Monarchs, Arrows pick up big wins during Week 7 of South Dakota high school football

HAYTI — Based on the last two weeks of play, top-rated Class 9A Warner has staked its claim as the best nine-man football team in South Dakota regardless of class.

The 6-0 Monarchs followed a 27-20 last-minute win over No. 1 Class 9B Faulkton Area last Friday with a 22-13 non-conference win over second-rated Class 9AA Hamlin (6-1) on Friday.

Warner built a 22-0 lead in the first half, thanks in part to two touchdowns in the first three players of the second quarter, and took advantage of six Hamlin turnovers (four fumbles and two interceptions) to notch the victory.

"Those turnovers provided some big momentum for us," Warner senior quarterback Hunter Cramer said. "This was a huge game, And they're in Class 9AA, so it's even bigger for us. It should get us a lot of points in the (seed) standings."

Here's three takeaways from the game:

One team held on to the ball, the other didn't

Warner opened the game by forcing a three-and-out by Hamlin and then converted on Cramer's 13-yard touchdown pass to Brodey Sauerwein.

Two Hamlin fumbles helped change the game. One led to Cramer's 62-yard TD jaunt on the opening play of the second quarter. The other came on the ensuing kickoff and was followed one play later by Cramer's 12-yard TD pass to Sauerwein. The two TDs came in a span of 13 seconds.

"Six turnovers. That's not going to win you a game ever," admitted Hamlin head coach Jeff Sheehan. "It's not like us, but it happened and we'll work on it."

To the Chargers credit, they didn't go away quietly and and got back into the game before halftime. Quarterback Tyson Stevenson scored on a 6-yard run with 6:15 left and then directed the Chargers on a last-minute scoring drive that ended with a 2-yard TD pass to Zac VanMeeteren with 26.5 seconds left.

Neither team scored in the second half and the Monarchs finally finished off the victory with two interceptions (one by Cramer and the other by Devon Fischbach) in the closing minutes.

"Last week, we jumped ahead of Faulkton Area 14-0 and they battled back," said Cramer. "I didn't want a repeat of that. That was a good battle for us, playing a good team like that and it make us better for sure."

Warner has Hamlin's number

Friday's win marked the third year in a row that the Monarchs have beaten the Chargers. They won 35-24 to close out the regular season in 2021 in a game played at Hayti. Hamlin later lost in the first round of the state Class 9AA playoffs and Warner lost to De Smet in Class 9A quarterfinals.

A year ago, Warner's 8-6 win at home proved especially hard on Hamlin. The Chargers outgained Warner 301-46, but lost when Cramer's 46-yard interception return set up his touchdown and eventually game-winning conversion with 36 seconds left in the half.

The Monarchs (11-1) went on to reach the state Class 9A championship before falling to Gregory 36-23. The loss was the only regular-season defeat for the Chargers, but it did cost them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Hamlin's 9-2 season ended with a 26-13 semifinal loss at eventual champion Wall.

"This loss is probably going to cost us home field again this year," said Sheehan. "We have to learn what we need to do to get better."

It doesn't mean this is the last we've heard from the Chargers, who have battled injuries to some key players throughout the season and have gradually got some of them back.

"We have a great team with a lot of good players," he said. "We'll play better. We'll do our best to get back to playing better."

The quest for a state title

It's not as if Hamlin doesn't have its sights on a state title, but the Chargers won four Class 11B state titles from 1989-96 and added a state Class 9B championship in 2014.

Warner hasn't won a state title in the history of the state playoffs, which opened in the fall of 1981. The Monarchs, however, have four runner-up finishes since 2012 (2012, 2016, 2020 and 2022).

Cramer and his senior classmates have finished second two times.

"My class has been there twice and we've lost both times, so we just want to get one under our belts for sure," he said.

