After Hamlin’s undefeated run to the Class 9AA state championship, the field is wide open in 2025.

The Chargers open the season as the second-ranked team in 9AA according to the preseason media poll with six first-place votes with a total of 55 points. Elkton-Lake Benton is the current top-ranked team receiving five first place votes totaling 66 points, Parkston and Viborg-Hurley sit at No. 3 and No. 4 in the poll receiving three and two first-place votes, respectively, while Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy rounds out the top-5.

Storylines to watch

Can Hamlin reload?: The Chargers lost eight talented seniors from last season’s championship squad, including six starters on offense and four all-staters. Hamlin still has starting quarterback Jackson Wadsworth, who won Joe Robbie MVP and outstanding back of the game in the 9AA state championship, but will have to find plenty of help for the missing pieces from last year.

Will Elkton-Lake Benton finally take over as 9AA’s best?:The Elks have built a solid program over the past half decade, but have yet to find themselves in the title game. The Elks, ranked the No. 1 team in the preseason prep media poll, lost to Hamlin twice last season, including a 20-16 loss in the state semifinals. But 2025 could be a different story. Colt Beck returns at quarterback along with two all-state lineman from last season in Taiton Boersma and Quintin Westley.

State semifinal rematch in Week 1: Parkston and Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy faced off twice in the 2024 season, including a narrow 28-22 victory for Parkston in the state semis. With plenty of key skill players gone from the Trojans, F/M/FA could finally sneak out of Parkston with a win at 7 p.m. Friday.

Players to watch 

Note: These are returning all-state players

Jackson Wadsworth, Hamlin: A 6-foot-3, 208-pound senior quarterback/linebacker, Wadsworth was a gunslinger for the Chargers. In 2024, Wadsworth completed 74% of his passes for 1,847 yards, 34 touchdowns to just two interceptions. He also tallied 245 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground for the Class 9AA champs. Wadsworth was the Class 9AA all-state quarterback last season. 

Stetson Riggs, Hanson: A 5-foot-10, 200-pound running back/defensive end, Riggs collected 448 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground for the Beavers, adding seven catches for 103 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Defensively, Riggs totaled 90 tackles, seven sacks and three forced fumbles in 2024. Riggs was an all-state running back last season during his junior campaign. 

Brensen Veneklasen, Hill City: A 6-foot-5, 190-pound quarterback/defensive lineman, Veneklasen was the Class 9AA all-state tight end last season. He collected 26 catches for 606 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. In his sophomore season, Veneklasen had four catches for 137 yards and three touchdowns.

Grant Wilkinson, De Smet: A massive 6-foot-8, 320-pound lineman, Wilkinson was again key in the Bulldogs’ trench play. The future South Dakota State University Jackrabbit helped block for an offense rushing for 2,381 yards in nine games, adding 34 tackles and two sacks on defense. Wilkinson was a Dakota Valley Conference selection as well. He was an all-state offensive lineman. 

Taiton Boersma, Elkton-Lake Benton: A 6-foot, 225-pound lineman, Boersma played a pivotal role in the Elkton-Lake Benton offense, breaking open holes for an offense amassing 3,165 rushing yards, 1,586 passing yards, and 68 total touchdowns. Boersma is also an all-state offensive lineman and All-Dakota Valley Conference player.

Brady Schroedermeier, Viborg-Hurley: A 6-foot-3, 200-pound quarterback/linebacker, Schroedermeier was a force for the Cougars on both sides of the football. He helped lead the Cougars to a 7-3 record in 2024 and is receiving history from regional college football programs. Schroedermeier was an all-state athlete in 2024. 

Colt Beck, Elkton-Lake Benton: A 5-foot-9, 175-pound quarterback/defensive back, Beck was a do-it-all quarterback for the Elks. Beck completed 59% of his passes for 1,468 yards and 16 touchdowns. Beck also rushed for 936 yards and 19 touchdowns. For his career, Beck has passed for 2,619 yards and 23 touchdowns, rushing for 1,931 yards and 38 touchdowns. Beck was an all-state athlete in 2024. 

Quintin Westley, Elkton-Lake Benton: A 5-foot-11, 185-pound lineman, Westley had 40 tackles (12 tackles for loss), 6.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and one pass breakup as a junior for the Elks. So far in his career, Westley has recorded 128 tackles (22.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and recoveries, and one defensive touchdown. He was an all-state defensive lineman in 2024. 

Westyn Thorpe, Leola-Frederick Area: A 5-foot-10, 170-pound running back/defensive back, Thorpe was an all-state linebacker during his junior season in 2024. He collected 83 tackles, five interceptions and a sack for the Titans. The junior also tallied 88 carries for 442 yards and seven rushing touchdowns, adding 171 receiving yards and two more touchdowns through the air. Thorpe adds to his totals of 139 career tackles, 811 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, along with 276 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Logan Street, Hill City: A 5-foot-10, 145-pound kicker, Street was an all-state special teams player as a freshman in 2024. He kicked 87% on 55 point-after-attempts, kicking 25-of-74 kickoffs for touchbacks.

Bryce Hawkinson, Britton-Hecla: A 5-foot-7, 160-pound running back/defensive back, Hawkinson rushed for 1,093 yards on 126 carries and scored 10 touchdowns as a junior. He added two receiving touchdowns. For his career, he has rushed for 2,190 yards on 260 carries and has 18 rushing touchdowns. He’s hauled in five career touchdown receptions. He was an all-state honorable mention selection in 2024. 

Ethan Petrich, Leola/Frederick Area: A 6-foot-4, 215-pound tight end/defensive end, Petrich was an all-state honorable mention selection last season as a junior. In 2024, he hauled in 20 catches for 346 yards and four touchdown receptions. He added 57 tackles and three sacks on defense. 

Colt Keiser, Gregory: A 6-foot-6, 185-pound quarterback/safety, Keiser was a reliable target as a wide receiver in 2024. He posted 35 receptions for 610 yards and caught 11 touchdown passes. On defense, he had three interceptions, 40 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Keiser was an all-state honorable mention selection. 

Riley Tschetter, Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy: A 5-foot-10, 180-pound quarterback/linebacker, Tschetter has been a dynamic signal caller for the Phoenix. Last season, he passed for 2,462 yards, completed 62.5% of his passes and tossed 27 touchdown passes as a junior. He added 470 yards rushing on 87 carries and eight more touchdowns. For his career, Tschetter has passed for 5,242 yards and 68 touchdown passes, while rushing for 899 yards and 14 more scores. He was an all-state honorable mention selection last season. 

Nick Schroeder, Hill City: A 5-foot-11, 160-pound wide receiver/defensive back, Schroeder was an all-state honorable mention honoree as a junior in 2024. He posted 66 solo tackles, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and one defensive score. 

Gage Jodozi, Parkston: A 6-foot-1, 200-pound lineman/linebacker, posted 33 solo tackles, 12 sacks and two forced fumbles as a sophomore in 2024. He earned all-state honorable mention honors. 

Aiden Abraham, Hamlin: A 6-foot-2, 188-pound tight end/defensive end, Abraham posted 52 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks as a junior in 2024. For his career, he has totaled 91 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. Abraham was an all-state honorable mention selection last season.