State champ Avon placed six players on this year’s Class 9B all-state football team, which was selected by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association.

Avon was represented by Landon Mudder, Aziah Meyer, Terran Talsma, Tyler Tjeerdsma, Landon Thury and Paxton Bierema. Faulkton Area, which was the state runners-up, were represented by Layne Cotton, Garrett Cramer, Carson Leonhardt and Charlie Deiter.

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

QUARTERBACK: Layne Cotton, Sr., Faulkton Area (6-3, 190)

Cotton paced the Trojans back to the DakotaDome. He completed 60 of 109 passes for 1,134 yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing for 469 yards and 12 more scores. He’s a two-time all-conference player and a two-year starter at quarterback. “Layne has led our team at the QB position the last two years,” Faulkton Area coach Shayne Geditz said. “He is a dual threat QB. He has a good arm and can make throws and also runs the ball hard. He is a good leader at QB and safety.”

Faulkton Area's Layne Cotton (14) carries the ball against Avon in the Class 9B state championship.

FULLBACK/H-BACK: Landon Mudder, Jr., Avon (5-7, 180)

Mudder logged 342 rushing yards on 62 carries for the state champs. “Big part of our option and offense,” Avon coach Justin Lukkes said. 

RUNNING BACK: Aziah Meyer, Jr., Avon (6-4, 190)

Meyer logged 1,846 rushing yards on 197 carries and scored 35 touchdowns. He added two kickoff returns for touchdowns and averaged 25.1 yards per return. He was the Joe Robbie MVP of the Class 9B state championship. 

RUNNING BACK: Nic Gaspar, Sr., Dell Rapids St. Mary (6-2, 190)

Gaspar rushed for 930 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Cardinals. He added 232 receiving yards and four more scores. For his career, Gaspar finished with 3,016 yards rushing on 355 carries and scored 47 touchdowns. He added 864 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He was a three-time all-conference pick. “Nic is a great football player and an even better young man,” DRSM coach Ross Flemmer said. “He has been a playmaker for us on offense the last four years. He is a dangerous runner and an equally dangerous pass catcher.”

RUNNING BACK: Garrett Cramer, Sr., Faulkton Area (5-10, 170)

Cramer logged 947 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns for the Trojans. He added two touchdown receptions. He is a three-year starter at running back and a two-time all-conference selection. “Garrett is a very solid runner,” Faulkton Area coach Shayne Geditz said. “He is patient and allows his blocks to set-up for him. He also has the ability to make a tackler miss. He is a solid all-around player.”

WIDE RECEIVER: Ryder Falkenhagen, Sr., Potter County (5-11, 170)

Falkenhagen posted 657 yards receiving on 34 catches and hauled in nine touchdowns. He added 418 rushing yards and eight more scores. For his career, Falkenhagen posted 1,315 yards receiving on 80 catches and hauled in 19 touchdowns. He added 571 yards rushing and 12 more scores. He was an all-conference player. “He is an extremely well-rounded athlete,” Potter County coach Kyle Kusser said. “He is a great receiver, and you are always one play away from 6 when he is on the field. He is more competitive than almost anyone I have ever coached. That is on offense, defense or special teams. He also is great at trying to find success for others by offering to be a decoy or recommending plays for his teammates.”

WIDE RECEIVER: Tom Aughenbaugh, Sr., De Smet (5-11, 160)

Aughenbaugh was a deep threat for the Bulldogs. He finished with 602 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, while he had 52 tackles and four interceptions on defense. He was an all-conference player. “Tom was a playmaker on both sides of the ball for us,” De Smet coach Brendon Pitts said. “Offensively, he made a lot of crucial plays for us and was our leading receiver in yards and receiving TDs. Defensively, he led our team in interceptions and helped defend the pass well from his safety position.”

TIGHT END: Trevor Gill, Sr., Herreid-Selby Area (6-2, 195)

Gill hauled in 27 catches for 414 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished his career with 96 receptions, 1,867 yards and 30 TDs (all Wolverine records). He was a two-time all-conference player. “Trevor was a force on both sides of the line of scrimmage,” HSA coach Clayton Randall said. “He could make all the blocks in our run game as well as stretch the field with his speed and pass catching ability. He is a very coachable, team first player.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: Carson Leonhardt, Sr., Faulkton Area (5-9, 230)

Leonhardt paved the way for Faulkton Area’s offensive attack. He helped the team amass 2,680 yards and 48 rushing touchdowns. The Trojans averaged 223 yards per game. Leonhardt was an all-conference player. “Carson is a three-year starter on our offensive line,” Faulkton Area coach Shayne Geditz said. “He has started at both guard and center. He has done a good job with his snaps and blocking NT's this year.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: Terran Talsma, Sr., Avon (6-5, 220)

Talsma was a key contributor for the Pirates’ offensive line. The Pirates averaged 321 rushing yards per game. On defense, Talsma had 104 tackles, five fumble recoveries and four sacks. 

