FREEMAN — It’s been a Tschetter family affair for the Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy Phoenix. 

When the Phoenix play Elkton-Lake Benton for the Class 9AA state championship on Nov. 13 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, it will be the last time head coach Dustin Tschetter and his sons Riley and Easton will share the field together. 

“It’s very special just to be able to do it with them,” Riley said. “My dad has just kind of coached me my whole life. It would just be really fun to go out with a win.” 

Riley, a senior quarterback/linebacker, and Easton, a sophomore wide receiver/defensive back, have been instrumental in FMFA’s 11-0 season. The brothers helped the Phoenix advance to the state championship on Nov. 7, a 45-12 win over Hamlin in the semifinals. 

It was also the last time the brothers and father played a home game in Freeman.  

“It’s been great,” Easton said. “Not many people get the opportunity to play with their brother and their dad is the head coach. It’s just awesome.”

The Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy football co-op was formed in 2022, and Dustin Tschetter has been the head coach since its inception. While it’s special to coach his sons, Dustin said it’s just as meaningful to coach the entire program.   

“They’re all my kids,” Dustin said. “It’s not just those two. I don’t treat them any differently. They don’t get any special treatment. I have been coaching some of these boys since they were four-years-old. This is a special group of kids right here. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Riley, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound dual-threat quarterback, passed for 193 yards and four touchdowns in the semifinal victory. He added 122 yards rushing and two more scores. He’s been FMFA’s starting quarterback since his freshman season, with his father along the ride every step of the way. 

“I got the best seat in the field here,” Dustin said. “I am right here in the front row watching. What he’s done has been remarkable the last four years and when he’s on the field we believe we’re going to win and that’s all you want out of your quarterback is just to have a belief that we are going to win. He gives us that each and every game he’s out there. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Easton, a 5-foot-10, 165-pounder, is among the number of Phoenix playmakers and is a reliable defensive back. He totaled a team-high seven tackles in the semifinal win over Hamlin.  

Easton also played meaningful snaps last season as a freshman, immediately gaining trust from the coaching staff. 

“He started a couple for us last year as a freshman,” Dustin said. “He had a great camp. We were looking at him going both ways way back when, but as the season progressed and we went through practice you could see him develop more and more each week. He’s just so shifty and elusive that he gives us another weapon that we didn’t have before when we started him playing on offense.”

On offense, Riley and Easton have developed their connection, with big brother continuing to trust his little brother in the passing game. 

“It’s taken a little bit, but I really trust him now,” Riley said. “I know exactly what he is going to do, where he’s gonna go, what’s he thinking out there. So I just really trust him.”

The Class 9AA state championship will also signal the end of the Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy football co-op. Next season, Marion will co-op Parker in all sports. 

Freeman, which was co-oped with Canistota, last advanced to the DakotaDome in 2018, ‘19, ‘20 and ‘21. The Canistota/Freeman Pride co-op won state titles in 2018, ‘19 and ‘20. Prior to that, Freeman last advanced for state championships in 1996, ‘97, ‘98 and ‘99 — winning four consecutive titles. Dustin was on three of those state championship teams. 

“With the Pride we were there a lot,” Riley said. “Back in the day with Freeman we were there a lot. So I am proud to bring that tradition back.”

“It means everything,” Easton added about making it to the Dome. “They haven’t been there in a while. It just means a lot to the town and the fans.”