Editor’s Note: 605 Sports will unveil team preview capsules on all football classes leading up to the 2022 season openers. The information provided was submitted by coaches in response to an email sent by 605 Sports. 

By Jacob Wuertz and Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

Winner and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan, two Class 11B stalwarts, have had a stranglehold on the class for the past handful of seasons. 

The Warriors and Seahawks have combined to play in the past seven Class 11B state championships, clashing in the past three title tilts. Winner has captured the past two state championships, while BEE won the 2019 title. They’ll play on Sept. 30 in Bridgewater in a regular season matchup. 

Winner and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan were picked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the preseason poll. The Warriors received all 18 first-place votes. 

Elk Point-Jefferson, Sioux Valley and St. Thomas More rounded out the top-five teams in the preseason poll. 

Team capsules (listed in alphabetical order): 

Aberdeen Roncalli

Coach: Billy Young

Last year’s record: 7-3

Key returnees: Jackson Isakson, senior; Abe Kretchman, senior; Maddox May, senior; Andrew Brennan, senior; Brendan Livermont, senior; Phillip Zens, senior; Josh Schaunaman, junior; Zane Backous, sophomore; Kaden Clark, senior; Jayden Munroe, senior. 

Outlook: Aberdeen Roncalli returns a bulk of last season’s team, which dropped a 7-6 decision against Beresford in the quarterfinals. Jackson Isakson, an all-state kicker, engineered last season’s offensive attack from his quarterback position. Isakson threw for 752 yards, nine touchdowns and rushed for 344 yards. Running backs Maddox May (445 rushing yards/five touchdowns) and Abe Kretchman (589 rushing yards/six touchdowns) will complement Isakson out of the backfield. Defensively, linebackers Josh Schaunaman (73 tackles/two sacks), Brendan Livermont (69 tackles/2.5 sacks) and defensive back Philip Zens (53 tackles) will anchor the unit. 

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan

Coach: Jeff VanLeur

Last year’s record: 8-4 (lost to Winner in Class 11B championship game)

Key returnees: Riley Endres, senior; Macklen Weber, sophomore; Sam Hofer, senior; Sutton Arend, senior; Jaden Eddy, senior; Aguer Van Sickle, senior. 

Outlook: Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan, which has played in the past five Class 11B state title games, will again be a title contender this season. The Seahawks finished 5-3 during the regular season, but found their stride in the postseason en route to a runner-up finish. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan has finished as state runner-ups in four of the past five seasons, along with a state championship in 2019. The offense will be centered around Riley Endres, Sutton Arend and Sam Hofer. Endres racked up 633 all-purpose yards last season and scored five total touchdowns. Arend, an all-state defensive back, intercepted four passes and recorded 60 tackles last season. He added two touchdown receptions. Hofer scored five total touchdowns, intercepted three passes and logged 336 all-purpose yards. 

Clark/Willow Lake

Coach: David Severson

Last year’s record: 4-5

Key returnees: Mitchell Larson, senior; Trey Huber, senior; Cole Brendan, senior; Turner Fjelland, senior; Cole Heiman, senior.

Top newcomers: Tyson Huber, junior; Elliot Bratland, sophomore; Collin Gaikowski, junior; Griffin Musser, sophomore; Kaplan Felberg, senior; Jack Helkenn, junior.

Outlook: Clark/Willow Lake returns 13 letterwinners, which includes five starters on offense and defense, from 4-5 season a year ago. The Cyclones will be led by quarterback/defensive back Trey Huber, running back/defensive back Cole Brendan, running back/linebacker Turner Fjelland, wide receiver/safety Mitchell Larson, and tight end/defensive end Cole Heiman. First year head coach David Severson stressed the importance of playing as a unit and playing fast when it comes to having success this season. Severson also noted that Aberdeen Roncalli, Groton Area, and Deuel will be great games. When referring to Parker and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan being on the schedule, Severson said, “We are looking forward to the opportunity to play some southern teams.”

Elk Point-Jefferson

Coach: Jake Terry

Last year’s record: 8-3 (lost to eventual state champion Winner in Class 11B semifinals) 

Key returnees: Chace Fornia, senior; Ty Trometer, senior; Caleb Niles, senior; Jakob Scarmon, senior; Alex Scarmon, senior; Devon Schmitz, senior; Ben Swatek, senior; Lucas Hueser, senior; Noah McDermott, senior.

