HOT SPRINGS — 1974 was a good year for West River football. 

Prior to the South Dakota high school football playoff era, which began in 1981, the state’s sports writers picked state champions. From 1899-1980, football teams were deemed “mythical state champions” by the sports writers, and 1974 represented Hot Springs’ only state football championship season. 

The Bison were voted No. 1 in the final Class B poll, replacing Garretson as the top team in the last rankings. Hot Springs was joined by Rapid City Stevens (Class A) as state champs, while Montrose repeated as the nine-man champ.

Led by then second-year head coach Larry Ireland, Hot Springs finished the 1974 season with an undefeated record (9-0). The Bison hung their hat on defense, giving up only 6.7 points per game and outlasted Black Hills Conference foes. 

During the season, Hot Springs edged Lead (8-6), Douglas (12-6), Belle Fourche (15-12) and Sturgis (17-14) in conference games. 

The final game of the season matched a pair of undefeated teams, Hot Springs and Bennett County. Hot Springs prevailed 16-4 and Garretson lost its final game, bumping the Bison into the No. 1 ranking. 

The Bison were powered by all-state running back Rick Wass, who later starred at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

The 1974 team was one of three undefeated teams in Hot Springs school history, joined by the 1963 and 1967 squads. The 1963 and ‘64 teams were powered by all-stater Jim Kocer, who earned a scholarship to the University of Wyoming. 

In 1967, Hot Springs tied for 10th place in the final rankings. Offensive guard Bill Case and end Ken McClung were each named to the Class A all-state team in 1967. The 1976 Bison finished 8-1 and were also Black Hills Conference champs. 

During the playoff era, Hot Springs has qualified for the state championship game twice. In 2003, the Bison lost to then-Class 11A king West Central.

On Friday, the Bison will make their second appearance in a state championship game. Hot Springs will play Elk Point-Jefferson at 10 a.m. CT at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.