Cramer is a key player for the Monarchs, has been all season and was again on Friday. He rushed 22 times for 149 yards and also completed 11 of 18 passes for 192 yards. Payton Volk caught two passes for 76 yards, Fischbach four for 42, Jesiah Baum two for 28 and Sauerwein two for 25.

Cramer had six solo tackles and three assists, Chays Mansfield 7-1, Charlie Dulany 7-0, Baum 6-0 and Sauerwein 5-2 for the Monarchs. Baum recovered three fumbles and Preston Cavalier recorded three quarterback sacks.

Stevenson completed 19 of 33 passes for 210 yards for the Chargers, connected with VanMeeteren eight times for 64 yards, Evan Stormo three for 81, Turner Stevenson three for 27 and Jackson Wadsworth two for 32. Wadwworth had seven solo tackles, VanMeeteren six and Turner Stevenson five. Cristhian Rodriguez added three solos and two assists.

More: Other Week 6 highlights Pierre over Watertown and Warner over Faulkton Area

Other Weekend Games

Watertown 16, Aberdeen Central 14

ABERDEEN — Two field-goal attempts, one successful and one not, proved to be the difference in the Eastern South Dakota Conference win for fourth-rated Class 11AA Watertown.

The Arrows (4-2) trailed 14-13 at halftime before Tommy Foley provided the only points of the second half by drilling a 20-yard field goal with 47 seconds left in the third quarter.

A potential game-winning 29-yard field-goal attempt by Aberdeen Central was wide right with 26 seconds remaining.

Watertown scored in the first half on a 10-yard run by Juven Hudson and on a 19-yard pass from Treyton Himmerich to Mitch Olson.

The Golden Eagles (3-3) scored on an 81-yard pass from Brennar Waldrop to Cooper Eisenbeisz and on a 1-yard run by Avery Ligon.

Hudson rushed 19 times for 64 yards and Spencer Wientjes six for 50 for Watertown. Himmerich went 3-for-12 passing for 47 yards, teaming with Colton Vlasman twice for 28.

Ligon gained 136 yards rushing on 28 carries for the Golden Eagles. Waldrop was 3-for-10 passing for 127 yards with Eisenbeisz catching all three passes. Austin Erickson and Brandon Schwan each recorded quarterback sacks on defense.

Watetown hosts Mitchell at 7 p.m. on Friday. Aberdeen Central visits Brookings the same night at 7 p.m.

Week 5 Football: Spartz's late interception return secures Arrows' homecoming victory over SF Washington

Clark-Willow Lake 48, Dakota Hills 0

WILMOT — Emmerson Larson ran for a touchdown and passed for two others to lead the Cyclones (3-4) to the Eastern Coteau Conference win over the Grizzlies (0-7).

Larson scored on a 5-yard run and tossed TD passes to Elliot Bratland (9 yards) and Josh Kannegieter (10 yards). Griffin Musser (10 yards) and Ernesto Garcia (6 yards) added TD runs for CWL, which also scored on a 15-yard pass from Ky Vandersnick to Jakob Steen.

Musser had two conversion runs, Bratland and Vandersnick each one and Kannegieter hauled in conversion pass.

Larson completed 10 of 19 passes for 153 yards, teaming with Kannegieter seven times for 101, and ran nine times for 79 yards. Musser added 44 yards rushing.

Musser made seven tackles and Cooper Pommer and Vandersnick each picked off passes for the Cyclones' defense.

Brooks Dolan rushed for 20 yards for Dakota Hills. Tyler Heinje passed for 34 yards and Evan Aker 29. Jaxon Dockter caught three passes for 39 yards. Tigh Gaikowski tallied six tackles and Hunter Bourassa, Nolan Thuringer and Laken Niles five each.

Estelline-Hendricks 54, Waverly-South Shore 14

WAVERLY — Estelline-Hendricks (4-2) pushed its winning streak to four games with the non-conference win.

