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Here are the top varsity football players in South Dakota by class.
11AAA
| Player of the Year | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tate Johnson |
Brandon Valley |
RB |
304 rush, 1,833 yds, 6.0 avg, 22 TD |
Coach Chad Garrow: "Tate has become a mainstay in our offense over the past 2 years. What he lacks in size he makes up for with his heart, physical ability and his overall toughness. His vision, balance and explosiveness make him a dynamic runner between the tackles."
Other Nominees
| Player | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brady Dannenbring |
Sioux Falls Roosevelt |
QB |
183-285 64%, 2,612 yds, 21 TD, 10 INT |
|
Aaron Kusler |
Sioux Falls Roosevelt |
LB |
106 tkls, 7 TFL, 6 sacks, INT; 6 TD |
|
Adam Kusler |
Sioux Falls Roosevelt |
LB |
127 tkls, 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT-TD |
|
Thomas Scholten |
Brandon Valley |
QB |
118-191 62%, 1681 yds, 26 TD, 1 INT |
|
Tommy Thompson |
Sioux Falls Lincoln |
QB |
154-232 66%, 1898 yds, 19 TD, 6 INT, 62 rush, 230 yds, 6 TD |
|
Tate Wishard |
Sioux Falls O'Gorman |
RB |
210 rush, 1,217 yds, 5.8 avg, 24 TD |
11AA
| Player of the Year | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Garrett Stout |
Pierre |
QB/S |
150-231, 2446 yds, 38 TD; 128 rush, 1564 yds, 23 TD; 4 KR TD, 1 INT RET TD |
Pierre Head Coach Steve Steele: "I can’t say enough about Garrett, both as a student-athlete, but also as a human. He’s a special one. He did it all on the field for us, playing WR, QB, CB, FS, holding for kicks, returning kicks and wanting to do even more.
"Off the field, Garrett is a great human. He helps in elementary classrooms and really does a lot to help the youth of our community. He was always at the youth football games supporting the kids and taking pictures with them after games. He truly embraced the call to be a servant leader and was always willing to help anyone in need, even coming to help me setup a swing-set for my son…only to stick around and play with him for another hour afterwards. I am very blessed to have Garrett in this community, as he both represents and serves this community extremely well. There truly are too many stories to tell about how much he means to this community."
Other Nominees
| Player | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regan Bollweg |
Pierre |
TE/DE |
40 rec, 842 yds, 11 TD; 42 tkls, 13.5 sacks, FF |
|
Carter Eidem |
Brookings |
RB |
179 rush, 1,057 yds, 15 TD |
|
Gunnar Gehring |
Pierre |
DL |
70 tkls, 15.5 TFL |
|
River Iverson |
Pierre |
LB |
103 tkls, 7 TFL |
|
Parker Phillips |
Mitchell |
RB |
198 rush, 1,107 yds, 12 TD |
|
Maguire Raske |
Pierre |
RB/LB |
124 rush, 1043 yds, 16 TD; 30 rec, 469 yds, 5 TD |
|
Grey Zabel |
Pierre |
C/DE |
46 tkls, 12 TFL, 9 sacks |
11A
| Player of the Year | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kayden Verley |
Canton |
RB/WR/QB/CB/K/P/KR/PR |
31-57, 419 yds, 6 TD; 204 rush, 1,704 yds, 19 TD; 7 rec, 139 yds; 32 tkls, 6 DEF INT; 47/47 PAT, 39.4 punting avg. |
Coach Rich Lundstrom: "The past three years, Kayden has been our best player at whichever position we put him. He literally does not come off the field. He has incredible feet, great jumping ability, balance, vision, instincts, and good speed. Kayden is hands down the best player I’ve ever coached."