Top newcomers: Hunter Sharkey, senior; Aiden Kellen, senior; Christian Mueller, senior; Carson Timmins, junior; Evan Fornia, junior; Grayson Jacobs, junior; Aiden Zach, junior; Reed Sayler, junior; Garrett Merkley, junior; Jake Gale, junior; Kayden Moore, junior; Daenton Ronellenfitch, junior.

Outlook: Elk Point-Jefferson returns 26 letterwinners, including eight starters on offense and nine starters on defense. Offensively, quarterback Noah McDermott threw for 1,290 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for 526 yards and four touchdowns. The running back duo of Ben Swatek and Lucas Hueser will provide a powerful one-two punch for the Huskies. Last season, Swatek rushed for 817 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Hueser tallied 788 yards and 18 touchdowns. Wingback Devon Schmitz added 342 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Defensively, the linebacking corps of Swatek (56.5 tackles), Hunter Geary (50.5 tackles), Gavin Jacobs (48.5 tackles), and Schmitz (30.5 tackles) anchor the unit. Defensive back Alex Scarmon led the team with five interceptions. Elk Point-Jefferson coach Jake Terry noted that Winner, St. Thomas More, McCook Central/Montrose, Sioux Valley, Tri-Valley, and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan will be teams to watch in Class 11B. As far as his keys to a successful season and challenges ahead, Terry said, “We will look to be more diverse offensively. We will continue to be a run first team, but we need to be able to throw the ball as well. As coaches, we need to get our kids in position to be successful and just let them play. We need to get them to the level where they are playing mistake free football.” 

Flandreau

Coach: Josh Edlund

Last year’s record: 2-6

Key returnees: Ethan Hoffman, senior; Lane Johanson, senior; Tison Burgraff, senior; Caleb Pitsenberger, senior; Isaiah Fisherman, junior; Jonathan Schrader, sophomore; Kolby Peters, senior.

Top newcomers: Ben Ballard, sophomore; Brendan Peterson, junior; Gary Moose, senior; Gage Ballard, sophomore; Paul Parsley, sophomore; Karter Headrick, sophomore. 

Outlook: Flandreau looks to build off of a 2-6 record from last season. The Fliers return 13 letterwinners, including six starters on both offense and defense. Flandreau will be led by Ethan Hoffman (offense: 574 yards rushing, 238 yards receiving, 7 touchdowns; defense: 55 tackles, 2 interceptions), Kolby Peters (32 tackles), and Caleb Pitsenberger (21 tackles, 1.5 sacks). Head Coach Josh Edlund expects Elk Point-Jefferson and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan to be Flandreau’s toughest opponents. Coach Edlund stated that execution and effort are the keys to a successful season: “We control what we can control, like our effort and understanding of what we are doing. That is going to be the key to our success this year.”

Groton Area

Coach: Shaun Wanner

Last year’s record: 7-2

Key returnees: Andrew Marzahn, senior; Ethan Gengerke, senior; Kaleb Antonsen, senior; Caleb Hanten, senior; Logan Ringgenberg, junior; Holden Sippel, junior; Colby Dunker, junior; Christian Ehresmann, sophomore.

Top newcomers: Lane Tietz, junior; Jacob Lewandowski, senior; Teylor Diegel, sophomore; Korbin Kucker, sophomore.

Outlook: Groton Area returns 15 letterwinners, including six starters on offense and defense, from 2021. The Tigers will be led by running back and three year starter Andrew Marzahn (300 yards rushing), along with four returning starters on the offensive line. Head Coach Shaun Wanner’s keys to a successful season included having “some good young skilled kids that will get better as the season goes on. We should be able to run and pass the ball, which will be beneficial.” Wanner also noted that Sioux Valley, Winner, Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan, and Aberdeen Roncalli will be the top teams in Class 11B.

Hot Springs

Coach: Ben Kramer

Last year’s record: 7-2

Key returnees: Camron Maciejewski, junior; Landon Iverson, senior; Caleb Rickenbach, junior; Kaden Hansen, Dylan Webb, senior; Preston Iverson, senior; Chaney Klippenstein, junior; Will Gilbertson, senior.

Top newcomers: Aidyn Janis, sophomore.

