State title game finalists -- Dell Rapids St. Mary and Potter County -- each landed four players on this year’s Class 9B all-state football team. The team, which was selected by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association, was released today.

Dell Rapids St. Mary, which defeated Potter County in the state championship, placed John Pica, Nick Gaspar, Gabriel Lindeman and Ty Brown on the honor squad. Potter County’s Grant Luikens, Drake Bassett, Cole Wieseler and Cooper Logan were all-state selections. 

Avon and Faulkton Area each had three players chosen as all-staters. Gayville-Volin, Alcester-Hudson, Hitchcock-Tulare, Harding County and New Underwood each placed two players on the honor team. Langford Area and Sully Buttes each had one all-state selection. 

Here is the complete Class 9B all-state team:

QUARTERBACK: Grant Luikens, Sr., Potter County (6-3, 160)

Luikens passed for 1,657 yards and 21 touchdowns on 101-for-210 pass attempts. He added 1,039 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on 161 carries. Defensively, he recorded 51 tackles and three interceptions. For his career, he posted 3,823 passing yards and 39 touchdowns through the air, while rushing for 1,737 yards on 340 carries and 30 touchdowns. Luikens, a three-time all-conference selection, finished with 110 tackles and seven interceptions in his career. 

“He has been a great leader for the Battlers this year and has been a huge factor in the team’s success this year and any mistakes he has made has been from him trying to do too much or make the big play,” Potter County coach Vern Smith said. 

FULLBACK/H BACK: Andrew Gustad, Sr., Gayville Volin (6-1, 220)

Gustad powered the Raiders with 1,020 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 77 carries. For his career, he racked up 2,045 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. He was a three-time all-conference performer.

“Andrew is one of the hardest working and best football players I have coached. He is a wonderful leader and an academic all-state player,” Gayville-Volin coach Pat Beeman said. “He was a joy to coach.”

RUNNING BACK: Brady Bierema, Jr., Avon (5-8, 150)

Bierema logged 1,954 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on 192 carries. He added seven catches for 168 yards and four touchdown receptions. The junior has 2,840 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns so far in his career. Defensively, he has 156.5 tackles and is a two-time all-conference selection. 

“Brady was our best player this season,” Avon coach Tom Culver said. “He is not the biggest running back we have had over the years, but pound for pound he got the most out of his body. He has worked hard over the last year to add muscle to his frame and become one of the best backs in the state.” 

RUNNING BACK: Jovey Christensen, Sr., Alcester-Hudson (5-6, 140)

Christensen posted 1,739 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns on 181 carries this season, while averaging 9.6 yards per carry. For his career, Christensen rushed for 2,798 yards on 354 carries and scored 38 touchdowns. 

“Jovey is a great student, athlete and person,” Alcester-Hudson coach Brian Haak said. “As a runner, he has great vision and is difficult to tackle. It was no secret that our whole offense ran through Jovey and he did a great job of producing every week. He is pound for pound one of the toughest athletes I’ve ever coached.”

RUNNING BACK: Erik Salmen, So., Hitchcock-Tulare (5-11, 200)

Salmen led the Patriots with 1,097 rushing yards and scored 15 touchdowns on the ground. It was his first year playing running back after playing center his freshman season. 

“Erik Salmen is a quiet leader,” Hitchcock-Tulare coach Tom Salmen said. “He works hard on and off the field. Many of his yards came after contact where he carried players and teams down the field.”

WIDE RECEIVER: Kyle Hirsch, Sr., Gayville-Volin (5-11, 190)

Hirsch hauled in 30 receptions for 444 yards this season, while finishing his career with nine touchdown receptions and 1,234 receiving yards. He caught 92 career receptions. 

“Kyle is an outstanding athlete,” Gayville-Volin coach Pat Beeman said. “He was a threat from anywhere on the field and as a WR, he made the QB look good often. He made wonderful plays and developed as a WR.”

WIDE RECEIVER: Drake Bassett, Sr., Potter County (5-8, 150)

Bassett finished with 28 receptions for 528 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions for the Battlers. He averaged 18.9 yards per catch and also had 51 carries for 256 yards and two rushing touchdowns. 