Other Nominees
| Player | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cody Brown |
Madison |
G/DT |
92 tkls, 18 TFL, 6 sacks, FR, FF, 2 blk punts |
|
Haidyn DeJean |
Tea Area |
LB |
79 tkls, 10 TFL, 6 sacks, FR |
|
Logan Ellingson |
Dell Rapids |
WR |
34 rec, 708 yds, 6 TD; 8 rush, 84 yds, TD; 47 tkls, 3 DEF INT, TD |
|
Coby Maeschen |
Dell Rapids |
RB |
106 tkls, TFL, 4 INT; 507 scrimmage yards, 8 TD |
|
Caleb Metcalf |
Lennox |
WR |
49 rec, 916 yds, 8 TD |
|
P.J. Parmalee |
Tea Area |
LB |
83 tkls, 14 TFL, 4.5 sacks, FR |
|
Tyler Tappe |
Madison |
QB |
202-324, 2,227 yds, 18 TD |
11B
| Player of the Year | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jesse Hastings |
Mt. Vernon/Plankinton |
RB/LB |
188 rush, 1,713 yds, 30 TD; Rec TD, KR TD; 3 sacks, 6.5 TFL |
Jesse finished his career with 90 touchdowns, he played 11-man football his last three seasons giving him 75 at that level which is believed to be a state record. Hastings is going on to play at NDSU next season. “Running over somebody is way more fun than sitting there dancing to me. I always say the endzone is on the opposite side not around him,” said Jesse.
Other Nominees
| Player | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brady Hawkins |
Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan |
QB/S |
109 rush, 1,038 yds, 9.5 avg, 15 TD; 38-79, 931 yds, 17 TD; 100 tkls, 6 TFL, 4 DEF INT |
|
Nash Hutmacher |
Chamberlain |
DL/OL |
66 tkls, 1 sack, 4 TFL, 3 FR |
|
Ryder Kirsch |
St. Thomas More |
QB |
123-190, 2,219 yds, 30 TD, 2 INT; 16 rush, 160 yds, 3 TD |
|
Trevor Peters |
Winner |
RB/LB |
167 rush, 1,298 yds, 27 TD; 6 TFL, 6 PBU, 3 INT, 3 FR |
9AA
| Player of the Year | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chase Mason |
Viborg-Hurley |
QB/LB |
165 rush, 1,011 yds, 12 TD; 94-187, 1,565 yds, 14 TD; 71 tkls, 6 INT, 1 sack |
Coach Rob Kessler: "Chase is a kid that has all the attributes that could make him arrogant, but he is one of the humblest kids I’ve ever coached, I’ve never heard him brag about himself once, and this is a rare, very mature quality for a young man of his talent. Chase is a gamer, when the game is on the line, he is not afraid to take it on his back, you seen this in the state championship game. Chase is a lead by example teammate, he never gets in trouble, is always doing the right thing, and on the occasion that he does say something during a game or practice, people listen because they know it must be important."
Other Nominees
| Player | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Matt Amdahl |
Dakota Hills |
RB/LB |
185 rush, 1293 yds, 16 TD; Rec TD, 2-KR TD, 110 tkls, 3 FF, FR, 2 TFL, 3 INT |
|
Josh Crownover |
Bon Homme |
QB/DL |
94-187, 1,565 yds, 14 TD; 165 rush, 1,011 yds, 12 TD; 93.5 tkls, 8 sacks, 2 FR, TD |
|
Carter Hoffman |
Deuel |
RB/DB |
110 rush, 1,191 yds, 15 TD; 22 rec, 470 yds, 6 TD; 3 DEF INT (1 TD), PR TD, KR TD |
|
Cody Thompson |
Lemmon-McIntosh |
QB/DB |
136-250, 2,689 yds, 40 TD; 74 rush, 395 yds, 11 TD |
9A
| Player of the Year | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nick Wittler |
Sully Buttes |
QB/DB |
1,897 yds rushing, 28 TD; 1,721 yds passing, 24 TD; |
Coach Mark Senftner: "Nick put our team in position to be successful. His play calling and ability to make plays were the key to our offensive production."
