Why wait until August to start talking High School Football? I'm going to slow-release the goodness of preseason coverage by spreading out my previews from now until the season starts. This week we'll start with the three nine-man classes. Next week we'll talk 11B. The week of July 23rd we'll break down Class 11A. July 30th I'll release my thoughts on Class 11AA and August 6th I'll unveil the season preview for 11AAA.

I'll also bring you an extensive list of players to watch in each class. I'll also rank each and every team in every class complete with my prediction for their record on the season, that should get the conversation started. Remember your opinion matters. I'll take feedback from you on my twitter account before I submit my official rankings vote for the first Media Poll of the year. So let me know what you think!

Class 9B

Let's start by breaking down the top teams in Class 9B. This class has a lot of legitimate title contenders. Level of competition has a lot to do with my rankings, for instance I could see Harding County going unbeaten this year but I don't have them in my preseason top five. Here we go...

1. SULLY BUTTES

Despite an unbeaten regular season last year and the fact that the Chargers have made a couple of trips to the dome this decade they haven’t really been considered favorites to win it all. This year may change. The Chargers are loaded with young talent and skill and have some big boys to control the lines.

IMPACT PLAYERS

Mo Hofer, Nick Wittler, Grant Johnson, MacKenzie Weinheimer, Jett Lamb, Cam Ogle are just a few of the big time players who are ready to take charge of 9B.

KEY GAMES

They start the season on the road against an improved Potter County. Their next big test comes at home on September 14^th, then they finish out the season hosting North Border and Langford then they travel to Faulkton Area to end their challenging schedule.

BOTTOM LINE

The Chargers are loaded straight across the board. They should be able to put together another dominant season and I expect Nick Wittler to emerge as one of the top playmakers in the class. The Chargers should be ready to make a trip back to Vermillion in November, however 9B has a ton of great teams so they’ll need to be at the top of their game in October to make it happen.

PREDICTION

8-0

2. CASTLEWOOD

The Warriors haven’t had this much talent in a while. Last season if it wasn’t for Colman-Egan, Castlewood would’ve gone unbeaten. They lost to them in the regular season and again in the semifinals.

IMPACT PLAYERS

Brandon Benike, the senior quarterback had a breakout year last season and will be back to reload the offense. Their top two rushers are also back this year, Noah Wiersma (756 yds, 12 TD) and Kaden Eng (373 yds, 6 TD) are big threats on any play. Eng and Kyler Tvedt are also standout ball catchers. We also have to mention Kevin Munoz a dynamite defender who was in on 66 tackles and 11 TFL as a sophomore last year.

KEY GAMES

It’s hard not to look ahead to the Colman-Egan game on October 5^th in Castlewood.

 

BOTTOM LINE

The Warriors are possibly the most improved team in the class and will go as far as their awesome passing attack and stout defense will take them.

PREDICTION

8-0

 

3. COLMAN-EGAN

The C-E Hawks are the team with the bullseye on their backs. They’ve won two straight titles with Bodee Groos leading the way. This year they will have to replace some big playmakers but don’t count them out.

IMPACT PLAYERS

Dalton Voelker had a big sophomore season last year and should be a more central force on this offense this year. Alec Landis was named the outstanding lineman during the championship game last year and leads an impressive group up front.

KEY GAMES

The CE Hawks should be the favorites in every game leading up to their game in Castlewood on October 5.

BOTTOM LINE

This team should see steady improvement throughout the year and will be very good defensively. The big question is who will bail them out when they need a big offensive play.

 

PREDICTION

7-1

4. COLOME

Ben Connot is back to lead the Colome Cowboys to a deep playoff run. They return six offensive starters and seven on defense. They lose some key pieces on the line this year. Colome has a lot of starters returning, and they will be relied on for leadership and experience.

IMPACT PLAYERS

Jackson Kinzer will step in at quarterback to lead the Colome offense. He’ll have some firepower with Chase Dufek and Layton Thieman lining up in the backfield. Wyatt Cahoy and Beau Bertram are key members of their speedy defense.

