2005 All-State High School Football Team

THE ELITE 45
Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005 5C
RYAN MCKNIGHT
JON RYAN
ANTONIO THOMPSON
CAMERON WEISS
WASHINGTON
WATERTOWN
ROOSEVELT
HOT SPRINGS
Washington again ranked among
the best football teams in the state
and McKnight was a big reason
why.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound lineman
played both ways and did not allow
a sack all season on a team that threw 196 times.
Defensively, he had 68 total tackles – 26 solo
and 42 assisted, including 15 tackles for a loss
and seven sacks.
“He is a big strong physical player who enjoys
playing the game,” Coach Brian Hermanson said.
A two-year, two-way starter at
free safety and wide receiver,
Ryan was a big-play man for the
Arrows.
The 6-foot-4, 181-pounder had 33
receptions for 695 yards – 21 yards
a catch – with five touchdowns this season.
On defense, he had five interceptions, two fumble
recoveries, two blocked kicks, 35 solo tackles
and 21 assists.
During his career, Ryan had 58 receptions for
1,130 yards.
On offense and defense, Thompson
was a presence on the field for
the Riders, helping carry them to a
second straight season where the
only losses came against state
champion O’Gorman.
As fullback, Thompson muscled his way to 977
yards rushing on 137 attempts and 14 touchdowns.
That’s over 7 yards a carry. As a defensive
end, he recorded 21 unassisted tackles and six
sacks.
“He is one of the very best fullbacks I have
coached,” Coach Brent DeBoer said.
Weiss has been one of the most
prolific running backs the Black
Hills have seen in some time.
This season he rushed for 1,319
yards and 10 touchdowns. In his
career, he rushed for 3,520 yards
and scored 49 touchdowns. On defense, he had
eight career interceptions and 65 tackles.
“Cameron is an incredible back who has great
vision and excellent speed and quickness,’’ said
Coach Trent Pikula. “Although he is only 160
pounds, he plays much bigger.”
CHAD MORRISON
MARK SCHAEFERS
TOM TRIPP
CHRIS WELLENSTEIN
WEST CENTRAL
HANSON
WEST CENTRAL
CENTERVILLE
An Elite 45 repeater, the 155-
pound Morrison was one of the big
reasons the Trojans won their sixth
straight Class 11A title.
One of the state’s smallest 11-
man fullbacks, Morrison rushed 114
times for 758 yards and blocked for an offense that
gained 4,568 yards. On defense, he had 42 tackles.
“Chad is an example of a player who excels because
of heart, hard work and a never quit
attitude,” said Coach Kent Mueller. “If you were
going to pick a player as an example to represent
West Central football, it would be Chad.”
A four-year, two-way starter,
Schaefers helped the Beavers become
the state’s most dominant
9-man team.
Hanson went 12-0 and outscored
foes 51-5.8 this fa;; as Schaefers’
blocking helped the Beavers average 409 yards a
game, including 331 via the rush. As a linebacker,
he had 96 tackles and six sacks for a defense that
yielded 70 yards a game rushing and 49 passing.
For his career, he had 288 tackles.
“Mark has possessed some of the best technique
of any lineman or defensive player that I
have coached,” said Jim Haskamp.
An Elite 45 repeater, Tripp led
the Trojans to an unprecedented
sixth straight Class 11A title.
He rushed for 1,135 yards on 120
carries, had nine receptions for 231
yards and scored 16 TDs. He also
had a team-leading 101 tackles as the Trojans limited
foes to 3.5 points a game.
“Tom is an example of a kid who has maximized
his physical gifts and talents, combined them with
extra work watching film and mentally preparing
each week, to leave West Central as one of our alltime
best players,” said Coach Kent Mueller.
A four-year starter, the 6-foot-6,
275-pound Wellenstein helped
make the Tornadoes one of the
elite teams in Class 9A.
His blocking helped the Tri-Valley
Conference champs to 3,334 total
yards in 2004 and 3,196 in 2005.
On defense, he had 57 tackles this season and
67 in 2004.
He is getting offers from Division II schools and
Division I schools are interested in him, said
Coach Dan Evans.
CHRIS PATRON
TYLER SCHULTE
CURT TRUHE
JOE WHEALY
WASHINGTON
O’GORMAN
ELK POINT-JEFFERSON
CHESTER AREA
A nose tackle with a nose for the
football, Patron helped make the
Washington Warriors one of the
state’s top Class 11AA teams this
season.
The 232-pounder had 17 tackles
for loss and 12 sacks. He also had 32 solo tackles
and 36 assists, blocked two punts and recovered
three fumbles.
“He is very quick off the ball and possesses
great strength,” said Coach Brian Hermanson.
“Chris plays at a level that all coaches admire. He
has one speed – all out.’’
A repeater on the Elite 45 team,
Schulte was small in stature and big
in deed, helping the Knights to a second
consecutive unbeaten season.
