Perennial power Howard headlines a crowded field of contenders in Class 9A.

The Tigers, who were last season’s Class 9AA runner-ups, dropped to Class 9A and were No. 1 in the preseason poll. Howard received 15 first-place votes, while defending champ Warner garnered the other first-place vote. 

Wall is No. 2 in the preseason rankings, while Wolsey-Wessington is No. 3. Warner and Harding County/Bison rounded out the top-five teams in the preseason rankings. 

Storylines to watch:

Class 9AA powers bolster Class 9A: A trio of recent Class 9AA powers have dropped down a class to strengthen Class 9A this season.

Howard, Wall and Platte-Geddes have dropped down a class, adding more intrigue and power to Class 9A. And each team is not far removed from DakotaDome trips. 

Howard, a traditional power, was last season’s Class 9AA runner-ups and won the 2021 Class 9A state championship. Wall won the 2022 Class 9AA state championship, while Platte-Geddes won back-to-back Class 9AA state championships in 2020 and ‘21. 

Warner enters a new era: Last season, Warner won its first-ever state football championship, after finishing with four runner-up places in program history.

Long-time coach Kendall Hoellein stepped down as the Warner coach and his son, Derek, replaced him as the Monarch coach. Derek Hoellein, a long-time assistant coach for his dad, will need to replace a host of playmakers from the state championship team. But the foundation is there for Warner to continue as a football power. 

Who else will emerge from the field?: The class appears loaded at the top with Howard headlining the class, but there’s always some unexpected contenders in any class. 

Football fans can expect more of the season in Class 9A this season. Deubrook Area emerged from the field last season and made a run to the DakotaDome, falling to Warner in a high-scoring affair. 

Who will be among the next in line to make unlikely runs this season? 

Players to watch: 

Jose Topete-Lopez, Alcester-Hudson: An all-state fullback/H-back, Topete-Lopez packs a punch for the Cubs. At 5-foot-10, 235-pounds, Topete-Lopez is slated to play running back and defensive line for the Cubs. Last season, he rushed for 634 yards and eight touchdowns on defense. On defense, he logged 35 tackles (12 tackles for loss) and five sacks. 

Rylee Veal, Harding County/Bison: Veal has been a key Rancher since his freshman year, and is a two-time all-stater. Last season, the all-state running back rushed for 1,544 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s rushed for 3,352 yards and 47 touchdowns in his career. 

Preston Cavalier, Warner: A 6-foot, 255-pounder, Cavalier was an all-state offensive lineman for the state champs in 2023. He paved the way for 2,452 rushing yards and 1,487 passing yards. 

Layke Wold, Chester: Wold, a 5-foot-9, 185-pounder, will play quarterback and defensive back for the Flyers. He earned all-state honorable mention honors last season, passing for 1,333 yards and 25 touchdowns. He added 280 yards rushing and eight more scores.

Chester's Layke Wold (4) pitches the ball against Hanson last season in Alexandria. (Trey Kaul / 605 Sports)

Wyat James, Estelline/Hendricks: A 6-foot-2, 205-pound tight end/defensive back, James was an all-state honorable mention selection last season. He hauled in 20 receptions for 273 yards and three touchdown catches. He helped the Redhawks rush for 1,786 yards. 

Camron Eng, Castlewood: A 5-foot-9, 165-pound running back/linebacker, Eng was an all-state honorable mention pick last year. He rushed for 369 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 150 yards receiving. 

Luke Koepsell, Howard: Koepsell returns after an all-state campaign as a defensive end. A 6-foot-4, 220-pounder, Koepsell racked up 75 tackles and nine sacks on defense. On offense, he proved to be a reliable target with 409 yards receiving and nine touchdown catches. 

Moshe Richmond, Wolsey-Wessington: A 6-foot-3, 205-pound wide receiver/linebacker, Richmond stands out in the nine-man ranks. He’s a big target in the passing game and a dependable defensive stopper. On offense, he hauled in 551 yards receiving and seven touchdown receptions. On defense, he racked up 59 tackles (25 solo) and two interceptions.