Canistota lands four 9A all-state selections

The Class 9A state champion Canistota Hawks placed four players on the all-state team announced today by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association.

Leading the way for Canistota (11-0), which extended its winning streak to 24 straight games with a 66-6 victory over Wall in the state title game, was junior quarterback Cody Bunger, senior fullback Troy Hofer, senior tight end Trevor Schroeder and junior linebacker Eric Tieszen.

Bunger saved his best game for the DakotaDome. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound first-year starting quarterback amassed 235 total yards and scored five touchdowns against Wall, which placed four on the all-state team. The dual-threat Bunger finished the season with 1,192 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns, while completing 49-of-86 passes for 935 yards and 19 touchdowns with just one interception.

“He stepped into our option offense and has run it like a three-year starter,” Canistota coach Lenny Schroeder said. “He makes very good reads in our triple-option offense. He has the size and speed to cause opposing defenses a lot of problems. When teams start stacking the box, Cody has the arm to get the ball down field with good velocity and accuracy.”

Schroeder was on the receiving end of many of those passes, finishing the season with 25 receptions for 411 yards and 11 touchdowns. His best performance of three catches for 174 yards and three touchdowns came against Wall.

“He has excellent size, speed and hands that make him very difficult to match up with,” Lenny Schroeder said. “A physical edge blocker that allowed us to run our option with a tremendous amount of success over the past three seasons.”

Hofer benefitted from that blocking. The physical ball carrier rushed for 795 yards and 14 touchdowns on 109 carries. He also hauled in four receptions for 64 yards and a score.

Coach Schroeder said Hofer, who finished his career with 2,428 yards and 39 rushing touchdowns, was “one of the most dominant players in 9-man football the past two seasons.”

“He has been a dedicated weight lifter who spends a lot of time preparing his body,” Schroeder said. “He’s a hardnosed punishing blocker. He has very good speed and the ability to run over defenders.”

Tieszen, Canistota’s defensive leader, did his best to slow the opposition. The 17 total tackles the 6-0 190-pounder recorded against Wall pushed his season total to 107 total stops.

“He has a nose for the football,” Schroder said, “and knows what to do when he gets to the ball.”

One of the many ball carriers Canistota’s defense slowed was Wall senior running back Chavis Shull. Shull, who was joined on the all-state team by teammates Laketon McLaughlin at center, senior defensive tackle Jesse Willis and senior linebacker Jess Williams, rushed for 2,042 yards and rolled up 279 yards receiving and 29 total touchdowns.

“He’s an outstanding running back with natural instincts, moves,” Wall coach Dennis Rieckman said. “He worked hard to improve his game during the offseason. He’s an unselfish player and a good leader who has excellent speed and quickness.”

Paving the way for Shull was McLaughlin, who helped the Eagles (11-1) rush for 3,616 yards as a team. Rieckman said the 6-0, 270-pounder has “the natural lineman traits” of “solid, good footwork” and is “strong and quick with decent speed.”

Wall had another good lineman in Willis, who Rieckman said was “very strong and hard to move.” Playing behind Willis at linebacker was Williams. The 5-11, 180-pound senior totaled 250 tackles and scored two defensive touchdowns the last two seasons.

“Jess was the heart and soul of our defense,” Rieckman said. “He has led the team in tackles the past two years. He has a good flow to the ball carrier.”

Hanson placed three on the team with running back Reid Smith, guard Jacob Bartscher and linebacker Jordan Craig. Corsica/Stickney earned selections with wide receiver Ryan Hongslo and guard Myles VanVuuren.

Colman-Egan garnered a pair of picks with defensive end Cory Staab and linebacker Tyson Rosenboom. Hamlin wide receiver Dylan Brugman and punter Tyler Taschner rounded out the schools with two selections.

Completing the team were Wilmot defensive tackle Tyler Anderson, defensive end Bo Mutchelkanus of Wolsey-Wessington, defensive backs Clay Rozell of Warner and Eureka-Bowdle’s Adam Weiszhaar. Special team honors went to Irene-Wakonda long snapper Scott Davis, Philip kicker Chaney Burns and special team player Nick Larson of Herreid-Selby Area.

9A all-state football team

Canistota — Cody Bunger, quarterback; Troy Hofer, fullback; Trevor Schroeder, tight end; Eric Tieszen, linebacker

Colman-Egan — Cory Staab, defensive end; Tyson Rosenboom, linebacker

Corsica/Stickney — Ryan Hongslo, wide receiver; Myles VanVuuren, guard

Eureka-Bowdle — Adam Weiszhaar, defensive back

Hamlin — Dylan Brugman, wide receiver; Tyler Taschner, punter

Hanson — Reid Smith, running back; Jacob Bartscher, guard; Jordan Craig, linebacker

Herreid-Selby Area — Nick Larson, special team player

Irene-Wakonda — Scott Davis, long snapper

Philip — Chaney Burns, kicker

Wall — Chavis Shull, running back; Laketon McLaughlin, center; Jesse Willis, defensive tackle; Jess Williams, linebacker

Warner — Clay Rozell, defensive back

Wolsey-Wessington Springs — Bo Mutchelkanus, defensive end

Wilmot — Tyler Anderson, defensive tackle

Honorable Mention

Arlington — Bradyn Lingbeck; Canistota — Alex Robertson, Nathan Dick; Herreid-Selby Area — Ethan Bohle, Kennedy Kosters; Lyman — Evan Smith; Irene-Wakonda — Luke Schroeder, Dustin Livingston; Philip — Cody Reder; Timber Lake — Cody Kraft; Warner — Jarrod Tuszka; Wilmot — Michael Argo

Tags: all-state, sports, football, canistota, alexandria, fulton, corsica, stickney, lyman, kennebec, presho