Rankings are simply by overall win/loss percentage. Stat leaders are for the top number in each category.
DIVISION 1
#1 South Dakota State (9-3)
Coach Stig is the master of consistency. The Jackrabbits have constantly been at the top of the Missouri Valley, and are nearing a national championship. Not to mention, SDSU played 25 games in 2021, going 19-6 before a national championship game in the spring. Then, in the fall with a new QB, they won 3 road playoff games before losing in the semifinals.
If your the Jackrabbits, you have to look back at season that was excellent, but still felt as though they came up short. For starters, the hail mary that might have cost SDSU 2 or possibly 3 home playoff games. That loss to South Dakota will always hurt a little, but SDSU seemed to get over it rather quickly. The Jackrabbits then ran into the brick wall that was Montana State, but other than that, it was an great season for the Jackrabbits. They took down NDSU, and FBS opponent, Colorado State on the road.
SDSU loses some excellent skilled players, but most State fans will tell you they will be replaced by better skilled players. Look for the Jackrabbits to be back in the semis next year.
Passing Leader: Chris Oladokun (3,164 yards, 25 Touchdowns)
Rushing Leader: Pierre Strong (1,747 yards, 18 Touchdowns)
Receiving Leaders: Jaxon Janke (1,165 yards), Jadon Janke (9 Touchdowns)
Tackles Leader: Adam Bock (125)
Sacks Leader: Caleb Sanders (6.5)
Interceptions Leader: Dalys Beanum (4)
#2 South Dakota (7-5)
A playoff appearance was nice, but I think every USD fan will tell you a Hail Mary victory was the best win in USD history. Beating your rival the last 2 times they have met, with that ending this fall was epic. We heard downtown Vermillion was like Vegas on Nov. 13: as the sun was rising, the USD fans were finally going to bed.
Other than that game, it was a fairly normal season for the Coyotes. If they could have gotten that win against Kansas during Week 1, it would have put the Yotes on the map for many recruits across the country. They also picked up back-to-back victories against #13 North Dakota and #16 Northern Iowa, to go with the win over SDSU.
If your a Yote fan, you can smile when thinking back to this season. After all, it’s a Red State!
Passing Leader: Carson Camp (2,252 yards, 17 Touchdowns)
Rushing Leader: Nate Thomas (726 yards), Travis Theis (8 Touchdowns)
Receiving Leader: Carter Bell (673 yards, 5 Touchdowns)
Tackles Leader: Jack Cochrane (103)
Sacks Leader: Jacob Matthew, Nick Gaes (7)
Interceptions Leader: Jack Cochrane (4)
DIVISION 2
#1 Augustana (9-3)
Augustana was probably the most exciting team to follow in South Dakota this season. The Vikings finished with an NSIC Championship, the first in 62 years. They are also got a home playoff game, took down #23 Wayne State in Wayne during the regular season.
And while this may be the end of the Kyle Saddler-era (38 starts), Coach Olszweski has this program on the way up!
Passing Leader: Kyler Saddler (3,408 yards, 38 Touchdowns)
Rushing Leader: Jarod Epperson (1,051 yards, 6 Touchdowns)
Receiving Leader: Sean Engel (881 yards, 13 Touchdowns)
Tackles Leader: T.J. Liggett (85)
Sacks Leader: Grayson Diepenbrock (7)
Interceptions Leader: Peyton Buckley (5)
#2 Sioux Falls (8-3)
Nothing like winning the key to the city. The Cougars picked up a huge 28-26 victory over Augustana this season, which, like USD, makes any season.
They also picked up a big victory over Wayne State at the end of the season, and a senior day victory over Upper Iowa was a great end to the year. Thuro Reisdorfer was as impressive a running back as any in the NSIC, and Adam Mullen is a solid Quarterback who only completed his Redshirt Freshman season.
Passing Leader: Adam Mullen (2,103 yards, 16 Touchdowns)
Rushing Leader: Thuro Reisdorfer (1,114 yards, 10 Touchdowns)
Receiving Leader: Dominic Pegley (661 yards, 6 Touchdowns)
Tackles Leader: Cody Jantzen (55)
Sacks Leader: Joey Wehrkamp (9.5)
Interceptions Leader: Carter Lohr (3)
#3 Northern State (7-4)
The Wolves opened up the brand new Dacotah Bank Stadium, which is an absolutely beautiful facility. Northern State is sure to fill the stadium this season!
NSU’s highlight this season was a big 41-10 Ag Bowl victory over USF, and the Wolves nearly upset #2 Minnesota State in the first game of the season. Hunter Trautman highlighted a solid offense, and was as good a quarterback as any in the NSIC.
Passing Leader: Hunter Trautman (3,456 yards, 37 Touchdowns)
Rushing Leader: Brett Benton (545 yards, 5 Touchdowns)
Receiving Leader: Dewaylon Ingram (1,161 yards, 14 Touchdowns)
Tackles Leader: Brennan Kutterer (94)
Sacks Leader: Luke Chuol (3.5)
Interceptions Leader: Chance Olson (7)
#4 South Dakota Mines (6-5)
Another team who won a big rivalry game this season. Coach Flor (1st season) and the Hardrockers tooks down BHSU 13-10 in the Black Hills Brawl. Jayden Johannsen, a transfer from NDSU, was a great dual-threat option this season. He’s only a Redshirt-Freshman, so keep a watch for him this season.
