HURON — De Smet spent much of the season at the top of the Class 9A football rankings. The senior leadership, which powered the Bulldogs during an undefeated regular season, was quite evident on the Class 9A all-state football team, which was selected by the South Dakota High School Football Coaches Association and was announced Wednesday.
Four seniors and a junior received honors for De Smet, which reached the 9A semifinals and finished the season at 10-1.
Selected in the running back spot for the Bulldogs was senior Kalen Garry. He had 44 carries for 692 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, while having 18 receptions for 451 yards and nine touchdowns.
Additionally, Garry had 172 return yards and recorded a pair of touchdowns on special teams.
“Kalen is a special player that makes an impact in all 3 phases of the game,” De Smet coach Brendon Pitts said. “He has the ability to make a big play every time he touches the ball.”
Senior Rett Osthus was selected at the wide receiver spot for the Bulldogs. He had 26 receptions for 472 yards and eight touchdowns to go along with 26 carries for 244 yards and seven touchdowns.
Osthus also inked four touchdowns on special teams with 578 return yards.
“Rett was a big part of our success on offense and defense this year,” Pitts said. “He was a big playmaker that defenses had to adjust to try and defend.”
Junior Damon Wilkinson was selected on the offensive line for De Smet. He contributed to an offense, which threw for 1,191 yards and rushed for 1,846 yards.
“When we needed yards the most, we often times ran behind him,” Pitts said of Wilkinson.
Senior Colt Wilkinson, who handled the quarterback duties on the offensive side of the ball for the Bulldogs, was one of the two athletes named to the Class 9A all-state roster.
Wilkinson was 85 of 138 passing this season for 1,209 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 8 times for 290 yards and nine touchdowns.
Defensively, Wilkinson finished the season with 76 tackles.
“Colt was a large part of our success in all three phases of the game. He led our team in tackles for the third season,” Pitts said. “He is a player that made a ton of plays for us on offense and defense this season. His toughness made him a hard player to block.”
The lone selection of the defensive side of the ball for De Smet was senior lineman Blake Van Regenmorter. He tallied 45 tackles and had five sacks this season.
“Blake was a big part of our defensive success. He helped us hold opponents to an average of 8 points per game,” Pitts said. “He plays the game with a lot of heart and determination, which made him a tough player to go against.”
Wolsey-Wessington senior Marrion Gohn was also selected to the Class 9A all-state team as a defensive back.
Gohn recorded 57 tackles this season, with four tackles for a loss, 4 interceptions and two touchdowns. During his career for the Warbirds, eh had 115 tackles and 11 interceptions.
“Marrion was a versatile player. He moved from quarterback to running back and was very productive,” Wolsey-Wessington coach Gordon Hooks said. “He was a 3-year starter on both sides of the ball. He was all-state in 2020 and 2-times all-conference selection.”
De Smet and Wolsey-Wessington each had two players earn honorable mention on the the Class 9A team.
Senior Tory Holland and sophomore Kadyn Fast received recognition for De Smet, while senior Kade Krutzfeldt and junior Keegan Haider were honored for Wolsey-Wessington.
CLASS 9A ALL-STATE FOOTBALL TEAM
OFFENSE/ATHLETE
QUARTERBACK: Tray Hettick, Jr., Herreid/Selby Area
FULLBACK/H BACK: John Callies, Sr., Howard
RUNNING BACK: Brenden Begeman, Jr., Herreid/Selby Area; Kalen Garry, Sr., De Smet; Cedar Amiotte, Jr., Wall