He had 30 receptions for 638
yards and nine touchdowns, rushed
42 times for 313 yards and seven TDs and even
filled in at quarterback, going 6-for-7 for 174 yards
and four TDs. He was also a dangerous return man.
“Even with his impressive stats, he did all the
other things to make us better,” said Coach Steve
Kueter. “His blocking and faking ability made our
offense go.”
A junior, Truhe is a coach’s
dream running back: In 216 carries,
he never fumbled and lost only 5
yards all season.
Truhe gained 1,304 yards and
had 14 TDs. He also had 84 tackles,
four interceptions (two returned for TDs) and
three fumble recoveries for the Huskies.
A three-year starter, the 205-pounder already
holds five school records.
“A hard-nosed runner who is a punishing runner,’’
said Coach Rahn Bertram.
A ferocious hitter, Whealy helped
make the Flyers one of the elite
teams in Class 9AA.
The 5-foot-11, 220-pounder had
134 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions
and two fumble recoveries
this season. He also rushed 84 times for 496
yards and 16 TDs and blocked for a runner who
gained almost 1,200 yards.
“The kids kind of fed off him on defense,’’ said
Coach Brad Benson. “He was a student of the
game. We considered him an on-the-field coach.’’
NICK RAMSTAD
ALLAN SCHMALTZ
MIKE TVEIDT
JIM WILLIAMS
HARRISBURG
RAPID CITY CENTRAL
PIERRE
HANSON
The Tigers were one of the top
teams in Class 11A, and Ramstad
was a big reason why.
The quarterback rushed 112
times for 852 yards and 15 touchdowns
and passed for 454 yards
and two scores. As a defensive back, he had 45
tackles and seven interceptions.
“Good decision maker on the option,’’ said
Coach Scott Ebert. “Great yards per carry average
despite teams keying on him. He was a threat to
take it for a touchdown on every play. A tough kid,
a gamer.”
Schmaltz was perhaps the
state’s most prolific receiver this
fall as a junior with 64 catches for
1,001 yards and five touchdowns.
His most impressive game may
have been against state champion
O’Gorman when the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder had 12
receptions for 154 yards.
“His hands are like a vacuum cleaner, bringing
in everything he gets his hands on,” said Coach
Steve Svendsen. “He’s our go-to guy when we are
looking for a big play.”
A three-time all-stater, the multitalented
Tveidt was all-ESD at four
positions (wide receiver, tight end,
quarterback and punter) in his
Pierre career.
Moved to QB in Game 5 of his junior
season, he is the only Pierre player ever to run,
catch and throw for more than 100 yards in a game.
This season, the North Dakota State basketball recruit
rushed 161 times for 652 yards and 10 TDs and
was 48-for-93 for 712 yards and four TDs. Career
numbers: 1,235 yards passing, 899 rushing, 733
receiving, nine field goals, 40.2-yard punting average.
Class 9A champion Hanson won
so many games by the 45-point rule
this season that Williams often had
limited opportunities.
But did he ever show off when he
got a chance to run. Williams ran
for 1,991 yards on just 170 carries (an average of
11.7 yards a carry). He scored 40 touchdowns. Defensively,
he made 96 tackles. For his career, he
had 6,010 yards rushing and 104 touchdowns.
“Jim has been a true leader both on and off the
field with his dedication,” Hanson coach Jim
Haskamp said. “He truly is a role model for
younger kids.”
ISAAC RANDALL
JAKE STEFFEN
MYLES ULMER
ERIK WUESTEWALD
DELL RAPIDS
STICKNEY-MOUNT VERNON
WINNER
ARLINGTON
A player who saved his best for
the Quarriers’ best opponents, Randall
rushed for 1,172 yards, averaging
6.7 yards a carry.
Dell Rapids played five teams
rated in the top five in Class 11A
and the 175-pound Randall averaged 129 yards
against them.
“He is not very big, but is powerful, very quick
and tough to bring down,’’ said Coach Steve
Hansen. “I had coaches tell me that he was a little
Barry Sanders.”
A junior, Steffen has been a twoway
starter since eighth grade.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback
led the Knights to the Class
9AA finals, averaging 8.6 yards a
carry (1,687 yards), completing
66.2 percent of his passes (1,162 yards), making
111 tackles and accounting for 44 touchdowns.
He has already had 4,187 career yards passing
and running, 72 TDs and 287 tackles.
“He may end up being the best of the three D-I
players I’ve had in the last seven years,” said
Coach Myron Steffen.
Despite being a defensive tackle,
the 225-pound Ulmer was in on 127
tackles (44 solos, 83 assists) this
season.
He also anchored an offensive
line that helped Winner get 2,500
yards rushing and 1,050 passing.
For his career, Ulmer had 261 tackles.
“Myles is the best all-around lineman I have ever
coached,” said Dan Aaker. “He saw double teams
and cut blocks every play but still had double-figure
tackles in all 11 games we played. He is tough
as nails.”
