By Jacob Wuertz and Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

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. 

Canistota, which is no stranger to Class 9A, returns to the class after joining forces with Freeman for a successful five-year run. 

The Canistota/Freeman co-op split in the offseason after winning three Class 9A state championships in 2018-20, along with a Class 9AA runner-up finish last season. The Hawks claimed Class 9A titles in 2011, ‘12 and ‘15.

The classification realignment also ushered in a new crop of top teams, as last year’s four semifinalists Howard (9AA), Herreid/Selby Area (9B), Wall (9AA) and De Smet (9B) moved into different classes. 

Canistota garnered 14 first-place votes and was No. 1 in the preseason poll. Gregory, Harding County/Bison, Wolsey-Wessington and Warner round out the top-five teams in the poll. 

Team capsules (listed in alphabetical order): 

Alcester-Hudson

Coach: Brian Haak

Last year’s record: 5-4

Key returnees: Mateo Kleinhans, junior; Dominic VanEgdom, junior; Caden Winquist, senior; Owen Bovill, senior; Aidan Cole, junior; Evan Brown, sophomore; Jose Topete-Lopez, sophomore; Aden Moeller, junior.

Top newcomers: William Hallaway, junior; Jensen Christensen, junior; Gavin Kroll, junior; Ethan Bovill, sophomore; Tyler Almlie, senior; Tommy Walth, freshman; Darin Dykstra, freshman.

Outlook: Alcester-Hudson will look to improve on a 5-4 record from last season, but will have to do so without their productive running back, Jovey Christensen, who is lost to graduation. The Cubs return 12 letterwinners, including five starters on offense and six on defense. Mateo Kleinhans (271 yards passing, 3 TD’s; 127 yards rushing, 4 TD’s) will lead the offense at quarterback, along with running back Caden Winquist (415 rushing yards, 4 TD’s) wide receiver Owen Bovill, and tight ends Dominic VanEgdom and Aidan Cole. Winquist (48 tackles) and Jose Topete-Lopez (40 tackles) will anchor the defense. Head coach Brian Haak stressed “the development of quality physical interior offensive linemen” and an improved passing game as keys to a successful season. Haak also said, “We need to play a more physical brand of football, especially on defense,” in regards to the biggest challenges the team will face. Coach Haak said Chester Area, Centerville, Garretson, and Avon will be Alcester-Hudson’s toughest opponents.

 

Canistota

Coach: James Strang

Last year’s record: 7-5 (lost to Platte-Geddes in Class 9AA state championship; co-op with Freeman)

Key returnees: Noah Kleinsasser, senior; Will Ortman, senior; Tye Merrill, senior; Trace Ortman, senior; Austin Matthaei, senior; Tage Ortman, junior; Cayden Scott, junior; Brandon Kjetland, junior. 

Top newcomers: Levi Schroeder, sophomore; Maison Montgomery, senior; Deshon Thompson, senior; Avery Kaufman, junior; Jesse Marquardt, junior; Jackson Brown, junior; Camrin Thompson, junior; Joe Bond, junior.

Outlook: Canistota is back as the Hawks after enjoying a successful co-op with Freeman over the past five seasons. The co-op included state championships in 2018-20, along with a runner-up finish last season. Although the Hawks are on their own, they bring back a plethora of talent from last season’s team, including QB Tage Ortman (1,885 passing yards/22 touchdowns), RB/LB Noah Kleinsasser (703 rushing yards/5 touchdowns), and WR’s Will Ortman (583 receiving yards/12 touchdowns) and Tye Merrill (257 receiving yards). Coach Strang stated that, to improve, his team needs “to be a stronger tackling team” defensively, and that the Hawks “have to establish a better line of scrimmage to create opportunities rushing and receiving” offensively. Key games for the Hawks will be against Howard, Hanson, and Platte-Geddes.

Deubrook Area

Coach: Nathan Lamb

Last year’s record: 1-7

Key returnees: Colin Bauman, senior; Treven Grimsrud, senior; Gavin Landmark, junior; Justin Granum, senior; Lukas Ekern, senior; Riley Niehus, junior; Jaxon Quail, junior; J.P. Rogness, junior.

Top newcomers: Devon Landmark, junior; Jake Jorenby, junior; Landen Johnson, junior; Dylan Rios, junior.

Outlook: The Dolphins return 18 letterwinners and 17 starters from a 1-7 team a season ago. Deubrook Area will be led by running back/linebacker Treven Grimsrud, who averaged five yards per carry on offense and had four tackles for loss and one forced fumble on defense. Coach Nathan Lamb noted that “doing the little things” will be a key to a successful season and that “staying healthy, learning new terminology, and being disciplined” will be the biggest challenges for the season. Lamb said the Dolphins toughest opponents will be against Canistota, Elkton-Lake Benton, and Florence/Henry.

 

Gregory's Rylan Peck attempts a pass vs Parkston last season. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Gregory

Coach: Mike Murray

Last year’s record: 6-4

Key returnees: Rylan Peck, junior; Eli Fogel, senior; Kade Stukel, senior; Owen Hansen, senior; Gannon Thomas, junior; Jerritt Talsma, senior; Trey Murray, junior; Jaden Graber, senior; Nathan Fortuna, junior; Kade Braun, junior.

