Defending the Title: Who's Back in 2022? (9-man)

After a year we will discuss who’s ’Defending their Titles’ in SD 9-man football for 2022. How this story works is I’ll mention the 2021 Champ, mention players leaving, and leave quick educated guess on how 2022 will go for them. The guesses are educated based on the amount of film I could find on the teams. Here it is below! Class 9B- Dell Rapids St. Mary’s Cardinals (8-3)- St. Mary’s didn’t get off to the best start to the season, but then really kicked it in the second half the season. That second half surge led to the big push for the State Championship, which was the most exciting State championship game I had seen in a while. They seemed like a run first offense, but could throw for the big plays when they needed it and their defense would step up in big situations. Players Leaving: DL: [player_tooltip player_id="152498" first="Gabe" last="Lamb"]- Lamb was the run stopper up the middle. He did a great job taking away both A-gaps in the run game, he didn't give up much ground from the Line of Scrimmage, he kept the Center from climbing to the second level. He did a great job shedding the Center when he identified the run and made the play for minimal to no gain. Offensively, he was the guy to widen the gaps and really help the run game. He did a great job making first contact with the defender and either driving him off the ball, or sticking him so he couldn't make the play. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14884319/618740f90dcaab066023c6a4">Playoffs 1-3</a> OL/LB: John Pica- This kid is just a football player. Perfect frame, great size, great athleticism and the biggest key factor; great football sense. Watching Pica in the State Championship game, to watching his film, you can just tell he knows what to do out there on the field. Flies around the field to be in the best position to make plays on defense, tackling or pass covering. Offensively, he knows who the biggest threat is on each play, and takes them out of the play, every time. He keeps good leverage on all his blocks and usually pancakes his guy on each run play. After seeing a few of his plays, he seems like the kid to give everything he has until the job is done, and done well. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/11482020/619ac106066bbd059497f6c3">Senior Year</a> Players Returning: QB/DB: [player_tooltip player_id="160908" first="CJ" last="Smith"]- Smith jumped into the role as full-time QB after getting a few snaps there as a Sophomore. He did a great job finding his open man and getting him the ball. He never tried to over-do a play or force anything, just took what the defense gave and turned it into something big. He also did a great job extending plays with his legs and looking to make a throw downfield, but was also a dangerous run threat. He has has great touch on his deep ball and hit his receivers in stride every time. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GUaqQ">Junior Season</a> TE/DL: Gabriel Lindeman- Lindeman is the first skill player I've seen taken so much pride in his blocking. He is one of those athletic lineman that will spend all game blocking you out of the play, then burning you for the big play on a route. His pad level and drive off the snap played a huge role in the offenses run game, being the gap to run through. When they want to pass, he did a great job selling his block, then slipping out into a route and getting open. Defensively, he set the edge every play and took the perimeter away. He engaged his lineman well, and kept his contain, once he identified the play, he shed his man and made the play, usually a sack, or a tackle for loss. He was very good at identifying the play quickly and reacting to it as soon as possible. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GZcJL">Defensive Highlights</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13105185/61b136357bd35f05688c15f6">Offensive Highlights</a> OL/DL- Kyle Bares- Bares set the other edge setter on the defense. He also did a great job of taking away the perimeter and making plays in the backfield. He did a good job in pursuit on the backside on plays away from him and took good angles to get there. He did a good job wrapping the ball carrier up and finishing his plays. Offensively, he was a real good drive blocker and took his defender out of the play when they decided to run behind him. He latched on and drove him back 10 yards. Also washed players down on down blocks to bury them. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Gc7HS">Junior Season</a> Class 9A- Howard Tigers (12-0)- The Tigers showed dominance all season with only two games within one score against their opponent. They had a very balanced offensive attack with a lot of team speed, and a strong defensive unit every game. They seemed to rise to a higher level when they played against the tougher teams on their schedule, while leaving no doubt in the other games. Players Leaving: TE/DL- [player_tooltip player_id="56465" first="Jace" last="Sifore"]- Sifore is a difference maker in every game, not much else can be said about this kid, he makes plays and sets to the tone for the game. I figured he'd be a Lineman both ways because of his size, but he was just to athletic to be tied down, playing TE made him the big playmaker and another threat on offense. He moved really well and ran great routes to get open. Defensively he was also the big playmaker, creating turnovers and big tackles for loss. He had tons of speed as well which made him scary on both sides of the ball. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/13136251/6192bea638634e09304cb7ea">Senior Season</a> No Returning Players with film. Class 9AA- Platte-Geddes Black Panthers (10-2)- The Black Panthers had an overall good regular season, with some tough losses, but then came back and won some close ones in the playoffs against some really tough teams. They were also a pretty balanced run to pass team and made the big plays in big moments. Their defense came through and won the big games for them and make the key stops in key situations. Players Leaving: RB/LB- [player_tooltip player_id="149446" first="Grayson" last="Hanson"]- Hanson was our player to watch from Platte-Geddes, emerging as a playmaker as a Junior, he was poised to have a great year as a Senior. Defensively, he was the seeking LB. When he read run, he took off and found the ball in a hurry, taking great angles and going full-speed. He tracked the ballcarrier well, got himself in good position and made the tackle with force. He used his strength as his biggest asset on defense. Offensively, he was the bruiser back that would grind out the short yardage situations. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GXFHw">Senior Year</a> WR/DB- [player_tooltip player_id="242546" first="Chase" last="Varilek"]- Varilek was a good player for the Black Panthers on both sides of the ball. He had the awareness and smarts on defense on where he would be most likely to make a play. He covered the flats extremely well and read the routes quick enough to know where he needed to run to make a play. He was a good open field tackler on the perimeter and did not give any extra ground when making a tackle. Offensively, he was the speedster receiver that was used for the big plays when need. He outran most defenders and was a very reliable target. He also was pretty shifty and had some power to run through tacklers. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GYaVa">Senior Season</a> WR/DB- Jackson Olsen- Olsen was a versatile athlete on the offense. Goes from blocking at TE to running routes and being a reliable target while also getting split out wide. He's a good target because of his speed and the way he gets position to catch a ball. He took pride in his kicking abilities, because he was a threat to score from long ranges, which makes the Black Panthers a hard team to keep off the scoreboard. Hitting FG's from 46 & 43, hitting his PAT's and kicking for many touchbacks on kickoffs, making them win the field position battle. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GWGeE">Highlights</a> No Returning Players with film.