2023 season.

“If you look at the players that had measurable statistical impact on the field last year, many of those players have graduated from our program,” Muth said. “That being said, there is a lot of potential in our position groups. This offseason we saw our team grab a hold of the opportunities created by graduation, these players are ready to make their mark on Buck Football. Our players are excited, but we have to keep that energy high through the summer. Our strength & conditioning staff has done a phenomenal job, but now our players need to translate that into successes on the field. We have some important voids to fill on our offensive and defensive lines and defensive backfield. In order for us to be successful this fall we need our players to embrace their new roles and push our team to achieve the type of success that is expected in Yankton.”

Muth said Yankton will focus on developing depth across the lines and secondary after graduating key players in all three position groups. 

“We had some very talented players graduate and have some big shoes to fill,” Muth said. “However, I think we have the players to fill those roles. There is talent on this team. They are excited to get on the field and prove it.”

Muth expects Pierre, Tea Area, Brookings, Sioux Falls Roosevelt and Aberdeen Central to be Yankton’s toughest opponents in the regular season. He anticipates Pierre, Tea Area and Aberdeen Central will be the top Class 11AA teams.