“Drake was a big play receiver for the Battlers this year and is always a threat to make a big play whenever the ball was in his hands,” Potter County coach Vern Smith said. 

TIGHT END: Lincoln Thury, Sr., Avon (6-2, 190)

Thury had 17 catches for 259 yards and seven touchdown receptions. He was a key blocker for Pirates, who produced 3,975 rushing yards this season. 

OFFENSIVE LINE: John Pica, Sr., Dells St. Mary (6-3, 250)

Pica anchored an offensive line that produced 2,700 rushing yards. He was an all-state lineman last season for the Cardinals, while he was also an all-conference selection this season. 

“Four-year starter for us,” Dell Rapids St. Mary coach Ross Flemmer said. “A great young man and football player.” 

OFFENSIVE LINE: Kley Heumiller, Jr., Avon (6-1, 220)

The Pirates racked up 3,975 yards and 361 yards per game, with almost 3,000 of the yards behind Heumiller. 

“Kley is a tremendous football player and a true leader on our team,” Avon coach Tom Culver said. “When he talks, our other lineman listens to him and respects his opinion. Kley has put a tremendous amount of effort in the weight room this past season, which has helped him become a dominant lineman in our offense.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: Grey Gilbert, Jr., Harding County (6-0, 230)

Gilbert helped the Ranchers produce 1,837 rushing yards and 1,340 passing yards, while he didn’t allow a sack all season and the team ran exclusively behind him. He’s a three-year starter and two-time all-conference selection. 

“Grey Gilbert is a very versatile lineman,” Harding County coach Jay Wammen said. “He played LG for us and we ran the ball through him as much as possible. He is an excellent pulling guard and in-line blocker. He is a 3 year starter and the leader of our offensive and defensive lines.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: Jacob Kemner, Sr., Alcester-Hudson (6-2, 260)

Kemner was instrumental in the Cubs’ rushing attack, which averaged 298.8 yards per game, 7.6 yards per carry and 37 touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 72 tackles (14 for loss) and five sacks.

“Jacob was a huge factor in our success in the last couple of years,” Alcester-Hudson coach Brian Haak said. “He made all our line calls and did a great job running and pass blocking. Jacob always brought a sense of calm and positive motivation to the field.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: Hunter Niederbaumer, Sr., Faulkton (6-3, 180)

Niederbaumer racked up 93 tackles (20.5 for loss), 36 solo tackles and 10 sacks to power the Trojans’ defensive front. 

“Hunter is a good football player on both sides of the ball,” Faulkton Area coach Shayne Geditz said. “He was able to set the edge when we ran the ball and when he caught it he was explosive. Defensively, he put a lot of pressure on the QB. He is a good athlete that works hard too.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: Jesse Schall, Sr., Sully Buttes (6-2, 225)

Schall logged 76 tackles and 25 assists on the defensive front. He was a four-year starter and an all-state offensive lineman last season. He’s a three-time all-conference selection. 

“We moved him around the defensive line this year,” Sully Buttes coach Mark Senftner said. “A quick first step led to many tackles. Jesse was relentless from DL position and ran many plays down - sideline to sideline.” 

DEFENSIVE LINE: Gabriel Lindeman, Jr., Dell Rapids St. Mary (6-3, 215)

Lindeman posted 45 tackles, 11 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one defensive touchdown for the Cardinals. He was also an all-conference selection. 

“Gabriel is a hard worker who focused on football and was a dominant force for us on defense,” Dell Rapids St. Mary coach Ross Flemmer said. “He was a game changer for us. Great football player and an even better young man.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: Colt Wieseler, Sr., Potter County (5-11, 175)

Wieseler registered 56 tackles and 11 sacks this season. For his career, he finished with 97 tackles, 12 sacks and two fumble recoveries. 

“Colt has been a very aggressive defensive player for the Battlers and has created problems for the opponents in their offensive backfield,” Potter County coach Vern Smith said. “He was a force putting pressure on the QB any time they were looking to pass this season and he took pride in pressuring the punter and got a hand on many punts this year.”

LINEBACKER: Cooper Logan, Sr., Potter County (6-1, 205)

Logan posted 80 solo tackles, five sacks, three interceptions and one fumble recovery this season. For his career, he logged 165 solo tackles, seven sacks, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. 