Other Nominees
| Player | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kaden Eng |
Castlewood |
RB/LB |
100 tkls, 17 TFL, 2 sacks; 34 rush, 293 yds, 4 TD; 24 rec, 308 yds, 7 TD |
|
Stanley Haskins |
Britton-Hecla |
RB/LB |
151 rush, 1,293 yds, 16 TD; 51 tkls, sack, 3.5 TFL; INT TD |
|
Jett Lamb |
Sully Buttes |
OL/DL |
55 tkls, 15 TFL, 4 sacks |
|
Tyce Ortman |
Canistota/Freeman |
RB/DB |
142 rush, 1,465 yds, 18 TD; 25 rec, 330 yds, 6 TD; 62 tkls, 4.5 TFL, 6 INT, 2 TD |
9B
| Player of the Year | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nate Tolley |
Colman-Egan |
QB/DB |
32-51, 583 yds, 15 TD; 128 rush, 1,123 yds, 27 TD; 25 tkls, 7 DEF INT, 2 FR |
Coach Chad Williamson: "Nate is an excellent leader and role model for our football program and our school. Nate really worked hard to improve all his skill sets to become the complete QB that he is. We could have thrown the ball with Nate very successfully 20 times a game but chose not to."
Other Nominees
| Player | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sam Adams |
Harding County |
RB/LB |
146 rush, 1,353 yds, 28 TD; 25 rec, 443 yds, 4 TD; 110 tkls, 12 TFL, 5 FF |
|
Wade Begeman |
Herreid/Selby Area |
QB/DB |
155 rush, 1,402 yds, 16 TD; 47-90, 924 yds, 11 TD; 90 tkls, 9 TFL, 3 FR |
|
Camden Hett |
Harding County |
QB/DB |
92-132, 1,682 yds, 20 TD; 85 rush, 1,123 yds, 15 TD, 5 DEF INT |
|
Brevan Hooks |
Wolsey-Wessington |
DL/TE |
172 tkls, 15.5 sacks |
|
Connor Libis |
DR St. Mary |
QB/DB |
53-88, 910 yds, 17 TD; 106 rush, 632 yds, 17 TD |
|
Clayton Randall II |
Herreid/Selby Area |
RB/LB |
230 rush, 1,823 yds, 25 TD; 7 rec, 239 yds, 3 TD; 98 tkls, 2 FF, 5 INT |
|
Dalton Voelker |
Colman-Egan |
DL/WR |
76 tkls, 6.5 sacks, 3 FR; 7 rec, 193 yds, 4 TD |
|
Skylar Zomer |
Wolsey-Wessington |
QB/DB |
97-158, 1,726 yds, 17 TD; 154 rush, 1,013 yds, 28 TD; 54 tkls, 8 PBU, 3 DEF INT |
All-Nations Conference
| Player of the Year | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mykael Loera-Prado |
Lower Brule |
RB |
118 rush, 2,221 yds, 28 TD; 3 rec TD; 3 DEF INT, 4 FR, 5 FF, 8 RET TD |
Coach Zeke Prado: "Mykael is one of the most explosive players to come out of 9-man football this season. Myke has racked up 2,200 rushing yards and 43 TD’s. His ability to make players miss in the open field, create headaches for defensive coordinators. Myke is not just an athlete but a student athlete. He also spends his free time hanging with the kids at Lower Brule elementary."
Other Nominees
| Player | School | Position | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Riyen Carlow |
Red Cloud |
QB |
1st Team All-Nations QB |
|
Isaiah Sorace |
Crow Creek |
RB |
77 rush, 1,092 yds, 16 TD |
|
Luke Wells |
Crow Creek |
QB |
45-56, 994 yds, 14 TD; 66 tkls, 16 TFL, 3 FR, 4 INT |
Curious who else made the shortlist? Here is a look back the 2019 South Dakota High School Football Player of the Year Contenders.
Filed Under
Football
|
Varsity Sports
|
SD High School