De Smet/Castlewood: The Takeaways
DE SMET, SD-- We started off our South Dakota scouting trip last night, and watched the battle between Castlewood and #1 De Smet. I picked this game on my calendar due to the fact it was what I viewed as one of the best games in the Dakotas with solid players coming from both squads. The balance did not turn out that way, with a huge key to puzzle out for the Castlewood Warriors, but we did gather some takeaways from the I wanted to share with the Prep Redzone Dakotas subscribers.
1) Castlewood’s Rushing Attack
The Castlewood Warriors were without standout running back Carson Kirwan (2023) who adds a huge amount of firepower that was missing last night. Kirwan is already a 1000-yard rusher this season for the Warriors and averages 200 yards per game as he runs with solid authority with his 6’3 185-pound frame. I firmly believe that this game is much closer with Kirwan in the lineup and we will hopefully see a playoff matchup to find out if that holds true.
2) Tough as Nails
A key takeaway from the De Smet Bulldogs last night is just how well they balanced their upper edge with size and toughness. De Smet running back
Kalen Garry
Kalen
Garry
6'3" | 195 lbs | WR
De Smet | 2022
State
(2022) was the ultimate fighter for yards after contact last night as I can’t count how many times from the sidelines I saw him overpower Warriors defender by accelerating thru contact and just playing hard-nosed football to get into the end zone on his way to four touchdowns on the night. Another prospect that was tough as nails last night was QB Colt Wilkinson (2022) who ran with excellent leverage downhill, and on one particular play leveled a Warriors defender roughly 3-4 yards forward due to the physical contact he played with. There are so many players that could be listed as tough-as-nails players for De Smet, but another one was DB Tom Aughenbaugh (2024). On the converted safety for the Bulldogs, Aughenbaugh made some hard physical contact in the Warriors end zone and it was hard for me to believe that his contact level was that high despite only playing at 5’9 140 pounds. Evander Holyfield once said "It’s not the size of the man, but the size of his heart that matters," which is a good way to describe Aughenbaugh’s safety for the Bulldogs.
3) Always Thank The Hog Mollies
324 rushing yards in just over two quarters is a remarkable number that the De Smet Bulldogs achieved last night at Wilkinson Field. The offensive line of Damon Wilkinson (2023), Dylan Rowcliffe (2023), Cody Aughenbaugh (2022), and Blake Van Regenmorter (2022) paved the way for five rushing touchdowns for the De Smet Bulldogs. That offensive line open some huge gaps for the Bulldogs and proved why they are the #1 team in 9A by beating a good Castlewood team that was receiving votes in the recent 9A poll.
Guard Damon Wilkinson (2023) is a crossover basketball/football prospect that is starting to catch some eyes of scholarship-level programs across the Dakotas. He doesn’t have his football film up yet, but when he does it will catch even more eyes across the region as there is a lot to like about his size (6’9 260) and raw potential he showed last night.
SCORING
First Quarter
De Smet- Northern State basketball commit
Kalen Garry
Kalen
Garry
6'3" | 195 lbs | WR
De Smet | 2022
State
(2022) set the tone early in this game, by capturing a 51-yard run with excellent speed thru traffic. De Smet 8, Castlewood 0.
De Smet- If you thought
Kalen Garry
Kalen
Garry
6'3" | 195 lbs | WR
De Smet | 2022
State
was calling it a night after one touchdown, you would be incorrect. Garry returned a punt for another De Smet Bulldogs touchdown for 60+ yards. De Smet would again be successful on the two-point conversion. De Smet 16, Castlewood 0. End of the 1st quarter.
Second Quarter
Castlewood- The Warrior’s lone score of the night came on defense when Warriors linebacker Hunter Smith (2022) showed good vision on where the ball was going and got the interception and returned to the end zone on a short field for a Castlewood Warriors touchdown. This was by far the play of the game for Castlewood as they made this game close for short time early in the second quarter. De Smet 16, Castlewood 7.
De Smet- After yet again the rushing attack for De Smet went to work, QB Colt Wilkinson found recent Big Dog of the Week and Dakota Wesleyan basketball commit Rett Osthus (2022) in the corner of the end for another De Smet score. This would be one of the very two-point conversions the Bulldogs would not get on the night. De Smet 22, Castlewood 7.
De Smet- The De Smet Bulldogs defense would really stuff the rushing attack of the Warriors on this particular shortened drive. This is when we got to learn about LB Tom Aughenbaugh (2024). After an off-balance screen pass in their own end zone, Aughenbaugh blew the play up with a physical hit to give the Bulldogs 2 points with the safety. De Smet 24, Castlewood 7.
De Smet- To no one’s surprise, it was
Kalen Garry
Kalen
Garry
6'3" | 195 lbs | WR
De Smet | 2022
State
(2022) again with his third touchdown of the half for De Smet this time on the receiving end from QB Colt Wilkinson. De Smet 32, Castlewood 7.
De Smet- Another player that had a multi-touchdown game was Rett Osthus (2022) who punched in this touchdown late in the second quarter from 1-yard out. De Smet 40, Castlewood 7.
De Smet- On what I will chop up as the Prep Redzone Dakotas play of the game from Thursday, it was Garry again going for his longest run of the night going 82 yards for another De Smet Bulldogs score to bring this game into halftime. De Smet 46, Castlewood 7. Halftime
3rd Quarter
Even though this game ended in a mercy rule, you could have blinked and missed the entirety of the 3rd quarter. Both teams started the second by going to their bench, so we got to learn some fresh names for the future of both of these programs.