Mattix Hausman led the way, scoring three rushing touchdowns (25, 4 and 8 yards) and also tossing an 8-yard scoring strike to Trey Cass. Hausman finished with 109 yards rushing on 20 carries and completed seven of 14 passes for 64 yards.

Caden Ching ran for 136 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns: two on runs of 9 and 24 yards and the other on an interception return. Regan Schwartz added a 5-yard TD run.

Camden Miller recorded six tackles with two sacks and Carson Reitz five with 2.5 sacks to lead the Redhawks' defense. Dylon Luckhurst added four solo tackles and two assists, Matthew McAninch 4-1 and Hausman 4-0. Wyat James intercepted three passes and also recovered a fumble.

Zach Ries threw TD pases to Sam Appelhof (56 yards) and Cody Thompson (52 yards) for the Coyotes, who fell to 2-5.

Canistota 28, Deubrook Area 20

CANISTOTA —Third-rated Class 9A Canistota (6-1) survived a tough battle with the Dolphins (5-2).

Tage Ortman ran for 113 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns and also completed 15 of 23 passes for 202 yards to two TDs for Canistota. Ty Doblar finished with eight catches for 123 yards and two scores.

Jace Vomacka scored on a 9-yard run and tossed TD passes of 30 and 12 yards to Jake Jorenby for Deubrook Area, which trailed 14-12 at halftime. Jorenby went 7-for-17 passing for 133 yards and also made 8.5 tackles.

Gavin Landmark added 78 yards rushing on 10 carries and Jorenby 95 yards receiving on four receptions. Jaxon Quail intercepted a pass.

Webster Area 18, Groton Area 0

GROTON — Brent Bearman scored on two 1-yard runs and Jacob Keller added a 57-yard punt return to lead Webster Area (4-3 overall, 4-2 in the NEC) to the Northeast Conference victory.

Carson Mount rushed 20 times for 78 yards and Ian Lesnar completed five of eight passes for 78 yards for the Bearcats. Keller made two catches for 46 yards. Bearman made nine tackles, Keller six and Gavin Witt and Martin Dorsett each five. Tate Mamenga added an interception.

Lane Tietz went 13-for-27 passing for 126 yards for Groton Area (4-3, 3-3). Colby Dunker hauled in five passes for 63 and Keegen Tracy four for 44. Dunker made 11 tackles, Christian Ehresmann and Logan Ringgenberg each nine and Holden Sippel seven. Korbin Kucker recovered a fumble.

Great Plains Lutheran 57, Florence-Henry 14

FLORENCE — Brody Scharlemann ran for three touchdowns and passed for two others to lead the Panthers (3-3) to the Eastern Coteau Conference win.

Scharlemann scored on runs of 1, 5 and 13 yards and teamed with Martin Krenz and Alex Heil on scoring passes of 26 and 12 yards, respectively. The Panthers also scored on a 7-yard run by Thomas Erickson, 20-yard blocked punt return by Myles York and 40-yard punt return by Micah Holien. Jacob Bartels added a 22-yard field goal and two point-after kicks.

Tate Hartley scored on a 34-yard TD pass from Dawson Lantgen and Dawson Hlavacek on a 60-yard kickoff return for the Falcons (0-6). Kohlenberg rushed for 40 yards.

Scharlemann rushed 12 times for 85 yards and completed six of 10 passes for 138 yards. Heil caught three passes for 72 yards and Krenz two for 43. Erickson added 45 yards rushing.

Defensive leaders for GPL were Kowynn Muhl (10 tackles including 2.5 sacks), York (seven tackles including 1.5 sacks plus the blocked punt), Bartels (five tackles plus fumble recovery) and Erickson (five tackles).

Deuel 15, Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central-Dakota Christian

CLEAR LAKE — The fifth-rated Class 11B Cardinals improved to 7-0 by making two first-quarter touchdowns stand up.

Trey Maaland teamed with Oliver Fieber on scoring passes for 42 and 57 yards for Deuel. Maaland added a conversion run and Brandon Fieber a point-after kick.