Outlook: Hot Springs returns 16 letterwinners, including eight starters on offense and eight on defense, and will look to build off of last season’s 7-2 record. The Bison allowed only 14 points during the regular season and will look to continue that defensive trend this season. Hot Springs will rely on several two and three year starters, including RB/LB Camron Maciejewski, RB/LB Landon Iverson, and OL/DL Caleb Rickenbach. Head Coach Ben Kramer said that because the schedule is tougher the team will “need to be prepared to compete every week.” Kramer also likes the experience that returns on the team, and states that Dell Rapids, McCook Central/Montrose, and St. Thomas More will be the Bison’s toughest opponents.

Lead-Deadwood

Coach: Kyle Kooima

Last year’s record: 5-3

Key returnees: Ryan Rantapaa, senior; Crew Rainey, senior; Jacob Smith, senior; Miles Crippin, senior; Sam Kooima, junior; Connor Harrison, sophomore.

Top newcomers: James Pierce, senior; Tyler Wiliams, senior; Walker VandeVelde, senior; Trystian Greenfield, junior; Mekhi Hayes, junior; Ethan Hess, junior; Dylan Meade, junior; Rylan Burnham, junior; Beau Wichterman, sophomore; Cruz Mollman, sophomore; Peyton Percy, freshman.

Outlook: Lead-Deadwood returns 25 letterwinners, including six offensive starters and five defensive starters, from a team that narrowly missed out on the postseason a year ago. The Golddiggers will lean on experience from players such as quarterback/linebacker Sam Kooima (378 passing yards, five touchdowns; 678 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns; 50 tackles, 11 tackles for loss), and linebackers Ryan Rantapaa (70 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, five sacks) and Crew Rainey (53 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three interceptions) to lead the team. Coach Kyle Kooima stated that to have success this season, “We will need to stay healthy up front, continue to build team chemistry, and get better each day. We will also need to work on doing the little things right and learn from mistakes.” Kooima said that Winner, Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central, Miller/Highmore-Harrold, Hot Springs, Rapid City Christian, and Custer will be the Golddiggers toughest opponents.

Miller/Highmore-Harrold

Coach: Travis Heasley

Last year’s record: 2-6

Key returnees: Trey Knox, senior; Tate Hoffman, senior; Coby Aasby, senior; Mason Knox, senior; Tucker McCauley, senior; Colby Harrell, junior; Trevor Werdel, senior; Gunner Brueggeman, senior.

Top newcomers: Marshall Conkey, sophomore; Colby Kolda, sophomore; Teagan Forman, junior.

Outlook: Miller/Highmore-Harrold returns several key players from a season ago, and will look to improve under first year head coach Travis Heasley. Seniors Trey Knox, Tate Hoffman, Coby Aasby, Tucker McCauley, Colby Harrell, and Trevor Werdel will look to lead the Rustlers on both sides of the ball. However, Coach Heasley expects younger players to step up for the program. Heasley said, “We will be looking for some underclassmen to step up and be contributors on both offense and defense. With a new coaching staff it will be important for the players to grasp the new offense and defense.” Heasley expects Mount Vernon/Plankinton, Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central, and Elk Point-Jefferson to be the Rustlers toughest opponents.

Mount Vernon/Plankinton

Coach: Brent Olson

Last year’s record: 7-2

Key returnees: Reed Rus, senior; Rylan Bush, senior; Drew Gerlach, senior; Jordan Stoltz, senior; Dan Laufman, senior; Chris Mayer, senior. 

Top newcomers: Zach Baker, junior; Evan Bultsma, junior; Blaine Bohr, junior; T.J. Harris, senior; Mason Hetland, senior; Trevor Sweet, junior; Brady Fox, sophomore; Cain Tobin, junior; Austin Hauge, senior; Isaiah Olson, sophomore; Jon Jones, sophomore. 

Outlook: The Titans welcome back 10 letterwinners, including six starters on offense and defense. MVP returns dual-threat quarterback Reed Rus, who racked up 484 passing yards, 559 rushing yards and 19 total touchdowns last season. Offensively, the Titans averaged 220 rushing yards per game. MVP coach Brent Olson said Winner, Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central and Tri-Valley will be the toughest teams on their schedule this season. “We need to have some young guys step up to fill starting roles,” MVP coach Brent Olson said. “As always, limiting both turnovers and penalties will be key to our success.”

Parker

Coach: Scott Hybertson

Last year’s record: 1-7

Key returnees: Charlie Patten, senior; Jack Even, senior; Gabe Gillespie, senior; Ray Travnicek, junior; Levi Wieman, junior; Payton Meyer, senior; Zaul Centeno, senior; Logan Bridges, senior; Connor Even, junior; Jacob Schoffelman, senior.

