Five Bobcats, including Player of the Year Parker Beers, highlight the 2018 All-Register Football Team.
Beers is a repeat selection. He is joined by fellow seniors Tucker Christie, Justin Devine and Jay Szafryk and junior Gus Miller.
Brookings finished the season with a 6-5 record, beating Mitchell 17-7 in the Class 11AA quarterfinals before falling 40-7 at top-seeded and eventual-champion Pierre in the semis.
Eight schools were represented on the All-Register squad.
Arlington/Lake Preston had three honorees, and Sioux Valley and Colman-Egan both had two.
Badger seniors Devon Heuer and Tyler Jensen are two-time honorees. Gavin Holland also made the team.
ALP won the Dakota Valley Conference title with an 8-0 record and earned the No. 2 seed in the Class 9AA Playoffs. The Badgers beat Elkton-Lake Benton 55-20 in the first round but fell 29-0 to Kimball/White Lake in the quarterfinals.
The Cossacks were represented by seniors Brayden Havrevold and Isaac Mittan.
Sioux Valley went 4-4 in the regular season before dropping a 54-14 game to No. 1 Canton in the first round of the Class 11B Playoffs.
The Hawks’ Alec Landis, a senior, is on the squad for a second year in a row. He is joined by teammate Chase Hemmer.
Colman-Egan ended up 6-2 in the regular season to tie for second in the DVC standings. The defending Class 9B state champs opened the postseason with a 60-10 defeat of Bison but fell 58-8 at eventual-champion Colome in the quarters. The Hawks were 9A champs in 2016.
Also earning All-Register honors for the second time were Deubrook Area senior Clayton Koppatschek and Elkton-Lake Benton senior Taryn Krog.
The Dolphins and Elks both went 5-3 in DVC play to tie for fourth.
Deubrook dropped a 73-36 home game to eventual-finalist Howard in the first round in Class 9A. ELB fell 55-20 at ALP in the 9AA opener.
Taylor Hojer of Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (1-7) and Nate Kneebone of Flandreau (0-8) round out the All-Register team.
The 16-player squad was again dominated by upperclassmen, with 13 seniors and three juniors.
Landis (Class 9B) and Hojer (Class 9A) made All-State teams, while Hemmer (9B) and Koppatschek (9A) were honorable mentions. Keep an eye on the Register in the coming week to see what other area players are honored.
Parker Beers – RB Brookings
Sr., 5-8, 166
The Player of the Year is on the All-Register team for the second year in a row.
He was a two-time All-Eastern South Dakota Conference selection at running back.
Beers, a team captain, earned Academic All-State honors in 2018.
He was an All-State honorable mention last year.
For more on Beers, See Page 14.
Tucker Christie – OG Brookings
Sr., 6-1, 264
Christie was a key part of the offensive line, which helped the Bobcats gain more than 3,000 yards of offense this season.
“Tucker has been a three-year starter for the Bobcats,” said BHS coach Lee Schmidt. “He made great strides this year as an offensive lineman. His leadership on and off the field made a difference in the success of the 2018 football season and was recognized by other coaches around the state.
“Tucker is a three-sport athlete, a 2018 team captain and unit leader, and participated every summer in our youth camps.”
He was an All-ESD offensive guard.
In addition to excelling on the field, Christie was honored on the Academic All-State squad.
Justin Devine – DB Brookings
Sr., 5-10, 172
The senior made an impact defensively, offensively and on special teams for the Bobcats.
Devine recorded 49 tackles, including 25 solo stops, nine pass breakups and a pair of interceptions on defense.
He rushed the ball 48 times for 266 yards – a 6.4 average – and found the end zone five times.
He averaged 20.3 yards on 19 kick returns.
Devine was 22-of-24 on PAT kicks and 3-of-5 on field goals. He recorded seven touchbacks on kickoffs.
“Justin is that one player who is asked to do everything for his team and he delivers,” said Schmidt. “As a two-year starter and three-year player for the Bobcats, he accomplished a great deal as a student athlete.
“Justin proved himself a leader on the field and in the classroom. He was a team captain and unit leader, and Academic All-State.”
He was an All-ESD cornerback.
Devine finished his career with 108 tackles, 15 PBUs and three INTs. He ran for 513 yards and seven TDs and averaged 19.1 yards on 33 kick returns. He ended up 31-of-37 on PATs and 4-of-8 on FGs.
Brayden Havrevold – OL/DE Sioux Valley
Sr., 6-2, 240
The two-time All-Big East Conference pick contributed on both sides of the ball for the Cossacks.
