Lyman center Skyler Eriksen helped lead the Raiders to the state semifinal game for the second straight year and was one of three Raider players picked for the state Class 9AA all-state team as selected by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association.

Eriksen finished his senior season with 128 tackles, including 15 for a loss, and four sacks.

Tight end Shae McClanahan caught 23 passes for 515 yards and 11 touchdowns. Linebacker Reed Reuman helped anchor the Raider defense and finished his senior year with 114 tackles, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Another western South Dakota player, Casey Cvach of Philip, was the special teams player.

Howard made the transition from 11- to 9-man football look easy and seamless. The Tigers finished the season 11-1, won the 9AA title and landed four athletes on the all-state team. Runner-up Emery/Ethan also had four players make the all-state squad and Herreid/Selby Area had three nominees. Chester and Langford/Roslyn each had two athletes on the all-state team.

For Howard, fullback Dan Noonan had 1,384 yards and 25 touchdowns. Guard Bradyn Neises, a 5-foot-9 senior, helped anchor the Howard offensive line.

Tackle Alan Kramer and defensive end Zach Torkelson helped lead the Howard defense. Kramer finished his junior year with 74 tackles and three sacks, and Torkelson, a senior, added 71 tackles and five sacks.

The Seahawks made the state title game for the second time in three years thanks in part to big runs from Jordon Connor and solid play by the offensive and defensive lines. Connor, a junior running back, finished with 1,673 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Guard Matt Tuttle blocked for an offense that rushed for more than 3,200 yards this season.

Emery/Ethan’s defensive line was able to stifle its opponents’ offenses, and linebacker Tim Olinger and tackle Brandon Berg played a big part. Olinger finished the year with 150 tackles. Berg averaged eight tackles per game.

Hurley/Marion running back Brad Tunge capped off his career with the Cobras with 1,494 yards in his senior year.

Chester twins Drew and Dylan Kreutzfeldt were both named to the all-state team. Drew was named an all-state quarterback for the second straight year. He finished  103-for-171 passing for 1,726 yards. He also ran for 821 yards and finished the year with 2,547 yards of total offense along with 32 touchdowns. Dylan had 40 catches for 501 yards and seven touchdowns as a wide receiver and also ran for 833 yards.

Elkton receiver Austin Farnham had 15 catches for 245 yards to go along with 43 carries for 251 rushing yards.

Canistota/Bridgewater junior Sam Jolley was named one of the all-state defensive backs. He had 88 tackles to go with four interceptions, including one for a touchdown. Hamlin junior Dominik Namken was the other defensive back with 91 tackles and

11 interceptions.

Also on the defense, Herreid/Selby Area’s Clint Huber was named an all-state linebacker. He accumulated 48 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He is joined by Langford/Roslyn’s Michael Alberts, who had 98 tackles and two sacks.

Sheldon Weisbeck, of Herreid-Selby Area, was named a defensive end. He had 54 tackles and five sacks.