KEY GAMES

The big one on the schedule is Friday October 5^th against Corsica-Stickney. Last year they lost that one and they should be ready for revenge.

BOTTOM LINE

The Cowboys are ready to make some noise in 9B. Two years ago their trip to the dome included many of this year’s seniors, so their experience is something most teams won’t be able to match. They are on that short list of title contenders this year.

PREDICTION

8-0

 

5. FAULKTON AREA

Faulkton's 5-3 record last season was a little deceptive. They lost a heartbreaker at home against 9AA North Border, a close game to unbeaten Sully Buttes and a tough road game to Warner by eight points. They could have very well been undefeated with a few lucky plays. Their season was terminated by the eventual 9B champs, Colman-Egan in the quarters. They lost 8 players to graduation but have a promising group of youngsters ready to take the next step this year.

IMPACT PLAYERS

Derek Heitman comes into this season with a lot more confidence. Last year as a sophomore he threw for 977 yards and 14TDs. He threw five of those scores to Tyler Ogle who is back for his senior season. Plus, Gage Martinmaas will be a junior and ready to tote the ball in the backfield with Ogle. Alex Aesoph sets the tone up front as the leading blocker and returning tackler.

KEY GAMES

Warner, North Border and Sully Buttes are the three teams that beat them last year and those are the three that will make or break the Trojans this year. They have Warner on 8/24, North Border on 9/21 and Sully Buttes on 10/12.

BOTTOM LINE

If this team grows up around Derek Heitman and their passing attack they could be one of the surprise teams in this class. However, a tough schedule is in their way and they’ll have to establish a new running game without Gannon Martinmaas running the ball.

PREDICTION

5-3

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN CLASS 9B

Sam Adams	JR.	Harding County	RB/LB
Alex Aesoph	SR.	Faulkton	C/LB
Zack Anders	JR.	Harding County	WR/DB
Brandon Benike	SR.	Castlewood	QB/DE
Jacob Bielmaier	SR.	Wall	QB/LB
Treyton Bushong	JR.	Faith	QB/DE
Chase Dufek	SR.	Colome	RB/LB
Kaden Eng	JR.	Castlewood	RB/LB
Derek Heitman	SR.	Faulkton Area	QB
Camden Hett	JR.	Harding County	QB/DB
Mo Hofer	SR.	Sully Buttes	RB/LB
Ty Hofer	SR.	Hitchcock-Tulare	RB/LB
Jackson Kinzer	SR.	Colome	QB/DB
Jett Lamb	JR.	Sully Buttes	OL/DL
Alec Landis	SR.	Colman-Egan	OL/DL
Bradan McDonnell	SR.	Wall	TE/LB
Cam Ogle	SR.	Sully Buttes	OL/DL
Tyler Ogle	SR.	Faulkton Area	RB
Lucas Peterson	SR.	Scotland	RB/DB
Caleb Schentzel	SR.	Northwestern
Layton Thieman	SR.	Colome	RB/DB
Dalton Voelker	JR.	Colman-Egan	TE/DL
Mackenzie Weinheimer	SR.	Sully Buttes	RB
Noah Wiersma	SR.	Castlewood	RB/DB
Nick Wittler	JR.	Sully Buttes	WR/DB

JASON ANDERA'S 2018 PROJECTIONS

	CLASS 9B	W	L
1	Sully Buttes	8	0
2	Castlewood	8	0
3	Colman-Egan	7	1
4	Colome	8	0
5	Faulkton Area	5	3
6	Harding County	8	0
7	Wall	8	0
8	Hitchcock-Tulare	5	3
9	Faith	6	2
10	Kadoka Area	4	4
11	Burke/South Central	5	3
12	Northwestern	4	4
13	Scotland	3	5
14	Waverly-South Shore	3	5
15	Langford Area	3	5
16	Sunshine Bible Academy	3	5
17	Bison	4	4
18	Florence/Henry	2	6
19	Gayville-Volin	2	6
20	Dell Rapids St. Mary	1	7
21	Iroquois	1	7
22	Estelline	0	8
23	Centerville	0	8
24	Edgemont	1	7
25	Crazy Horse	0	8