Passing Leader: Jayden Johannsen (2,059 yards, 15 Touchdowns)
Rushing Leader: Jayden Johannsen (559 yards, 8 Touchdowns)
Receiving Leader: Jeremiah Bridges (606 yards, 6 Touchdowns)
Tackles Leader: Kyante Christian (70)
Sacks Leader: Kyante Christian, Gavin Chaddock (7.5)
Interceptions Leader: Kaleb Tischer (5)
#5 Black Hills State (4-7)
They started the season 4-1, but struggled down the stretch against a couple of good teams. They won the Beef Bowl against Adams State though, so we will count that as the highlight of the year. Plus, they have probably one of the coolest color schemes in the state!
Passing Leader: Chane Eben (1,589 yards, 14 Touchdowns)
Rushing Leader: Matthew Collier (916 yards), Chance Eben (5 Touchdowns)
Receiving Leader: Connor Boyd (386 yards), Kielar Harpham (5 Touchdowns)
Tackles Leader: Doddle Quinones (100)
Sacks Leader: Jarrell Ganaway (6.5)
Interceptions Leader: 7 Tied (1)
NAIA
#1 Dakota State (6-4)
A team that many felt exceed expectations this season, they picked up a huge 6-0 win against Dakota Wesleyan to start the season, and another against Presentation. Therefore, they are the South Dakota NAIA Champions!
You can also count a victory as a #15 Valley City State as a highlight, and they held 6 opponents to 20 points or less this season. Noah Guse was the leader of that strong defense, pulling down an incredible 8 interceptions.
Passing Leader: Zach Books (747 yards, 6 Touchdowns)
Rushing Leader: Brenner Furlong (319 yards, 3 Touchdowns)
Receiving Leader: Dajshon Keel (377 yards, 3 Touchdowns)
Tackles Leader: Gustavo Bonilla (84)
Sacks Leader: Devonte Murphy (4)
Interceptions Leader: Noah Guse (8)
#2 Dakota Wesleyan (4-7)
A tough loss to start the season against Dakota State seemed as though it would hold the Tigers back, but they picked up a big win on the road against new rival Mount Marty the next week. They also defeated Hastings, Doane and Jamestown, while playing in one of the toughest NAIA conferences in the country.
Passing Leader: Kiel Nelson (1,093 yards, 6 Touchdowns)
Rushing Leader: Jamin Arend (895 yards, 5 Touchdowns)
Receiving Leader: Jakob Oxos (388 yards, 4 Touchdowns)
Tackles Leader: Cody Reichelt (66)
Sacks Leader: Cody Reichelt (7)
Interceptions Leader: 5 Tied (1)
All-Conference: Cody Reichelt LB (SR), TJ Benton OL (JR), Dominick Warmbein DL (SR), Daniel Libolt (PRS), Sam Kretschmar LB
#3 Mount Marty (0-10)
While universities across the country are dropping football, the small NAIA school in Yankton though big and added the sport. The Lancers, though winless, had 4 All-Conference players in Dylan Capps (Linebacker), Jonah Miyazawa (Wide Receiver), Kiko Nunez (Offensive Line), and Johnny Cardoza-Chicas (Punter). Nunez, a transfer from Air Force, looks to be a leader in the trenches for the Lancers for the next couple of seasons, while Capps is one of the hardest hitters in the GPAC. Not to mention, with Miyazawa and Yankton native Rex Ryken headlining the receiver corp, the ceiling for the Lancers is only up.
Mount Marty will play in a huge game on August 25th against Presentation to kick off next college football season.
Passing Leader: Torren Devericks (1,360 yards, 10 Touchdowns)
Rushing Leader: Ka’ua Nishigaya (645 yards, 2 Touchdowns)
Receiving Leaders: Rex Ryken (605 yards), Jonah Miyazawa (10 Touchdowns)
Tackles Leader: Jaren Mortensen (72)
Sacks Leader: Tevita Tomasi (3)
Interceptions Leader: Braden Swan (3)
#4 Presentation (0-11)
Simply put, this was not the season that Presentation wanted. They didn’t back down from a tough schedule, playing 3 ranked teams this year, including a non-conference bout against #2 Northwestern to start the year. Playing games like that only provide a team an opportunity to get better.
Passing Leaders: Tim Evitt (709 yards), Hunter Giffrow (4 Touchdowns)
Rushing Leader: Innocent Okoh (845 yards, 9 Touchdowns)
Receiving Leader: Cameron Sheppard (434 yards, 2 Touchdowns), Marshal Chace (403 yards, 2 Touchdowns)
Tackles Leader: Braxton Bates (60)
Sacks Leader: Sam Motzkus, George Jones (3)
Interceptions Leader: Anthony Lawson, Tristan Lewis (2)