“Cooper has been a workhorse for the Battlers and has been the guy we have looked to to gain the tough yards on offense and to make the big stop of defense,” Potter County coach Vern Smith said. “He has made himself a physical player who gives the hits on both offense and defense and has delivered very punishing tackles and was an intimidating force this season.”

LINEBACKER: Kyle Hamilton, Sr., Hitchcock-Tulare (5-10, 195)

Hamilton logged 56.5 tackles (45 solo), one interception and one forced fumble for the Patriots this season. 

“Kyle Hamilton is an outside linebacker on the right side for us,” Hitchcock-Tulare coach Tom Salmen said. “He is our contain backer on the right side. He did a tremendous job this year making 45 solo tackles and had one interception, a forced fumble and batted ball. He is smart on and off the field, is a great leader and works hard in the weight room.”

LINEBACKER: Simon Bowar, Sr., Faulkton (6-0, 155)

Bowar posted 134 tackles (90 solo stops), 2.5 sacks and one interception for the Trojans on defense this season. 

“Simon is a very smart player,” Faulkton Area coach Shayne Geditz said. “For a linebacker that isn't very big, he read well and made a lot of tackles. As a fullback, he ran and caught the ball well. He worked hard to make himself a good football player.”

LINEBACKER: Caden VanDrongelen, Sr., Corsica/Stickney (5-11, 195)

VanDrongelen racked up 82 tackles (seven tackles for loss) and one interception this season. For his career, he logged 218 tackles (18 for loss), seven fumble recoveries and two interceptions. 

“Caden has a great motor and nose for the football,” Corsica-Stickney coach Jason Broughton said. “He led us in tackles the last three seasons.”

DEFENSIVE BACK: Emmitt Richter, Sr., New Underwood (5-5, 160) 

Richter logged 70 tackles (28 solo) and had three interceptions for the Tigers. He was a two-time all-conference player. 

“Big playmaker for our secondary,” New Underwood coach Brady Carmichael said. “Emmitt makes great adjustments on the ball, with great closing speed and open-field tackling.”

DEFENSIVE BACK: Parker Geditz, Sr., Faulkton (6-1, 160)

Geditz registered 69 tackles (25 solo), 17 pass breakups, seven interceptions, two forced fumble and two fumble recoveries this season. For his career, he finished with 114 tackles (33 solo), eight interceptions and six forced fumbles. He’s an all-conference performer. 

“Parker understands the game very well on both sides of the football,” Faulkton Area coach Shayne Geditz said. “His time watching film and knowing the game plan allowed him to make plays on both sides of the football. He worked hard to make himself a good player.”

DEFENSIVE BACK: Ty Brown, Sr., Dells St. Mary (6-0, 165)

Brown posted 52.5 tackles, five interceptions, three pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery this season. He was an all-conference honoree. 

“Ty really came on for us this year,” Dell Rapids St. Mary coach Ross Flemmer said. “He was the leader of our secondary.”

SPECIAL TEAMS: Ben Gustafson, Sr., Langford Area (6-0, 180)

Gustafson averaged 31.8 yards per punt and 35.7 yards per kickoff. He averaged 20.6 yards per kickoff return and had a touchdown. He also finished 2-for-4 kicking extra points. 

“Ben is a versatile player who never came off the field,” Langford Area coach Paul Raasch said. “He was our QB/S/K/P/part time return man.”

SPECIAL TEAMS: Cade Martian, Sr., Harding County (5-5, 140)

Martian averaged 35.3 yards per kickoff return and scored on two kickoff returns. He posted 17 solo tackles on kickoff and punt returns, while posting 791 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns. He was an all-conference selection. 

“Cade Martian was the leader of our football team and was on every special teams unit we had,” Harding County coach Jay Wammen said. “Teams tried to kick away from him and he still managed to have two touchdowns on kick return. He also led our team in special teams tackles on kickoff and punt as a burner. He also started at RB and OLB for us. He was the one player on our team that never came off of the field.”

HONORABLE MENTION: Riley Rucktaeschel, Sr., Avon; Keegan Hett, Jr., Harding County; Jack Boomsma, Sr., Hitchcock-Tulare; Gabe Bushong, Sr., Faith; Alex Tanner, Jr., Potter County