Outlook: Gregory returns a host of playmakers after advancing to last year’s Class 9A quarterfinals. The Gorillas will be powered by quarterback Rylan Peck, running back Kade Stukel, Eli Fogel and Owen Hansen. Peck put up 1,173 passing yards and threw 12 touchdowns, along with rushing for 741 yards and 14 more scores. Stukel (37 tackles/INT) and Trey Murray (64 tackles/2 sacks) will anchor the defensive unit.

Harding County/Bison

Coach: Jay Wammen

Last year’s record: 6-4

Key returnees: Kelby Hett, senior; Keegan Hett, senior; Gage Gilbert, senior; Grey Gilbert, senior; Rylee Veal, sophomore; Dawson Kautzman, senior; Brennan Glines, junior; Braden Routier, junior.

Top newcomers: Cade Costello, senior; Kaden Green, sophomore; Nayati Bickerdyke, sophomore; Wyatt Head, senior; Clancy Adolph, sophomore; Slate Page, junior; Colbin Seidel, sophomore; Evan Meyer, sophomore; Gus Buchanan, sophomore; Braydon Grimes, Colt Kopren, sophomore; Josh Cook, sophomore; Brenton Padden, sophomore; Eugenio Martinez, sophomore; Cooper Page, sophomore.

Outlook: Harding County/Bison brings back 25 letterwinners, including six starters on offense and seven on defense, and will look to be in contention for a state championship run once again. Kelby Hett (554 passing yards, 152 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns) will lead the offense at quarterback and will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, including wide receiver Keegan Hett (729 receiving yards, 271 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns), tight end Gage Gilbert (192 receiving yards, four touchdowns), running back Rylee Veal (223 rushing yards, 652 passing yards, 12 touchdowns), and fullback Dawson Kautzman (242 rushing yards, 66 receiving yards, four touchdowns). Defensively, the Ranchers will be led by Grey Gilbert (74 tackles, nine sacks) and Kautzman (63 tackles, seven sacks) on the defensive line, Gage Gilbert (49 tackles), Veal (45 tackles, three sacks), and Braden Routier (41 tackles, three sacks) at linebacker, and Keegan Hett (36 tackles, four interceptions) at safety. Coach Jay Wammen praises the depth his team has, stating, “We return a lot of skill players and have gained valuable experience at most positions. We return an all-state performer at LG and WR. We will have better numbers allowing more depth than we have had in years.” Wammen believes Wall, Timber Lake, and Kadoka Area will be the Ranchers’ toughest opponents. 

Iroquois/Lake Preston

Coach: Jalen Kaufman

Last year’s record: Iroquois (no varsity football); Lake Preston 2-6 (co-op with Arlington)

Key returnees: Jonah Denison, senior; Riley Casper, senior; Jake Larsen, senior; Josh McMasters, junior; Ashton Wienk, senior; Logan Peskey, senior; Hayden Shurson, junior; Damon Froke, junior; Nathan Enninga, junior; Bergen Woodcock, senior.

Top newcomers: Ryne Greene, sophomore; Gunnar Harris, freshman; Ben Curd, freshman; A.J. Wienk, junior; Rexton Blue, freshman; Peyton Hope, freshman; Andru Andrews, junior.

Outlook: The Iroquois/Lake Preston Sharks will take the field this season as a newly formed football co-op. Last season, Iroquois did not field a varsity football team, while Lake Preston finished up a football co-op with Arlington that began in 2015. Each school has played for one state football championship, with Iroquois winning the Class 9B championship in 2006 (64-26 vs Colome) and Lake Preston finishing runner-up in the 2001 Class 9B championship game (50-8 loss vs Roslyn).

Northwestern

Coach: Ben Buisker

Last year’s record: 2-7

Key returnees: Jude Ortmeier, senior; Chase Neiber, senior; Trey Bourelle, senior; Fehi Faonelua, senior.  

Outlook: Northwestern looks to improve from its 2-7 record last season. The Wildcats will rely on several seniors that have multiple years of experience. Fehi Faonelua returns as the Wildcats leading rusher and passer, rushing for 417 yards and for touchdowns, while passing for 466 yards and five touchdowns. Trey Bourelle leads the defense with 44 tackles. Head Coach Ben Buisker noted that Warner, Leola/Frederick Area, and Herreid/Selby Area will be Northwestern’s toughest opponents. Buisker said, “We return a good core of seniors who have been contributing since they were Sophomores. The offensive line will be key to our success. We return all three starters on the O-line and look for them to be major contributors.”

Oldham-Ramona/Rutland

Coach: Logan DeRungs

Last year’s record: 4-5

Key returnees: Caden Hojer, junior; Riley Schneider, senior; Shayne DeVaney, senior.

Top newcomers: Kadyn Gehrels, senior; Logan Trygstad, junior; Addison Stewart, senior; Collin Riedel, junior; Brayden Hanson, sophomore; Brock Eppe, sophomore; Cooper Merager, freshman.

Outlook: Oldham-Ramona/Rutland returns six letterwinners and will look to improve on their 4-5 record last season. Two starters return on offense and one on defense, which means the Raiders will have several new starters and will lack experience. Coach DeRungs noted that the team is “going to need some of our young guys to step up this year. With only eight juniors and seniors, we will need some production from our underclassmen.” DeRungs said the Raiders toughest opponents will be Dell Rapids St. Mary, Castlewood, De Smet, and Parkston.