Maaland passed for 171 yards, connecting with O. Fieber three times for 102 yards and Gabe Sather three for 69. Reed VanWormer notched seven tackles and Robbie Begalka and Kaden TeKrony six each for the Cardinals' defense. Begalka added a sack and Maaland two interceptions.

Sabas DeHaan rushed for 44 yards and Hunter Loeffler 41 for the Thunderhawks (2-4). Loeffler and Isaac Wunder each had five tackles.

De Smet 56, Arlington 6

ARLINGTON — Britt Carlson had a hand in four touchdowns and Trace Van Regenmorter and Slayten Wilkinson each scored twice to lead the second-rated Class 9B Bulldogs (5-1).

Carlson scored on runs of 10 and 45 yards and teamed with Kadyn Fast (50 yards) and Tom Aughenbaugh (48 yards) on TD passes. Van Regenmorter scored on runs of 48 and 20 yards and Wilkinson on runs of 8 and 12 yards for De Smet, which also scored on a safety.

Carson ran for 85 yards on six carries and completed four of five passes for 119 yards.

The Cardinals (1-5) got a 30-yard TD jaunt from Greyson Neilson, who finished with 58 yards rushing.

Sioux Valley 62, Baltic 8

VOLGA — The second-rated Class 11B Cossacks gained well over 400 yards and did all their scoring in the first three quarters.

Donovan Rose (83 and 12 yards), Caden Murphy (38 yards), Boden Schiller (33 yards, Maverick Nelson (10 yards) and Braden Danzeisen (4 yards) each had TD runs for Sioux Valley. Nelson returned an interception 28 yards for a score and Schiller tossed a 32-yard TD pass to Hudsyn Ruesink. Tobin Squires added a 12-yard TD catch from Boden Teske.

Murphy ran eight times for 139 yards, Rose four for 120 and Schiller four for 85.

Kellen Artz went 12-for-28 passing for 169 yards for Baltic (0-7), which scored on a 27-yard pass from Artz to Braxten Allen. Payton Anderson hauled in four passes for 109 yards.

Danzeisen notched 10 tackles and Wyatt Hardl and Teske seven each for Sioux Valley. Teske recovered a fumble. Landon Peterson and Aaron Nordbye each made five tackles for Baltic.

Castlewood 50, Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 0

RUTLAND — Lane Tvedt completed three passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns to spark the Warriors (2-4) to the Dakota Valley Conference win.

Brody Bass, Quincy Thu and Jackson Schofield caught TD passes of 70, 55 and 24 yards, respectively. Camron Eng scored two rushing TDs and Thu and Tvedt each one. Eng finished with 55 yards rushing and Thu 36.

The Warriors were led defensively by Adam Heyn with seven tackles, Kamden Keszler six and Yader Munoz five. Thue had an interception and a fumble recovery and Schofield blocked a punt.

Faulkton Area 54, Faith 0

FAULKTON — Layne Cotton's four touchdown passes sparked top-rated Class 9B Faulkton Area (6-0) to the win.

Charlie Deiter caught scoring passes of 19, 34 and 45 yards and Garrett Cramer hauled in the other for 31 yards. Tristan Baloun and Landon Coyle added TD runs of 11 and 47 yards, respectively, and Spencer Melius returned an interception 43 yards for another score.

Cotton completed seven of 10 passes for 146 yards. Melius made six tackles and Trey Machtemes five.

Colby Olson had six tackles, including a quarterback sack, for Faith (1-5).

Leola-Frederick Area 66, Potter County 24

FREDERICK — Leola-Frederick Area (5-2) scored nine rushing touchdowns in the win.

Gavin Nickelson (11, 3 yards), Brayden Sumption (10, 4) and Westyn Thorpe (8, 12) each had two TDs and Austin Maintei (12), Noah Kippley (10) and Gabe Ketterling (1) for the Titans.