Top newcomers: Ethan Kasten, senior; Jake Stone, junior.

Outlook: The Parker Pheasants return 17 letterwinners and look to improve from a 1-7 finish a season ago. The Pheasants return eight starters on offense and nine starters on defense. Parker will be led offensively by quarterback Logan Bridges and running backs Charlie Patten and Jack Even. Defensively, the Pheasants will be led by Patten at linebacker and Levi Wieman on the defensive line. Key games for the Pheasants will be against Elk Point-Jefferson, Tri-Valley, and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan. Coach Scott Hybertson noted that one of the biggest challenges will be the depth his team has, stating, “The teams that we face have many more kids and can play those kids on one side of the ball. We need to find depth or be the better conditioned team on the field week after week.”

Rapid City Christian

Coach: Matt McIntosh

Last year’s record: 3-5

Key returnees: Sam Fischer, senior; Christian Maseman, senior; Drake Lindberg, junior; Wyatt Batie, senior; Wes Schlabach, sophomore.

Top newcomers: Simon Kieffer, sophomore; Elijah Hoyt, senior. 

Outlook: Rapid City Christian looks to improve on a 3-5 record last season. The Comets return several key members to their team. Sam Fischer is the top returner, recording 738 passing yards, 359 rushing yards and scoring nine total touchdowns last season. Coach McIntosh stressed the commitment the team has had during the offseason and his outlook on the season, stating, “There is a great group of seniors that are committed to the team. They are showing up and putting in the work during the offseason. There are also a number of underclassmen that we will rely on during this season and they are ready to help out.” Key games for Rapid City Christian will be against St. Thomas More, Mount Vernon/Plankinton, and Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central. 

Tri-Valley

Coach: Dan Snethen

Last year’s record: 5-5

Key returnees: Eli McFarland, junior; Austin McNulty, senior; Logan Ellison, junior; Lawson Loiseau, senior; Carter Sorenson, junior; Mason Hendrixson, senior; Isaac Nehlich, junior Hunter Plueger, junior; Owen Neeley, senior.

Top newcomers: Holden Rise, senior; Colby McAreavey, sophomore; Levi Kretzschmar, sophomore; Hayden Hastings, junior; Tyler Groenewald, junior; Colby Carruthers, junior; Dustin Sees, senior; Reese Smith, junior; Brendan Newman, junior; Austin Devries, senior; Landon Bartels, senior; Javier Mendoza, junior; Lorenzo Sebastian, senior; Trey Johnson, junior; Everett Althoff, junior; Cyrus Kirstein, junior.

Outlook: The Tri-Valley Mustangs make the move back into Class 11B after spending the past five years in Class 11A. The Mustangs return six starters on offense and eight on defense. Tri-Valley hopes to maximize and develop its talent, while excelling with players that can play multiple positions. Key games for the Mustangs will be against Winner, Mount Vernon/Plankinton, West Central, and Elk Point-Jefferson.

Wagner

Coach: Jeff Podzimek

Last year’s record: 6-4 (lost to Elk Point-Jefferson in Class 11B quarterfinals)

Key returnees: Riley Roberts, junior; Chris Nelson, senior; Jhett Breen, junior; Kahle Hill, sophomore; Glenn Cournoyer, senior; Bain Kuhlman, junior; Braxton Knudsen, junior; Tim Bouza, junior.

Top newcomers: Henry Hayward, junior; Karstyn Lhotak, junior; Ty Aungie, junior; Parker Petry, sophomore; Preston McFayden, sophomore; Jace Kuhlman, junior. 

Outlook: Wagner will look to build off of an exceptional season in 2021 which included a trip to the quarterfinal round of the Class 11B playoffs. The Red Raiders return 16 letterwinners, including eight starters on offense and eight on defense. However, coach Jeff Podzimek noted that the team will miss a talented group of seniors that graduated last season, including “replacing first team all-state players Nolan Dvorak and Dustin Honomichl.” Podzimek expects a successful season to center around “players coming into fall ball physically and mentally ready to play football.” He also expects Winner and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan to be the best teams in Class 11B.

Winner

Coach: Trent Olson

Last year’s record: 12-0 (Class 11B state champions)

Key returnees: Jack Kruger, senior; Aiden Barfuss, junior; Riley Orel, senior; Ethan Bartels, senior; Jack Peters, senior; Blake Volmer, senior.