He recorded a team-high 72 tackles.
“He worked hard in the weight room throughout his career,” said Sioux Valley coach Dan Hughes. “He was voted by his teammates at the 2017 Lifter of the Year and the 2018 Lineman of the Year.”
Havrevold was a Class 11B All-State honorable mention as a junior.
Chase Hemmer – DB Colman-Egan
Jr., 5-10, 155
Hemmer contributed in all three phases for the Hawks.
He was a Class 9B All-State honorable mention defensive back for the second consecutive season and earned All-DVC recognition.
Hemmer recorded 56 tackles, three interceptions and one fumble recovery this year.
He rushed for 292 yards and four touchdowns and picked up another 417 yards and four TDs on receptions.
He totaled 479 return yards.
“Chase is a very tough, reliable player committed to bettering himself and his team,” said CE coach Chad Williamson.
Hemmer has 110 career tackles.
Devon Heuer – QB/DB Arlington/Lake Preston
Sr., 6-1, 185
Heuer capped a standout career by being voted Dakota Valley Conference MVP and leading the Badgers to an 8-0 regular season.
The two-time All-Register pick had a hand in 25 touchdowns.
Heuer rushed for 846 yards – averaging nine yards per carry – and 15 TDs while throwing for 882 yards with seven scores.
On defense, he made 49 tackles, picked off five passes and recovered a fumble. Heuer had three pick-sixes.
“He is a tremendous leader!” said ALP coach Steve Gilbertson. “He is very passionate about being the best he can be. He is a physical and instinctive player, and plays the game the right way.”
Heuer was an Academic All-State honoree.
He had a hand in 34 touchdowns last season.
The two-time All-DVC selection and three-year starter finished his career with 2,130 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns to go with 1,814 passing yards and 15 TDs. He recorded 128 tackles and eight picks.
Taylor Hojer – DE Oldham-Ramona/Rutland
Sr., 6-2, 238
Hojer was a Class 9A All-State defensive end and was also honored on the Academic All-State team.
He recorded 65 tackles, including 21 for loss with seven sacks. He forced four fumbles and recovered four fumbles and blocked a punt.
“Taylor gave his best effort every down and caused problems for every team we faced,” said ORR coach Brady Clark. “We moved Taylor everywhere on the field – QB, LB, RB, TE, G, NT, FB – and he would give us another weapon at that position. He was an invaluable player for our football team, a great leader, and one of the smartest football players I have ever coached.”
Hojer had 11 receptions for 93 yards and a pair of touchdowns while rushing 17 times for 38 yards and four scores. He completed three passes for 15 yards and had a two-point conversion toss.
Hojer earned a spot on the All-DVC squad.
Gavin Holland – RB Arlington/Lake Preston
Jr., 5-8, 185
The junior picked up 1,008 yards on 96 rushes – a 10.5 average – and scored 12 touchdowns.
“Gavin is a punishing runner with speed and strength, which make him a very dangerous threat,” said Gilbertson. “He is a very dedicated player who loves the weight room.”
Holland earned All-DVC recognition.
He added 15 receptions for 174 yards. At linebacker, Holland made 52 tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered one fumble.
Tyler Jensen – OG/DT Arlington/Lake Preston
Sr., 6-5, 265
The repeat All-Register selection was a force on both lines for the Badgers.
“Tyler is a team leader and a consummate team player,” said Gilbertson. “He was a guy we could always count on and extremely coachable.”
Jensen was the leader of the offensive line, which paved the way for an offense that picked up 4,256 yards on the season.
Defensively, he made 45 tackles, including 10 for loss and four sacks.
Jensen was a three-time All-DVC pick. He was a Class 9AA All-State honorable mention in 2017.
Nate Kneebone – DB Flandreau
Sr., 6-4, 185
Kneebone had a solid year for the Fliers.
He recorded 100 tackles – tied for the seventh most in a season in school history – intercepted a pass and forced a fumble.
On offense, he had 29 receptions for 354 yards – the ninth-highest mark in a season in school history – and four touchdowns and ran eight times for 83 yards and a TD.
“Nate was by far the most dynamic player we had,” said Flandreau coach Derek Genzlinger. “His work ethic and high football IQ will be greatly missed next year.”
Kneebone finished fourth in school history in career receptions (38) and seventh in career receiving yards (468). He ended up with 172 tackles.
Kneebone was an All-BEC selection.
He also earned Academic All-State honors.
Clayton Koppatschek – U Deubrook Area
Sr., 5-10, 175
The speedster is back on the All-Register team for a second time.