One of the big reasons why the
Cardinals had back-to-back unbeaten
seasons, Wuestewald rushed
153 times for 901 yards and scored
20 touchdowns this season.
The Dakota Valley Conference
MVP, Wuestewald also had 106 tackles.
In his career, the four-year starter rushed for
3,120 yards and scored 51 TDs.
“Erik Wuestewald is a tenacious competitor,
who is relentless when carrying the football,’’ said
Coach Steve Gilbertson.
Coleman: Led O’Gorman to crucial victories over Roosevelt
Continued from 1C
state championships – I was very glad
to be a part of it. I was very fortunate
to have the teammates I had.”
During the wildly successful 2005
season, Coleman made the decision to
pursue baseball in college. As a kid
who has always moved from sport to
sport with unbridled enthusiasm, it
was a difficult decision – and a very
tough time to make it.
“It wasn’t so much football as it was
being part of the team,” Coleman said.
“I’ve built so many friendships based
on being part of this team. It’s tough to
imagine not hanging out with them. A
lot of games stick out in my mind, but
being part of the team is what is going
to be so tough to be done with.”
A bad back kept him out of three
games this season, but the Knights
won them all. For the year, Coleman
ran for 628 yards and 17 touchdowns
and passed for 872 and 14 touchdowns.
An all-stater and Elite 45 member
last year, he leaves the O’Gorman
football program as the all-time leading
rusher with 2,454 yards. He had 31
touchdown passes and 34 rushing
touchdowns for his career.
His 2005 stats were hampered
because of the injury, but also because
the Knights, who won their 13 games
by an average of nearly 40 points, had
subs playing much of the time.
In those moments where a game
was in doubt, though, Coleman was
fearless as well as peerless.
“He’s the best prime-time player I
ever coached,” O’Gorman head football
coach Steve Kueter said. “Obviously,
he was a great player all the
time, but especially when the chips
were on the table. When you have a
player who can take over mentally and
physically in those situations, it lifts a
team up. They block a little harder and
get after things a little more because
they got the guy right there who is
LLOYD B. CUNNINGHAM / ARGUS LEADER
O'Gorman players and fans gather at midfield to recite the Lord's Prayer after a game
this season against Washington. Dusty Coleman leads the prayer in the center.
going to get things done.”
In the two games the Knights
played against Roosevelt in 2005 – the
only two games they won by less than
30 – Coleman was the difference.
In the state semifinals, his 60-yard
run for a touchdown helped O’Gorman
win 14-6.
At the 2005 Dakota Bowl, a 24-14
Knights victory in early September,
his contribution was downright inspirational.
O’Gorman led 17-14 in the final
quarter with two starting offensive
linemen on the sidelines in addition to
Elite 45 receiver Tyler Schulte.
“We had to move 80 yards. If we didn’t
score, it really looked like Roosevelt
was going to win the game,”
Kueter said. “On 10 plays, we ran
Dusty eight times. This was at the end
of a very hot night where he had been
playing both ways. His legs were
cramping up, but he knew if we didn’t
score we were in trouble. What 10,000
saw that night was a little piece of
what we see all the time from him.”
The end of the drive? A 3-yard
touchdown run by Coleman to clinch
the victory.
Tip of the iceberg
Coleman is an academic all-stater, a
Fellowship of Christian Athletes officer
and a friend to jocks and non-jocks
alike at O’Gorman, but along with all
that, not a day goes by when he is not
thinking about honing his athletic
skills.
“After the state championship, I felt
a little tired, like I needed a break,”
said Coleman. “But it felt like nothing
was going on. I got so bored. I ended
up playing a lot of basketball. I needed
to do something to take up the time.”
Coleman has always been that way.
“He’s never once said ‘I don’t want
to do this,’” said his father, Brad Coleman.
“Sports have been his passion
since he was a little guy. I mean real
little, like 2 years old. He always wanted
to be playing catch.”
When Brad wasn’t around, he’d beg
his mom, Julie, to play catch. Like his
older sisters Sonia and Tabitha, both
talented volleyball players at O’Gorman,
the kid just couldn’t get enough
of sports.
“We had a hoop set up in the basement
and he’d shoot at that thing for
hours,” Julie said. “It didn’t matter
what the season was, if it was
basketball, he’d be dribbling
all over the house. If it was
football season, he’d have a
football with him wherever
he went.”
In fourth grade, Coleman
started playing football.
For an athlete who
would one day be the top
offensive player in the state,
he actually liked defense
more.
“He didn’t like offense,”
Brad said of his son who
was then an undersized
middle linebacker. “Little
guys don’t like getting hit,
but they like hitting
guys.”
Of course that mentality
hasn’t changed, just
expanded. He certainly
likes offense more now as
his career numbers show
– 34 rushing touchdowns,
31 passing touchdowns
and a school
record 2,454 yards rushing
– but he never lost his
defensive focus and developed
into a top two-way player,
making 31 tackles this season and
finishing with 11 interceptions for his
career.
See COLEMAN, page 6C