PRESHO — Pick your poison against the Lyman Raiders. 

Lyman’s three dynamic skill players — Teagan Gourneau, Tance Wagner and Cooper Long — have powered the Raiders to a 3-0 record to open the 2022 campaign. The three players complement each other with their skill sets and bring something different to the offensive attack: Gourneau as a dual-threat quarterback, Wagner as a do-it-all running back and Long as a versatile wide receiver.

But Lyman coach Mike Kieffer said their intangibles are among their strongest attributes. 

“Cooper does a pretty good job blocking in our run game,” Kieffer said. “Tance, he plays three or four positions on offense and three or four positions on defense. He plays where you ask him to play and he doesn’t bat an eye and Teagan’s maturity has definitely shown through this year.”

Lyman's Teagan Gourneau carries the ball against Kadoka Area on Sept. 2 in Presho. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Gourneau, a four-year starter at quarterback, engineers an offense that averages 400 yards and 44 points per game. With Gourneau at the offensive reins, Lyman averages 245 rushing yards and 155 passing yards per game. 

“Each year he’s matured and this year I feel like he’s taken ownership of the offense more than he has as far as making sure people are in the right places and play calls and just paying attention to little details,” said Kieffer about Gourneau, a 6-foot, 185-pounder.  

This season, Gourneau has completed 21 of 44 passes for 465 yards and seven passing touchdowns (zero interceptions). He’s nearly matched last season’s total of 537 passing yards and eight passing touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 176 yards and one rushing score this fall.

On Aug. 26, Gourneau completed 12 of 25 passes for 243 yards and three passing touchdowns against New Underwood.  

“Teagan is definitely more of a dual threat as far as running the ball and throwing the ball,” Kieffer said. “He’s had his share of both and hopefully that continues, but definitely he’s been throwing the ball a little bit more and his statistics are a little bit better throwing the ball this year than they have been in the past.” 

Lyman's Tance Wagner breaks a tackle against Kadoka Area on Sept. 2 in Presho. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

The Raiders graduated all-state running back Colton Collins, who rushed for 1,874 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. That opened the door for Wagner, who began seizing the opportunity during summer workouts. 

“Tance didn’t really give us an option,” Kieffer said. “He wanted to play running back and he worked himself into that role and he’s a pretty selfless player. He will play wherever, but he’s done a great job for us in the backfield and we move him around a little bit and he gives us some options.” 

Wagner, who had 102 rushing yards and one touchdown last season, has 382 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this year. This year, he burst onto the scene with 236 rushing yards on nine carries and four touchdowns against Jones County in the season opener. 

“It was very rewarding as a coach to see a kid who put in the effort and the time in the offseason, to kind of see the fruits of his labor get paid off in that first game,” said Kieffer about Wagner, a 6-foot-2, 175-pounder that has played a number of different positions on offense and defense.

Lyman's Cooper Long (2) and Brayden Oldenkamp (3) play against Kadoka Area on Sept. 2 in Presho. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Long is new to the Lyman football team, however, he has seamlessly fit into the offensive and defensive schemes. Long was a Class 9AA all-state wide receiver last season at Garretson, racking up 96 catches for 1,464 yards and 16 touchdown receptions. 

At 6-foot-3, 170-pounds, Long’s smooth running style and athleticism have proven to be a natural target for Gourneau. Long has 12 receptions for 335 yards and six touchdown receptions. On Sept. 2, Long caught four catches for 106 yards and three touchdowns. 

“In the passing game, Cooper is a kid that’s always open,” Kieffer said. “He makes a lot of plays that other kids can’t make and once he catches the ball, his run after catchability is top end as well.”