After back-to-back trips to the DakotaDome, Parkston enters the 2024 season atop Class 9AA once again.

The 2023 state champs return some key players as the Trojans look to repeat against the newly revamped 9AA field.

Parkston received the most first place votes (12) and currently sit in first place in the preseason poll. The Hamlin Chargers finished second with three first-place votes, while Elkton-Lake Benton sits third. An always stout Hanson Beavers team finished fourth receiving the final preseason first-place vote, while the Phoenix of Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy finished off the top-5 in 9AA.

Storylines to watch:

The 9AA landscape has changed:

After losing highly touted programs such as Platte-Geddes, Wall, and Howard, 9AA football welcomes numerous 9A call ups and multiple 11-man programs into the 2024 season. With the likes of Waubay-Summit, De Smet, Gregory, Hill City, Scotland-Menno, Redfield, and Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian, this class will look completely different from a year ago, adding plenty of fresh competition for the established top-five teams in the class.

Does Parkston have the depth?:

After having nearly 40 players on the roster just three seasons ago, the Parkston Trojan football roster has dropped to just 23 players for the 2024 season, including just 10 upperclassmen. While it does return numerous players with playoff experience, the Trojans lack of depth could be an issue later in the season.

New man in charge in Hanson:

It’s the first time in 36 years that Hanson will have a new head football coach. Jacob Giles, 28, will have big shoes to fill replacing the legendary Jim Haskamp, who recorded 210 wins in his career. Will the newly-coached Beavers have a different identity than last year and will there be any bumps in the road in Giles’ rookie coaching season?

Players to watch: 

Evan Stormo, Hamlin: A 6-foot-2, 185-pound wide receiver, Stormo missed four games of the 2024 season but still managed nearly 600 yards of offense and nine touchdowns on 58 touches. As a three-year starter for the Chargers, Stormo received all-state honors in both 2022 and ‘23.

Blake DeVries, Elkton-Lake Benton: As a junior, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound linebacker received all-state honors in 2023, as well as all-conference honors the last two seasons. DeVries recorded 79.5 tackles (15.5 for loss), two sacks, and one fumble recovery last season for the Elks.

Iden Myers, Kimball/White Lake: Myers, a 5-foot-8, 160-pound defensive back/running back, tallied 88 tackles (three for a loss) and 10 interceptions last season for the Wildkats. Myers also received all-conference honors in his junior campaign. On offense, he rushed for 1,292 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Easton Neuendorf, Hamlin: A 5-foot-10, 155-pound special teamer/defensive back went 34-for-40 on extra points, including 2-for-2 on field goals in his first season of football last year. Neuendorf also recorded 17 tackles, three interceptions, and four forced fumbles.

Daniel Person, Britton-Hecla: A 6-foot, 160-pound receiver, Person reeled in 498 yards and five touchdowns on 18 catches. The all-stater also recorded 95 rushing yards on eight carries, and one rushing touchdown.

Stanley County's Colton Brady carries the ball against Bon Homme last season in Fort Pierre. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Colton Brady, Stanley County: Brady tallied over 1,000 rushing yards last season for Stanley County. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back also recorded 13 rushing touchdowns as a junior, with 20 total touchdowns in his career. He was an all-state honorable mention pick last year. 

Weston Kayser, Hanson: A 5-foot-9, 160-pound special teamer, Kayser had nine punt returns for 236 yards (26.2 avg.), returning two for touchdowns. Kayser also returned 10 kickoffs last season for 269 yards (26.9 avg.), adding another two return touchdowns.

Tanner Stein, Elkton-Lake Benton: A 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back, Stein earned all-state honorable mention honors in 2023. In his junior season, Stein recorded 64.5 tackles (13.5 for loss), forcing and recovering one fumble, while intercepting two passes, returning one for a touchdown.

Grant Wilkinson, De Smet: The 6-foot-8, 295-pound lineman was a force for the Bulldogs in 2023. The all-stater recorded 71 tackles, seven sacks, and played a huge part in an offense that passed for over 1,800 yards last season.