KSFY News - Sioux Falls, SD News, Weather, SportsFocus on Five - Week 1

Focus on Five - Week 1

Focus on Five – KSFY PP's Featured Games

Every week, KSFY Pigskin Preview will preview five featured games in the area. Here is our look at week 1.

West Central (0-0) at Vermillion (0-0) – DakotaDome

Overview: The West Central-Vermillion game, originally scheduled for October 20, has been moved up and provides an attractive season opener for two programs that have won a combined 16 of the past 21 11A titles. Vermillion has five playoff titles, although none since 1999, while West Central owns a state-record 11 championships in 12 appearances with its most recent title coming in 2007. This matchup features one team (Vermillion) look to rekindle its glory of the 90's when the Tanagers were a regular in the state title game. West Central, which has lost three playoff games by a total of 10 points over the past three years, returns one offensive starter and eight on defense to a team that was 7-4 a year ago. It is a program ranked third in KSFY's Pigskin Preview preseason ranking and seeks to return a championship to Hartford for the first time since 2007. Vermillion returns five starters on offense and just three on defense from its 2010 4-5 squad.

Inside slant: Will Vermillion young defense be able to slow down the West Central unbalanced double wing? Can Vermillion's explosive running back D'Andre Fore break some big plays against a veteran and fast West Central defense? How quick a transition will new faces on the West Central offense make?

Coaches: Gary Culver of Vermillion (198-141, .584); Kent Mueller of West Central (68-8, .907)

2010 Records: Vermillion, 4-5 lost to Harrisburg, 30-6 playoffs first round; West Central, 7-4, lost to Dell Rapids, playoffs semifinals 32-28.

Bottomline: Culver's Tanagers need to slow down a West Central team that averaged 37 points per game a year ago. Vermillion, which also breaks in a new quarterback (Kyle Weiss) will feature an outstanding running back in D'Andre Fore, who had 823 yards rushing and seven TDs a year ago. Senior linebacker and offensive lineman Will Mart will need to provide leadership and physical play on both sides of the ball. Connor Miles, who was the backup for West Central a year ago, takes over as the Trojans' signal caller.  Dalton Kuehl, Devon Blaine and Andrew Ideker will be fresh faces in the Trojans backfield and will play key roles. Senior Aaron Welch will be one of the key players for West Central on both sides of the ball.

Who Wins? While Vermillion will be an improved squad, they will face a West Central team that dominated them a year ago. Since it is a season opener, both teams will be working out the bugs. However we project a 33-7 win by West Central.

Howard (0-0) at Canistota (0-0)

Overview: This early season test pits the Pigskin Preview's top-ranked Class A team in Canistota with the second ranked 9AA team, Howard, in a game to be played at Canistota. A year ago Canistota rolled to a 12-0 record, holding a 230-8 scoring edge in a dominating and memorable four-game playoff performance. Howard, which exited in the first round, will try and repeat its season of two years ago when they won a 9AA title during an 11-1 season. Both teams are talented groups albeit with the need to replace significant graduation losses. Both were explosive teams a year ago but may lean on the defenses early this season as their offenses transition in newcomers.

Inside slant: Will Canistota unleash another explosive offense? Can Howard end a 12-game winning streak by the Hawks? Can Howard improve its efforts to stop the run?

Coaches: Pat Ruml of Howard (23-8, .742); Lenny Schroeder of Canistota (94-66, .587).

2010 Records: Howard, 5-4, lost to Chester Area, 34-6, playoffs first round; Canistota, 12-0 in 9B, defeated Hitchcock/Tulare, 66-0, championship.

Bottomline: Canistota averaged 53 points a game and allowed just three per game a year ago. However they have lost several outstanding performers including quarterback Sam Jolley and running back Sam Jolley. They return the physical and talented Troy Hofer (812 yards rushing, 10 TDs) along with standout linebacker and tight end Trevor Schroeder, who had 12 TDs receiving last year. The Hawks need for Cody Bunger to step in shine at quarterback. Howard returns two outstanding players in quarterback Donovan Kullnat, who had a combined 10 TDs a year ago and led an offense that averaged 32.6 points per game. He will hand the ball to Ethan Cavigelli who had six TDs and 500 yards rushing. Howard, who returns just three starters on offense, needs for some newcomers to step up. The Tigers should be stout on defense.

Who Wins? With Canistota opening the season at home, it will have a lot of momentum. This will be a physical and tight game. We see Canistota holding the edge with a 24-12 decision.

Tri-Valley (0-0) at Canton (0-0)

Overview: A year ago, this game was a nail-biter with Canton pulling out a 13-12 decision at Colton. Canton, which has two playoff titles (1986, 2006), lost the services of all-state running back Jared Twedt but returns a solid core with four starters on offense and five on defense. A year ago, they reached the semifinals of the playoffs before falling to Harrisburg. Tri-Valley, which has won two titles and made five title appearances, has one of the toughest schedules in 11B.  

Inside Slant: Can Tri-Valley's veteran line provide the leadership and help a young backfield develop? With the loss of Twedt, will Canton's run game be effective? Will Tri-Valley's outstanding line play control the game?