Thorpe rushed for 101 yards and Nickelson 92. Sumption passes for 111 yards, connecting with Thorpe twice for 58. Mantei and Thorpe each made seven tackles and Ethan Petrich and Nickelson five five each.

Ryder Falkenhagen scored on a 14-yard run, 74-yard kickoff return and 63-yard pass from Landon Larson for PC (2-4). Carter Luikens added a 12-yard TD run.

Luikens rushed for 51 yards and caught four passes for 93. Falkenhagen had five receptions for 89 yards. Larson went 12-for-24 passing for 190. Luikens recorded six tackles and Jhett Simon and Tanner Vander Vorst five apiece.

Sioux Falls Christian 60, Milbank 14

SIOUX FALLS — Lincoln Prins completed 15 of 24 passes for 224 yards and seven touchdowns for the fourth-rated Class 11A Chargers (4-2).

Garrett Mertens scored on an 11-yard run and also completed a 13-yard TD pass to Jayden Johnson for Milbank (2-4). Mertens finished 11-of-26 passing for 155 yards, connecting with Johnson eight times for 117 yards and Emmett Hanson twice for 29.

Kade VanEgdom had four tackles including a quarterback sack for SFC.

Milbank's defensive leaders included Hanson (four solo tackles, three assists including a QB sack), Sam Rick (five solos), Ethan Owen (four solos), Mertens (three solos, one assists) and Layten Osowski (3-1).

Parker 28, Redfield 6

PARKER — Michael Even rushed for three touchdowns and Landon Wieman passed for three others to lead the Parker (4-3) to victory in the battle of the Pheasants.

Wieman completed 10 of 20 passes for 214 yards and teamed with Ray Travnicek, Andrew Even and Colin Robertson on scoring plays. Robertson made five catches for 128 yards.

Levi Wieman recorded 10 tackles, Jake Stone nine and A. Even eight for Parker, which also got an interception from Robertson.

Redfield (0-6) scored on a 6-yard run by Chase McGillivary. Ethan Falk went 9-for-24 passes for 124 yards. Justin Ratigan hauled in two pass for 43 yards.

Colome 46, Sunshine Bible Academy 16

MILLER — Eli Vobr rushed 15 times for 352 yards and five touchdowns to carry the Cowboys (2-4) to victory in a game that ended at halftime.

Vobr found the end zone on runs of 59, 15, 35, 82 and 56 yards. He also tossed a 33-yard TD strike to Klayton Heath. Seth Heath made 20 tackles, Jack Anderson 13 and K. Heath and Vobr 10 each for Colome.

SBA (0-6) scored on a 50-yard pass from Toby Mickelson to Anthony Mitchell and on a 3-yard run by Troy Paul, who ran for 107 yards on 29 carries. Ezra Stiegelmeier had nine tackles, Jerome Big Eagle eight and Trevor Laschekewitsch seven. Tarrence Mickelson recovered two fumbles.

St. Thomas More 35, Aberdeen Roncalli 6

ABERDEEN — Lee Neugebauer completed 13 of 22 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns in the win for St. Thomas More (3-3).

Neugebauer scored on a 1-yard run and tossed TD passes to Ryan Neugebauer (6 and 98 yards) and Grayden Juve (10 yards). Josh Elder added a 2-yard TD run and Trevor Erlandson a 38-yard field goal for STM.

Roncalli (4-2) scored on a 60-yard pass from Aiden Fisher to James Behan. Brody Weinmeister ran for 40 yards and Fisher threw for 142 and also had an interception on defense.

Other Scores

Woonsocket-Wessington Springs-Sanborn Central 18, Mobridge-Pollock 8

Britton-Hecla 48, Ipswich 30

Herreid-Selby Area 53, Northwestern 0

Colman-Egan 40, Iroquois-Lake Preston 14

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Week 7 area South Dakota High School football results