Two Buffs crack all-state football: Look out for SC this winter...
Stanley County TE/DE/LB Damon Hoftiezer just crushing an opponent with the stiff arm. Hofteizer was named to the Class 9AA football team.
As we all wait patiently for the 11B all-state football announcements Monday, where I'm told, a record number of Winner players (9) will be announced as first-team all-staters, I couldn't help but reflect on all of the really good football players from this little swath through central and south central South Dakota.
Really glad I got to see Stanley County up close and personal. While the Buffs lost to a good Gregory team in the semis, they really put together a solid campaign on the gridiron. A 6-2 regular season was followed by two wins in the playoffs, including a win over Wolsey/Wessington the town of Ft. Pierre will be talking about for years.
An 8-3 season carved out and two of the players, Damon Hofteizer and Cutter Gillaspie were named to the South Dakota Class 9AA all-state football team.
Damon Hofteizer - Tight End — Damon Hoftiezer, Sr., Stanley County: Caught 15 passes for 299 yards and five touchdowns this season. It's interesting this young man was named to the team as a TE because after watching against Gregory, this kid was a tough-as-nails defender. