After winning the state title for the first time since 2014, the Howard Tigers had five players named to the Class 9A high school football all-state team, as selected by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association.
Howard, fellow state finalist Herreid/Selby Area and semifinalists DeSmet and Wall — all of which were undefeated entering the state semifinals — each had five selections to lead the team and accounted for 20 of the 28 selections, including all but one on the offensive side of the ball. Castlewood was the only other team to have multiple honorees with two.
Carson Kirwan (Castlewood), Ty Beyer (Howard), Cedar Amiotte (Wall) and Blair Blasius (Wall) repeat as Class 9A all-state selections, as a quartet of Herreid/Selby Area players — Brenden Begeman, Chance Gregg, Trevor Sayler and Trey Sayler — as well as Wolsey-Wessington’s Marrion Gohn were Class 9B all-state honorees a season ago and made their way onto the Class 9A roster this season.
Ty Beyer was named the Class 9A team’s All-American and slotted in at linebacker just as he did a season ago, but his impact wasn’t limited to the defensive side for Howard. The senior set the Tigers’ single-season record with 158 tackles (115 solo) and had one interception, adding more than 1,000 yards of offense and 12 touchdowns.
“[Ty’s] our best player at linebacker and running back,” said Howard coach Pat Ruml. “He was a tenacious hitter on defense and lead blocker on offense.”
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Backfield mate and fellow senior John Callies is classified as a “workhorse and a leader of our team” by Ruml for the past two seasons. Callies churned out more than 1,150 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns and was named most valuable player and most outstanding back in the state title game.
Paving the way for the likes of Callies and Beyer, junior Kaden Hofer was chosen to occupy one of the offensive lineman positions. Hofer and the Howard line helped the Tigers rush for more than 3,900 yards this season.
“Kaden is our best interior offensive lineman,” Ruml said. “We ran behind him and [Jace] Sifore 75% of the year.”
When Sifore, the all-state tight end, wasn’t serving as a blocker in the rushing attack, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound South Dakota State football commit was busy turning nearly every other reception into six points. Sifore caught 19 passes for 433 yards and nine touchdowns.
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“[Jace is] just a great blocker and catches the ball with such ease,” Ruml said. “He has great agility for a big man, played center last season and moved to tight end this year.”
Atticus Darnell rounded out the Howard selections, joining Beyer on defense as a defensive lineman. Darnell, a junior, had 72 tackles, seven sacks and three fumble recoveries this season.
“Atticus dominated his side of the ball,” Ruml said. “He's an option destroyer. Most teams ran his way, away from Sifore, and he made the plays.”
Burke senior Taron Serr, an honorable mention all-state player a season ago, was named to the team this season as an offensive athlete. Serr had 123 carries for 791 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns and totaled 18 touchdowns in all.
Area honorable mention players in Class 9A included Burke senior Bryce Frank and Gregory junior Kade Stukel.
