OVERALL 11AAA PREVIEW
DakotaDome Favorites: Harrisburg, Brandon Valley
Dark Horse Candidate: Roosevelt
Upset Viable: O’Gorman, Washington
Note: We are excited to share this preview with you and any information was either pulled from Maxpreps.com, sd.varsitybound.com or interviews. While we cannot guarantee that you or your son will be listed in the preview, rest assured that talent and hard work will lead to exposure. So please be patient and enjoy the preview!
TOP 5
#1 Harrisburg
2020 Season: 7-4
There is a certain look someone can get in their eye when they are so determined to reach their goal, that it almost seems impossible to counter. Well, if a team can have that look, it’s the Tigers. And that no-nonsense mentality is just what it will take for Harrisburg to return back to the dorm.
Future Minnesota QB Jacob Knuth will lead the Tigers this season, and obviously holds the title as South Dakota’s best football player. All eyes will be on the leader of the maroon and gold, but look for Wide Receivers Lincoln Carlson and Andrew Walter to break free in the secondary.
Defensively, Harrisburg returns some top talent in LBs Ayden Viox and Cade Larson, along with secondary leader Carter Bahrefuss.
It’s no secret that the Tigers are the team to beat in the state, and are now on a vengeance run back to the dome.
#2 Brandon Valley
2020 Season: 9-1
The Lynx return to the field as the reigning champions of South Dakota, and hope to hold their throne with a brand new cast of characters. After losing their QB, RB, WR, TE and a slew of defensive talent, it may take a couple games for Brandon Valley to hit their groove. But rest assured, they are a dangerous team.
Jordan Johnson and Payton Eagan will be threats in the backfield along with new QB Lucas Slack, who has started 2 games, while All-Everything WR Peyton Carroll looks to be a big target downfield. In the trenches, Brady Koupal will lead the line at center, while Sam Woidyla will get significant time.
It might take some time or the Lynx to get back to the title-level dominance they held last season, but look for them to be fully prepared for the quest to withhold their crown come the playoffs.. (Okay, enough medieval references!)
#3 Roosevelt
2020 Season: 8-1
In the rarest of rare situations, Roosevelt is without their QB from last season. That is okay though, as new QBs Jackson Brouwer and Elijah Else will be protected by a dominant line in Joe Cotton, Nick Bunkers, Dylan Pryzbilla and Lane Ferguson.
Tyree Nave will also provide an option in the backfield while TE De’andre Jordan looks to be a talented player on both sides of the ball.
The Rough Riders had their sights set on a title after last season, and the addition of Jefferson (and the loss of their players) make it that much tougher.
#4 O’Gorman
2020 Season: 6-4
The only private school in this class, the Knights actually play up to AAA. I love a team that isn’t afraid of competition. This year’s group will be light on returners against a tough schedule. Junior Bennett Dannenbring will take over at the QB level, and will be protected by returning lineman Chase Harris and Zack Carlson. Other than those 2, the line is fairly small, and skills players like WR Manny Struck will need to be efficient with their routes if they want to help Dannenbring.
This season is going to bring a lot of challenges with a lot of big games for the Knights. But if any culture is built for the road ahead, it’s O’Gorman.
#5 Jefferson
2020 Season: NEW SCHOOL
You know how funny it would be if the city did an expansion draft like a professional team! Actually…that would not be funny, could you imagine the parents??
In all honesty though, the Cavaliers as a whole seem to have a good culture around the school. They have a great color scheme and logo along with top-level facilities, so let’s see if they can now put it together on the field.
QB Taylen Ashley, who was the starter at Roosevelt last season, looks to be a top-level leader the Cavaliers, and joins Seniors WRs Jacob Smith Mendez and Matt Caviezel as key leadership for the young program. The line will be completely new to the varsity level, so Ashley may have to quickly find WRs Griffin Wilde and Robert Hutchinson quickly, or until the line can gain more experience.
It’s interesting to see Jefferson ranked higher than both Washington and Lincoln, but that’s the way the cookie crumbled. Now, they need to go prove it.
RECEIVING VOTES
Washington
2020 Season: 3-7
The Warriors may get over looked by a lot of people, but be on the look-out for a team that returns a significant amount of talent. QB Max Thompson is ready to lead a group of 26 seniors and will look for go-to WR Josh Piper downfield.
On the defensive end, DEs Kendis Ledbetter, and Abraham Meyers look to make some noise and disrupt a look of offensive schemes this season. They will be joined by LB Gabe Frerichs.
Lincoln
2020 Season: 6-4
It’s a new road the Patriots will walk down, with only 1 offensive player (G Cody Egger) returning this season. The defense will have to carry most of the load until the offense can get a footing, so look for LBs Kobe Lage and Gabe Gutierrez to take a big part in the action. DE Jackson Geerts will also try to hold down the line for Lincoln.
This season could go 2 ways for the Patriots, and it all depends on how fast a brand new offense can learn the game at South Dakota’s toughest level.
THE FIELD
Central
2020 Season: 1-6
It feels rude that both Rapid City schools didn’t receive a vote, but eh, what can you do? If last year was learning year, Central looks to make a couple big upsets this season along the way. But for the Cobblers to succeed, Coach Neal Cruce is hoping a culture change, and the challenge won’t be easy without the talents of graduating players like Micah Swallow.
Sophomore Ryan Wetch is the QB for the new-look Cobblers, while DB Jace Johnson looks to lead the defense. Central will still be young this season, and are hoping to build for the future, but look out for a possible surprise victory against a good team this year.
Stevens
2020 Season: 0-7
There is nowhere to go but up for Stevens.
