Howard added to its trophy case last season, winning its fifth state football championship in program history. 

The Tigers will begin the season atop the South Dakota Prep Media Poll, garnering seven first-place votes and 69 total points. Wall, another perennial power, is just behind with seven first-place votes and 68 total points. Wolsey-Wessington (two first-place votes), Warner and Harding County/Bison round out the top-five teams. 

Storylines to watch

Will Howard reload for another postseason push?: The Howard Tigers put together an undefeated season in 2024, culminating with a 38-30 win over Wolsey-Wessington for the Class 9A state championship. The Tigers were hit by graduation, and do not return a single all-stater from last season. But the Tigers will lean on tradition, their patented rushing attack and stingy defense to make another postseason push. Howard will also be tested playing in the daunted Cornbelt Conference, which regularly produces championship contenders. 

Wall Eagles looked primed for a trip to the DakotaDome: Not far removed from the 2022 Class 9AA state championship, the Eagles have all the makings for another trip to Vermillion. Wall welcomes back three players — Riley Kerner, Tanner Volmer and Dawson Handcock — that earned all-state recognition in 2024. The Eagles are also fresh off a consolation finish at the Class B boys basketball tournament, and they will again be among the top contenders in Class 9A. Wall will also face a tough schedule with rival Philip on the docket in Week 1. The Eagles also have dates with formidable foes Harding County/Bison, Kadoka Area, Stanley County, Bennett County and Lyman. 

Who else will emerge from the pack?: Nine-man powers Wolsey-Wessington, Warner and Harding County/Bison are third-through-fifth, respectively, in the Class 9A preseason poll. The trio of teams figure to again be among the top teams in the class, but who else will emerge from the field is to be determined. 

Players to watch 

Note: These players were all-staters last season. 

Caleb Richmond, Wolsey-Wessington: The Warbirds’ quarterback made the most of his junior season completing 78% of his passes for 1,806 yards, 22 touchdowns and three interceptions, along with pounding 1,229 rushing yards and 18 rushing scores. In his career, Richmond has 3,126 passing yards and 38 touchdowns, rushing for 1,816 yards and 26 touchdown runs. He was the Class 9A all-state quarterback in 2024. 

Riley Kerner, Wall: A 6-foot-4, 315-pound lineman, Kerner was part of an offensive line that helped produce over 4,000 yards of offense in 2024. The Western Great Plains All-Conference selection averaged over five pancake blocks a game, allowing zero sacks. Kerner was an all-state offensive lineman last season. 

Eli Peterson, Lemmon/McIntosh: A 6-foot, 225-pound lineman, Peterson racked up 46 tackles (nine tackles for loss), two sacks and three forced fumbles as a junior for the Cowboys. Peterson was an all-state defensive lineman and all-Little Moreau Conference selection in 2024. 

Jesiah Baum, Warner: A 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back/defensive back, Baum is a dynamic playmaker on both sides of the ball for the Monarchs. An all-state defensive back in 2024, Baum totaled 45 tackles last season and has posted 93 career tackles. On offense, he has rushed for 892 yards on 98 carries, caught 19 catches for 506 yards and scored 22 total touchdowns. For his career, Baum has 1,615 rushing yards on 182 carries, 59 receptions for 1,037 yards and has 37 career touchdowns. He was an all-state defensive back in 2024 and is a two-time all-Lake Region Conference honoree. 

Alec Austin, Centerville: A 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback, Austin piled up the passing yards for the Tornadoes last season. He passed for 2,709 yards, completed 55% of his passes and tossed 24 passing touchdowns. He logged six games with 300+ passing yards, and had a game with 400+ passing yards. He added 520 yards rushing and 10 more touchdowns. For his career, Austin has passed for 4,210 yards and 45 touchdowns, while rushing for 847 yards and 15 more scores. A future Dakota State University quarterback, Austin was an all-state honorable mention selection in 2024. 

Tanner Volmer, Wall: A 6-foot-1, 180-pound quarterback, Volmer was an all-state honorable mention selection in 2024. Volmer passed for 1,282 yards, threw for 23 touchdowns and added 1,221 yards rushing and 20 more touchdowns. He added 26 tackles, two interceptions and six pass deflections on defense. 

Tyce Gropper, Philip: A 5-foot-11, 180-pound running back/linebacker, Gropper piled up the rushing yards for the Scotties in 2024. He rushed for 1,519 yards on 139 carries and scored 22 touchdowns. He was an all-state honorable mention honoree. 

Cole Kieffer, Lyman: Just a sophomore, Kieffer earned all-state honorable mention honors last season as a freshman. A 6-foot-3, 185-pound tight end/defensive end, Kieffer totaled 36 receptions for 482 yards and hauled in six receiving touchdowns. 

Dawson Handcock, Wall: A 6-foot-3, 175-pound wide receiver/safety, Handcock earned all-state honorable mention honors in 2024. He totaled 21 receptions for 529 yards and hauled in 10 touchdown receptions last season. He added three interceptions and six pass deflections on defense. For his career, Handcock has 43 receptions for 875 yards receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. He has four career interceptions. 

Kyle Hettich, Ipswich: A 5-foot-9, 170-pound running back/defensive back, was an all-state honorable mention in 2024. He posted 61 tackles and three interceptions on defense. For his career, Hettich has 72 receptions for 1,088 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 984 yards on 103 carries and has 13 touchdowns. On defense, he’s posted 132 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. 

Chays Mansfield, Warner: A 6-foot-1, 190-pound running back/linebacker, Mansfield was an all-state honorable mention in 2024. From his middle linebacker spot, he posted 58 tackles and one sack as a junior. For his career, Mansfield has recorded 120 tackles, and three sacks

Alec Mikkelsen, Warner: A 6-foot-1, 220-pound tight end/defensive lineman, Mikkelsen earned all-state honorable mention honors as a junior. Mikkelsen averaged 52.2 yards per kickoffs with 19 touchbacks, made 38 PAT kicks, booted a 27-yard field goal and averaged 39.4 yards per punt last season.