Chamberlain's Nick Claussen named honorable mention in Class 11A list

CHAMBERLAIN -- Chamberlain's Nick Claussen was named to the Class 11A football honorable mention team for the Cubs, who finished the season at 5-5.

Claussen, a junior offensive lineman, helped the Cubs, who fell to Madison in the second round of the playoffs, rush for 352 yards in Chamberlain's 42-16 playoff win over Todd County.

Class 11A champion Dell Rapids highlighted the all-state squad, chosen by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association, placing five players on the team.

Senior running back Riley Schmidt, who rushed for 1,404 yards with an average of 10 yards per carry and scored 19 times from the ground, joined senior teammates fullback Keegan Hemenway, offensive tackle Ben Hammer, defensive back Tanner Ljunggren and long snapper Beau Carpenter on the 11A all-state team.

Matching Dell Rapids with five players named to the all-state team was West Central. The Trojans lost to Dell Rapids in the semifinals this season, but put wide receiver Cody Bussell, offensive tackle Hunter Hanley, defensive end Bryce Edberg, linebacker Jace Hanisch and special teams player Jonah Rechtenbaugh on the all-state roster.

Madison and Hot Springs each had four players named, including a pair of kicking specialists for the Bison. Grant Russell was named all-state kicker by going 35-for-39 in PATs and 7-of-15 in field goals, including a school-record 47-yarder for Hot Springs. He finished his career going 105-for-118 in PATs.

CLASS 11A ALL-STATE TEAM

As chosen by the S.D. Football Coaches Association

Offense

QB - Mitch Hansen, jr., Madison

FB - Keegan Hemenway, sr., Dell Rapids

RB - Riley Schmidt, sr., Dell Rapids

RB - Brodie Frederiksen, jr., Madison

WR - Cody Bussell, sr., West Central

WR - Shilo Tallman, jr., Little Wound

TE - Matt Bunham, sr., Todd County

OT - Hunter Hanley, jr., West Central

OT - Ben Hammer, sr., Dell Rapids

OG - Masen Oltmanns, jr., Lennox

OG - Tyler Clay, sr., Dakota Valley

C - Brandon Joffer, sr., Tea Area

Defense

DE - Dexter Nowstrup, sr., Madison

DE - Bryce Edberg, jr., West Central

DT - Jacob Tarrell, sr., Hot Springs

DT - Joseph Balderas, sr., Cheyenne Eagle Butte

LB - Jace Hanisch, sr., West Central

LB - Mason Hemmer, sr., Madison

LB - Hunter Irvine, sr., Tea Area

LB - Regan Bye, sr., Vermillion

DB - Jordan Fechner, sr., Tea Area

DB - Cole Berkley, sr., Hot Springs

DB - Brady Dam, sr., Dakota Valley

DB - Tanner Ljunggren, sr., Dell Rapids

Special Teams

K - Grant Russell, sr., Hot Springs

P - Jared Harkless, sr., Hot Springs

Player - Jonah Rechtenbaugh, jr., West Central

Long snapper - Beau Carpenter, sr., Dell Rapids

Honorable Mention

Collin McEntee, Lennox; Joe Clairmont, Todd County; Carter Kasuske, Madison; Jase Nelson, Dell Rapids; Riley Jurgensen, Dell Rapids; Reice Tiernan, Dell Rapids; Nick Claussen, Chamberlain; Jake O'Byrne, Belle Fourche; Marcus VandenBosch, Madison; Ben Gillogly, Dell Rapids; Braylan Benoist, Cheyenne-Eagle Butte; Jacob Schreier, Dell Rapids; Bryson Westland, Belle Fourche; Noah Vettrus, West Central; Mike Wagner, West Central.