OFFENSIVE LINE: Kaden Sayler, Jr., Herreid-Selby Area (5-10, 220)

Sayler helped the Wolverines rush for 2,500 yards and was a two-year starter. “Kaden was our most consistent offensive lineman,” HSA coach Clayton Randall said. “Started at center last year and moved to guard this year so we could pull and trap him. He makes all of the calls on the line. High IQ player who comes to coaches with answers during the game.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: Emmitt Maher, Sr., Lemmon-McIntosh (6-2, 215)

Maher logged 48 receiving yards and a touchdown for the Cowboys. For his career, he finished with 69 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He was a three-time all-conference player. “Emmitt is a hard nosed kid that works his tail off,” Lemmon-McIntosh coach Josh Anderson said. “He has dedicated himself to this program and been a team leader for us for three years as a captain. He is the first one in the weight room every day and has put himself in the position that he has by his work ethic.”

ATHLETE: Garrett Hermann, Jr., Kadoka Area (6-2, 190)

Hermann logged 108 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and four sacks on defense. On offense, he finished with 466 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He added 830 passing yards and 13 touchdown passes. A junior, Hermann has racked up 210 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and four sacks. On offense, he has 747 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s also passed for 1,932 yards and 28 touchdowns so far in his career. He’s an all-conference selection. “Garrett has started for the Kougars at QB since he was a freshman,” Kadoka Area coach Chad Eisenbraun said. “He has helped lead the Kougars to three consecutive playoff appearances, with two quarter-final appearances. He has steadily improved every year and has been a very solid player and leader for us on both sides of the ball.”

ATHLETE: Tyler Tjeerdsma, Sr., Avon (5-9, 160)

Tjeerdsma was a key player for the state champs. 

DEFENSIVE LINE: Landon Thury, Sr., Avon (6-4, 185)

Thury was named Outstanding Lineman in the Class 9B state championship. He was a three-year starter, who helped the Pirates rush for 3,500 yards. 

DEFENSIVE LINE: Britt Carlson, Sr., De Smet (6-3, 175)

Carlson passed for 1,457 yards and 23 touchdowns, while rushing for 482 yards and 11 more scores. He had 71 tackles and 10 sacks on defense. He was an all-conference player. “Britt did a great job of running our offense this season from the QB position,” De Smet coach Brendon Pitts said. “He was a dual-threat quarterback that made a lot of plays both through the air and on the ground, serving as our leading rusher this season. Defensively, he made a lot of plays from his defensive end position, leading us in tackles multiple games and also leading the team in sacks for the year.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: Jackson Maynard, Sr., Hitchcock-Tulare (6-4, 260)

Maynard was a disruptive force for the Patriots. He posted 48 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a pick-six on defense. He finished his career with 104.5 tackles, 10 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. He was a three-year starter on both sides of the ball. “Jackson has a great head on his shoulders for leading his team and figuring out defenses and finding the ball on defense,” Hitchcock-Tulare coach Tom Salmen said. “He is able to direct and guide his team to get the job done. Jackson is a fun, loving student athlete. He makes coming to practice fun for the entire team and still gets the job done.”

DEFENSIVE LINE: Jesse Torticill, Sr., Corsica-Stickney (6-0, 215)

Torticill tallied 52 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and eight sacks for the Jaguars. For his career, he logged 67 tackles, 12 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. “Jesse was a solid DE for us this year,” Corsica-Stickney coach Gregg Olawsky said. “He has good speed for his size, and his strength.”

LINEBACKER: Charlie Deiter, Sr., Faulkton Area (6-1, 180)

Deiter finished the season with 81 tackles (31 solo) three sacks and three interceptions. He was a two-year starter at linebacker and is an all-conference player. “He does a great job of getting his reads,” Faulkton Area coach Shayne Geditz said. “He does a good job of finding the ball and also tackles well. He does a good job of getting off blocks.”

