Class 9B Outlook: Week 0 – Digital Z Sports

#1 St. Mary Cardinals

Last Season: 8-3, Champions

WEEK 0 RESULT: W 52-20 vs Waverly-South Shore

Last year’s championship was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever been to, and it was nice to see the Cardinals complete a redemption arc after losing the title in 2021. However this year, they are the favorites and all eyes are on them.

It’s worth noting that St. Mary is losing All-Staters in DB Ty Brown and OL John Pica, but Nick Gasper and Gabriel Lindeman are back from the All-State list. Those two are really solid players, and I think the Cardinals have some nice talent surrounding them.

This is a stacked class, and getting back to the Dome for a third straight year is going to be tough, but I think their next three games against Hamlin, De Smet and Castle will be good tests to prepare them for the journey.

NEXT GAME: @ #5 Hamlin

#2 Herreid/Selby Area Wolverines

Last Season: 12-1, Runner-Ups (A)

WEEK 0 RESULT: DNP

The Wolverines’ offense might be the most dangerous in 9B.

QB Trey Hettick returns this season after throwing for 1,732 yards and 27 touchdowns. H/SA is also returning a beast in 9A Player of the Year, Brenden Bregeman. The two-way star rushed for 1,720 yards and 24 touchdowns, while catching 34 passes for 570 yards and 9 touchdowns. HE ALSO HAD 12 INTERCEPTIONS and 54 tackles on defense. Those are ridiculous video game numbers.

Linebacker duo Collin Tisdall (88 tackles, 14 TFL, 4 sacks) and Nathan Bradford (46 tackles) are also back after solid 2021 seasons. You put all these guys together, and you have a team that has a great shot of avenging last season’s loss in Vermillion to Howard.

NEXT GAME: @ RV Timber Lake

#3 Avon Pirates

Last Season: 10-1, Semifinals

WEEK 0 RESULT: W 30-6 @ Colome

Avon picked up a solid first win against Colome after losing QB Riley Rucktaeschel and TE Lincoln Thury. New QB Paxton Bierma rushed for three touchdowns, while Cade Faulkner scored one himself. They also have All-Staters in Kley Heumiller and Brady Bierema returning, and a pretty solid defense that played well in Friday’s game. Huemiller highlighted that defense on Friday, making two sacks, forcing a fumble and blocking a punt!

Avon is historically a pretty solid team, and though they are losing some good players, I don’t think this team is going to miss a beat as one of the best teams in the class.

NEXT GAME: vs Burke

#4 De Smet Bulldogs

Last Season: 10-1, Semifinals (A)

WEEK 0 RESULT: L 20-14 @ Castlewood

Early season losses against good teams happen, that’s just the way sports work. Therefore, don’t sleep on this Bulldogs team, as they have some really good talent on both sides of the ball

Kadyn Fast and Trace VanRegenmorter both scored a touchdown, while Noah Harrison had an interception. They also have Damion Wilkinson on the line who made 7 sacks last season. All those guys could be big play makers, and they will have more opportunities to play great teams like St.Mary (9/2), Wolsey-Wessington (9/16) and Hitchcock-Tulare (10/7).

NEXT GAME: vs Stanley County

#5 Hitchcock-Tulare Patriots

Last Season: 7-4, Quarterfinals

WEEK 0 RESULT: W 54-0 vs Northwestern

Erik Salmen might be the hardest hitting running back in this class, and that toughness is going to show this season. He finished with 3 touchdowns, 7 total tackles and an interception in Friday’s win over Northwestern. QB Carter Binger also threw for a trio of scores and 198 yards, with two of those touchdowns going to Landon Puffer.

Defensively, TJ Salmen made a sack and two fumble recoveries, which were part of four turnovers the Patriots forced. They have a good test against Faulkton Area this upcoming week, and I think this is a team that you need to watch out for at the end of the season.

NEXT GAME: @ RV Faulkton Area

RECEIVING VOTES

Faulkton Area Trojans

Last Season: 8-3, Semifinals

WEEK 0 RESULT: L 50-20 @ Ipswich

The Trojans are losing their QB, top rusher, and top receiver from last season, and when you are replacing that much talent, early season losses happen. Faulkton Area will have no time to relax, however, as Hitchcock-Tulare and defending state runner-up, Potter County, are the next two games on the schedule.

Garrett Cramer will look to lead the way, after finishing with 11 touchdowns and 610 yards last season. He had a touchdown in Friday night’s loss, while Layne Cotton threw for 133 yards and a touchdown. Roman Dimaria also had a pair of touchdowns last week after totaling 600+ yards and 6 touchdowns in 2021. All those guys will be key parts of the season this year for the Trojans, and I think this team will only continue to improve as they transition from last year’s squad.

NEXT GAME: vs #5 Hitchcock-Tulare

Lemmon/McIntosh Cowboys

Last Season: 4-5, 1st Round (AA)

WEEK 0 RESULT: L 23-0 vs Timber Lake

Sawyer Thompson is back after throwing for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, but the Cowboys are losing their top rusher and top three receivers from last fall.

Again, it’s tough to make those adjustments quickly, but there was definitely some highlights on Friday. Emmitt Maher made 12 tackles while Andrew Dirk (9.5 tackles) and Trevor Ellingson (9 tackles) both had solid days.