Coaches: Brad McDonald of Tri-Valley; Rich Lundstrom of Canton (43-35, .551)

2010 Records:  Tri-Valley, 7-3, lost to Flandreau, 12-7, playoffs second round; Canton, 8-3, lost to Harrisburg, 27-7, playoff semifinals.

Bottomline: Canton will learn on running back Logan Dolen, who had 659 yards rushing and five TDs.  Zach DeJong returns upfront to lead a strong line group. On defense linebacker Tanner Broughton (71 tackles) is back to lead a strong group. Tri-Valley has a young backfield but returns six starters on both offense and defense, including all-state lineman Thad Johnson and Kenton Welbig. The Mustangs, which allowed just nine points a game a year ago, will be a physical, hard-running squad.

Who Wins? A year ago, the teams played a tough, defensive-oriented game in which Canton emerged victorious. We see a similar battle again. Look for Tri-Valley to get a little revenge over Canton, 14-7.

Elk Point/Jefferson (0-0) at Dakota Valley (0-0)

Overview:  Elk Point/Jefferson, which will look for its first playoff title, is a tough, physical football team that allowed just 11 points per game a year ago.  Dakota Valley, which lost an 11A championship game, 16-15, to Webster in 2000, is ranked fifth in the KSFY Pigskin Preview preseason rankings. Dakota Valley will lean on a veteran quarterback and a stout defense.

Inside Slant:  Will Dakota Valley overcome the loss of standout receiver Colin Gunderson, who will likely miss a big part of the season due to injury? Can EPJ overcome significant graduation losses and find a way to put the ball into the end zone? Will two traditionally strong defenses dominate this early season match-up of rivals? Can either team establish a running game?

Coaches: Scott Bruning of Elk Point/Jefferson; Jason Jund of Dakota Valley (46-30, .605)

2010 Records: Elk Point/Jefferson, 5-4, lost to Wagner, 13-10 OT, playoffs first round. Dakota Valley, 5-4, lost to Canton, 22-20, playoffs first round.

Bottomline: The Huskies, which look to improve on its 21 points per game output of a year ago, return 16 letter winners, including five starters on defense and six on offense. They need to replace all-state lineman Ethan Pace. EPJ, which opened 4-0 a year ago, will look to Brock Zellar to lead the offense, which returns one of the best offensive linemen in the class in Nick Murphy, an HM all-state center. Keegan Welch and Jon Hassenbank look to carry the load in the EPJ backfield. On defense, Murphy along Hassenbank to be anchors. Dakota Valley, which has suffered a key off-season loss with Gunderson, will be led by quarterback Brock Bergman, a senior who threw for a school-record 1,017 yards and 12 TDs last season. On defense the Panthers are led by the junior brother combo of Taylor and Tanner Lambert and senior Taylor Tenapel. Taylor Lambert had 86 tackles, seven sacks and was all-league at linebacker.

 Who Wins? We like Dakota Valley to win a low-scoring game against EPJ. Look for a lot of physical play with a 13-10 Panthers win.

West Lyon (0-0) at Central Lyon/George-Little Rock (1-0)

Overview: A year ago, West Lyon rolled to a 12-2 record and the Iowa 1A championship while Central Lyon/George-Little Rock was 4-5 and missed the playoffs. West Lyon defeated CL-G-LC, 40-7, a year ago in the season opener. This season the Lions have opened with an impressive 51-0 win over Sioux City West when Terron Gerdes had 91 yards rushing and five TDs. West Lyon, who has been 21 playoff appearances in the past 23 seasons, returns standout running back Sully Al-Ostaz and wide receiver Adam Teunnissen but break in a new quarterback. CL-G-LC will also has running back Ryan McCarty, tight end/defensive end Matt Nagel and several others as they try and get back to their grind it out winning ways.

Inside Slant: Is Central Lyon/George-Little Rock a force to be reckoned with after a big opening game win? Will West Lyon overcome the losses of several players to graduation as it looks to defend its title? Will the Lions' ground game cause problems for the Wildcats who controlled line play and had numerous big plays in the 40-7 win a year ago?

Coaches: Jay Rozeboom of West Lyon (185-33, .849); Toby Lorenzen of West Lyon (129-46, .737)

2010 Records: Central Lyon, 4-5; West Lyon, 12-2, Iowa 1A champions over Dike-New Hartford, 42-0.

Bottomline: The Lions feature a pair of dynamic offensive players with Teunissen and Al-ostaz, who can be explosive. Al-ostaz had 680 yards rushing a year ago, despite missing several games. Teunissen, a 6-5 target, had 30 receptions for 394 yards and caught a TD in the title game. They also will lean on lineman Lucas Bouwman and Ken Knoblock. A key question is at quarterback where sophomore Brendon Snyder is the leading candidate. Al-ostaz and Teunissen will be the leaders on defense along with Tate Kellenberger and Tyler Van Middendorp. CL-G-LR loves to pound the ball as they did in rolling to a win in the season opener. Aside from Gerdes, Nagel and McCarty, the Lions will feature Trent Kroger in the secondary. However, the new faces at linebacker need to continue to step up.

Who Wins? West Lyon suffered heavy graduation losses but still look like they will feature an explosive offensive group. We believe this game will be much closer than a year ago. Look for the game to remain tight into the fourth quarter. West Lyon emerges with a 28-17 win in its season opener.

 By Dan Genzler, KSFY Pigskin Preview blogger