De Smet: Backup QB Trace Van Regenmorter (2024) got the call in the second half and cashed in a short-yardage touchdown on the outside edge. De Smet 54, Castlewood 7.
De Smet: After having a fumble fall into their hands on the first play of the Warrior’s next drive, De Smet would get their final touchdown of the game from Lane Holland (2022) to close out their victory over the Castlewood Warriors.
Find out who made our list of Nate’s Big Dogs of the Game coming up next on PrepRedzone.com/Dakotas!
Kalen
Garry
6'3" | 195 lbs | WR
De Smet | 2022
State
(2022) was the ultimate fighter for yards after contact last night as I can’t count how many times from the sidelines I saw him overpower Warriors defender by accelerating thru contact and just playing hard-nosed football to get into the end zone on his way to four touchdowns on the night. Another prospect that was tough as nails last night was QB Colt Wilkinson (2022) who ran with excellent leverage downhill, and on one particular play leveled a Warriors defender roughly 3-4 yards forward due to the physical contact he played with. There are so many players that could be listed as tough-as-nails players for De Smet, but another one was DB Tom Aughenbaugh (2024). On the converted safety for the Bulldogs, Aughenbaugh made some hard physical contact in the Warriors end zone and it was hard for me to believe that his contact level was that high despite only playing at 5’9 140 pounds. Evander Holyfield once said "It’s not the size of the man, but the size of his heart that matters," which is a good way to describe Aughenbaugh’s safety for the Bulldogs.
3) Always Thank The Hog Mollies
324 rushing yards in just over two quarters is a remarkable number that the De Smet Bulldogs achieved last night at Wilkinson Field. The offensive line of Damon Wilkinson (2023), Dylan Rowcliffe (2023), Cody Aughenbaugh (2022), and Blake Van Regenmorter (2022) paved the way for five rushing touchdowns for the De Smet Bulldogs. That offensive line open some huge gaps for the Bulldogs and proved why they are the #1 team in 9A by beating a good Castlewood team that was receiving votes in the recent 9A poll.
Guard Damon Wilkinson (2023) is a crossover basketball/football prospect that is starting to catch some eyes of scholarship-level programs across the Dakotas. He doesn’t have his football film up yet, but when he does it will catch even more eyes across the region as there is a lot to like about his size (6’9 260) and raw potential he showed last night.
SCORING
First Quarter
De Smet- Northern State basketball commit
Kalen Garry
Kalen
Garry
6'3" | 195 lbs | WR
De Smet | 2022
State
(2022) set the tone early in this game, by capturing a 51-yard run with excellent speed thru traffic. De Smet 8, Castlewood 0.
De Smet- If you thought
Kalen Garry
Kalen
Garry
6'3" | 195 lbs | WR
De Smet | 2022
State
was calling it a night after one touchdown, you would be incorrect. Garry returned a punt for another De Smet Bulldogs touchdown for 60+ yards. De Smet would again be successful on the two-point conversion. De Smet 16, Castlewood 0. End of the 1st quarter.
Second Quarter
Castlewood- The Warrior’s lone score of the night came on defense when Warriors linebacker Hunter Smith (2022) showed good vision on where the ball was going and got the interception and returned to the end zone on a short field for a Castlewood Warriors touchdown. This was by far the play of the game for Castlewood as they made this game close for short time early in the second quarter. De Smet 16, Castlewood 7.
De Smet- After yet again the rushing attack for De Smet went to work, QB Colt Wilkinson found recent Big Dog of the Week and Dakota Wesleyan basketball commit Rett Osthus (2022) in the corner of the end for another De Smet score. This would be one of the very two-point conversions the Bulldogs would not get on the night. De Smet 22, Castlewood 7.
De Smet- The De Smet Bulldogs defense would really stuff the rushing attack of the Warriors on this particular shortened drive. This is when we got to learn about LB Tom Aughenbaugh (2024). After an off-balance screen pass in their own end zone, Aughenbaugh blew the play up with a physical hit to give the Bulldogs 2 points with the safety. De Smet 24, Castlewood 7.
De Smet- To no one’s surprise, it was
Kalen Garry
Kalen
Garry
6'3" | 195 lbs | WR
De Smet | 2022
State
(2022) again with his third touchdown of the half for De Smet this time on the receiving end from QB Colt Wilkinson. De Smet 32, Castlewood 7.
De Smet- Another player that had a multi-touchdown game was Rett Osthus (2022) who punched in this touchdown late in the second quarter from 1-yard out. De Smet 40, Castlewood 7.
De Smet- On what I will chop up as the Prep Redzone Dakotas play of the game from Thursday, it was Garry again going for his longest run of the night going 82 yards for another De Smet Bulldogs score to bring this game into halftime. De Smet 46, Castlewood 7. Halftime
3rd Quarter
Even though this game ended in a mercy rule, you could have blinked and missed the entirety of the 3rd quarter. Both teams started the second by going to their bench, so we got to learn some fresh names for the future of both of these programs.
De Smet: Backup QB Trace Van Regenmorter (2024) got the call in the second half and cashed in a short-yardage touchdown on the outside edge. De Smet 54, Castlewood 7.
De Smet: After having a fumble fall into their hands on the first play of the Warrior’s next drive, De Smet would get their final touchdown of the game from Lane Holland (2022) to close out their victory over the Castlewood Warriors.
Find out who made our list of Nate’s Big Dogs of the Game coming up next on PrepRedzone.com/Dakotas!