The Cowboys will play Dupree before tough back-to-back tests against Herreid/Selby Area and Harding County-Bison.

NEXT GAME: @ Dupree

Potter County Battlers

Last Season: 10-3, Runner-Ups

WEEK 0 RESULT: W 54-28 @ Newell

The Battlers made a great run to the Dome last season, and although they are losing some really good players, I think that Battlers are still a good team. Returning All-State TE/LB Alex Tanner and company are going to have a tough road ahead after a nice week one win, as Sully Buttes, Faulkton Area and Warner are all on the schedule over the next few weeks.

NEXT GAME: @ RV Sully Buttes

Sully Buttes Chargers

Last Season: 4-5, 1st Round

WEEK 0 RESULT: W 16-6 @ Stanley County

The defense was really good for the Chargers last Friday, holding Stanley County scoreless for 3 1/2 quarters. Winning those defensive battles is a really good note for a team, and that can only improve confidence as the the offense continues to develop throughout the year.

The Chargers are going to now face a defending runner-up Potter County. That game plus a strong end of season schedule with H-SA, Lyman and Corsica-Stickney is going to help prepare this team for the playoffs.

NEXT GAME: vs RV Potter County

Kadoka Area Kougars

Last Season: 5-4, 1st Round (A)

WEEK 0 RESULT: W 38-0 vs White River

Watching them on Thursday, I thought Kadoka Area’s run game look really strong. They were breaking tackles all over the place and a strong defense made their toughness really show.

They are going to need to continue that toughness for this next stretch of games against Harding County-Bison, Lyman and Wall. And if they can keep playing that way for during the next couple of weeks, this team is going to be well poised for a deeper playoff run.

NEXT GAME: vs #3 Harding County-Bison

THE FIELD

Gayville-Volin Raiders

Last Season: 6-3, Quarterfinals

WEEK 0 RESULT: L 20-12 @ Corsica-Stickney

QB Spencer Karstens threw for 161 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Corsica-Stickney. The Raiders are now looking to move on from the tough loss, as they get ready to travel to Colome.

NEXT GAME: @ Colome

New Underwood Tigers

Last Season: 3-5, 1st Round

WEEK 0 RESULT: L 64-12 vs Harding County-Bison

The schedule isn’t getting easier for New Underwood, as they now have Lyman and rival Wall in the next two weeks. QB Cole Knuppe will look to lead the Tigers after playing well in Thursday’s loss, completing 9 of 15 passes for 109 yards and two scores.

NEXT GAME: vs RV Lyman

Faith Longhorns

Last Season: 3-6, 1st Round

WEEK 0 RESULT: W 14-13 vs Dupree

Faith came out the victors in probably the most exciting game from the first week. The Longhorns were down 13-0 with just six minutes to go, taking the lead on a pass from Jess Harper to Caden Shelby. The defense held up admirably, giving up just two scores and coming up with the late interception. That next-give-up mindset is what you need in a football team.

Faith now hosts Newell after a long week of rest, and could really have some momentum going into a road game at Harding County-Bison.

NEXT GAME: vs Newell

Corsica-Stickney Jaguars

Last Season: 2-7, 1st Round

WEEK 0 RESULT: W 20-12 @ Gayville-Volin

The Jaguars got a big win on the road last Friday, with Caleb Baumiller, Waylon Bolle and Carter Wright each crossing the goal line. Now, Corsica-Stickney hopes to carry that momentum into next week against Alcester-Hudson.

NEXT GAME: vs Alcester-Hudson

Langford Area Lions

Last Season: 1-8, 1st Round

WEEK 0 RESULT: L 50-0 @ Leola/Frederick Area

The Lions have a tough stretch of games ahead, with Ipswich, Sully Buttes, Faulkton Area, and Potter County up ahead.

NEXT GAME: vs RV Ipswich

Jones County Cowboys

Last Season: 1-8, 1st Round

WEEK 0 RESULT: L 58-8 vs Lyman

The Cowboys are about to about to enter their most favorable part of their schedule, with the opportunity to improve on last year’s record. Kaden Kinsley will help lead the way after throwing for 164 yards and a touchdown, while Cooper Fedderson caught that touchdown pass along with 121 yards.

NEXT GAME: @ Sunshine Bible Academy

Colome Cowboys

Last Season: 1-8, 1st Round

WEEK 0 RESULT: L 30-6 vs Avon

The Cowboys had some highlights this Friday, including Eli Vobr scoring a touchdown and making an interception on defense. Colome’s showed some improvements from the offseason, and I think they will surely improve on 2021’s records.

NEXT GAME: vs Gayville-Volin

Irene-Wakonda Eagles

Last Season: 0-8 (A)

WEEK 0 RESULT: L 43-28 @ Canistota

I was very impressed by the Eagles this week. It could be easy to look at last season, and have a team like Canistota listed on the schedule and just, well, not play aggressively. The Eagles didn’t take that route, however, and had a really solid game.

QB Dashell Spurell rushed for two touchdowns, while RB Chase Dahlreup scored a pair of touchdowns as well. Dahlreup only had 1 touchdown last season, while Spurell had nearly 1,000 yards of offense, so it’s nice to see the Eagles added another piece to the offense.

Overall, this was a good confidence booster for a team that is definitely going to improve on last season’s record.

NEXT GAME: vs #4 Hanson

Sunshine Bible Academy Crusaders