He was a two-time Class 9A All-State honorable mention and All-DVC performer.
Koppatschek led the Dolphins with 1,051 rushing yards in 2018, as he scored 12 touchdowns. He also had team-high totals of 13 catches and 245 receiving yards – an 18.8 average – while adding one TD.
He threw for 125 yards.
Koppatschek averaged 25 yards per kick return with a TD and 24.2 yards per punt return with one score.
Defensively, he had 72 tackles, including three sacks, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
“Clayton led the way to a 5-3 record and a return to the playoffs for Deubrook for the first time is four years,” said Deubrook coach Tim Cariveau. “He played all over the field – QB, WR, RB, TE – as the year progressed. Defensively, his primary position was outside linebacker. It was a similar story on defense, playing everywhere but the interior D-line.
“He is an excellent athlete and extremely explosive as his stats will attest, but what separates Clayton is his leadership. He has earned everything he has achieved by hard work, dedication and sacrifice, setting an outstanding example.”
Koppatschek was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter.
He ended up with 1,711 rushing yards, 615 yards on 49 receptions and 465 passing yards. He scored 20 rushing touchdowns, caught five TD passes and threw for threw for three more, and had two punt returns and one kick return for TDs to go with a pick-six.
Koppatschek earned Academic All-State honors.
Taryn Krog – LB Elkton-Lake Benton
Sr., 6-2, 191
Krog had 65 solo tackles and 67 assists as he accounted for nearly 30 percent of the Elks’ stops on defense. He also recorded six sacks.
“As you can see, he was most of our defense and in on most offense,” said ELB coach Tal Farnham. “He played a little tight end early in the year and mostly guard as we needed him there and was uncovered a few times where we got him the ball. He has played fullback, running back and wide out in his career.”
Krog is a repeat selection to the All-Register team. He was an All-DVC pick and voted the Elks’ Team MVP in 2018.
He caught a touchdown pass in his senior campaign.
“We had most of our success running the ball to his side,” added Farnham. “Taryn also played on all special teams. He is a very tough kid that can play with pain. He came out only a few times. He can play any position needed an is an all-around leader and player.
“Taryn is a smart player you can put anywhere on the field and he will have success.”
Alec Landis – OG/NT Colman-Egan
Sr., 6-2, 260
The Outstanding Lineman in last year’s 9B final earned All-Register honors for the second year in a row.
He was also on the Class 9B All-State team for the second consecutive time.
“Alec was a major force defensively, where teams had to game plan for him,” said Williamson. “He recorded 80 tackles from the nose tackle position where he was double teamed the majority of plays.”
Landis intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards to paydirt. He also had one sack.
“He also played guard on an offense that rushed for more that 2,500 yards this season,” added Williamson. “Alec has been a major cornerstone of our program for three years by leading with his dedication and commitment to our program to make himself and all of his teammates better.
“He is also a very selfless individual that definitely puts his team before himself.”
He started on both sides of the ball the last three years as the Hawks compiled a 30-4 record and won a pair of state championships.
Landis was an All-DVC performer.
Gus Miller – DE/OT Brookings
Jr., 6-2, 245
Miller totaled 45 tackles, including five for loss and two sacks.
He was also another key piece of the Bobcats’ offensive line that helped Brookings total more than 3,000 yards of offense.
“Gus has been a mainstay of both our offensive and defensive lines the past two seasons,” said Schmidt. “He is our only full-time two-way player and we was outstanding on both sides of the ball.
“Gus will be our leader next season and we will be building our offensive and defensive lines around him.
“He was a unit leader as a junior. The three-sport athlete is one of the hardest working athletes we have on our team.”
Isaac Mittan – DT Sioux Valley
Sr., 6-2. 230
“He is one of the strongest players in South Dakota,” Hughes said of the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Mittan. “He is a very unselfish, tough and durable player.”
Mittan played on both lines, recording 45 tackles on defense.
He was an All-BEC selection.
Jay Szafryk – DE Brookings
Sr., 6-2, 190
The All-ESD honoree was a force on the defensive line.
Szafryk racked up 70 tackles, including 21 solo stops. He had 13 tackles for loss, including four sacks, three pass deflections and a pair of fumble recoveries.
“Jay has played varsity football for three years and was a two-year starter at defensive end,” said Schmidt. “He was an undersized player for his position but was always technique solid and played outstanding football for the Bobcats this season. He is a high-motor player who made plays all over the field because of his relentless effort to get to the ball.
“Jay has been a tireless participant in our strength and conditioning program. He has also been a leader in our off the field community service. You can always count on him to be there to help.”