LINEBACKER: Erik Salmen, Sr., Hitchcock-Tulare (6-0, 220)

Salmen was a dominant force for the Patriots. On defense, he logged 73.5 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four interceptions and three sacks. A three-year starter, he finished with 196.5 tackles, six sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, nine interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. “Erik leads by example, is coachable, and is a positive example to have around your team and school,” said Hitchcock-Tulare coach Tom Salmen, who is Erik’s father. “Erik is a great student-athlete to coach. He works hard on and off the field. He has grown into an incredible player to watch.”

LINEBACKER: Paxton Bierema, Sr., Avon (5-10, 175)

Bierema led the state champs with 87 tackles, four interceptions and four tackles for loss. “Huge leader on the defensive side of the ball,” Avon coach Justin Lukkes said. 

LINEBACKER: Carter Wright, Sr., Corsica-Stickney (6-0, 175)

Wright racked up 92 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss and three interceptions for the Jaguars. For his career, he logged 265 solo tackles, nine interceptions and six fumble recoveries. He was a two-time all-conference player. “Carter has good vision, anticipates plays well,” Corsica-Stickney coach Gregg Olawsky said. “Good leader for our team and has put the work in to get where he is today. A solid tackler who can make plays from sideline to sideline. He was an important part of our defense.”

DEFENSIVE BACK: Carter Luikens, Sr., Potter County (6-1, 180)

Luikens logged 68 solo tackles, two fumble recoveries and one interception this season. For his career, he finished with 168 solo tackles, seven interceptions and three fumble recoveries. “Carter Luikens also played out of position on defense for part of the year,” Potter County coach Kyle Kusser said. “He is a cornerback. He had to play linebacker in about half of our games because of scheme and personnel. By the end of the year run into the playoffs he went back to his true position at cornerback. He is a good hitter and cover back and had the speed to chase down and make plays from sideline to sideline.”

DEFENSIVE BACK: Lucas Flemmer, Sr., Dell Rapids St. Mary (6-0, 160)

Flemmer posted 54.5 tackles, four interceptions (pick-six) and three pass breakups on defense. For his career, he logged 81.5 tackles, four interceptions and six pass breakups. “Lucas is a great football player and an even better young man,” DRSM coach Ross Flemmer said. “He has been one of the hardest workers we've had come through St. Mary.”

DEFENSIVE BACK: Kadyn Fast, Sr., De Smet (6-0, 165)

Fast racked up 61 tackles on defense, while rushing for 329 yards and five touchdowns on offense. He hauled in 19 receptions for 552 yards and caught eight touchdowns. He posted 450 return yards and scored three special teams touchdowns. He was an all-conference player. “Kadyn has made a positive impact on our program for four seasons,” De Smet coach Brendon Pitts said. “Any time Kadyn got the ball, he had the potential to make a big play for us. He often got a lot of attention from the opposing team's defense and still found ways to make plays for us. On defense, he was often tasked with defending the opposing team's best player, and he did a great job of that.”

SPECIAL TEAMS: Cooper Feddersen, Sr., Jones County (6-5, 210)

Feddersen logged 295 return yards on 14 returns and scored a touchdown. He handled the kicking and punting duties for the Coyotes. He was an all-conference selection for football and basketball. “Cooper has shown throughout the entire season the leg strength he has, including his longest punt of the season, a 69 yarder,” Jones County coach Tyler Buxcel said. “Taking away net average for his punts and going off first contact for the receiving team moves his average punt to 44.2 yards per punt.”

SPECIAL TEAMS: Trace Van Regenmorter, Sr., De Smet (6-3, 200)

Van Regenmorter posted 59 tackles and five fumble recoveries on defense. He added 256 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while hauling in 104 yards receiving and three more scores. “Trace played a lot of different positions for us this season,” De Smet coach Brendon Pitts said. “From the tight end position, his ability to block the edge allowed us to successfully run outside and get our guys into open space. He also had a handful of big receptions for us from the TE spot as well. Defensively, his quickness from the defensive line spot caused the opposing teams problems.”

HONORABLE MENTION: Jaxon Fulton, New Underwood; Hiroshi Pickelsimer, Lemmon-McIntosh; Gus Kopecky, Faulkton Area; Gavin Barber, Sully Buttes; Collin Tisdall, Herreid-Selby Area; Grant Wilkinson, De Smet; and Gus Stout, Kakoka Area.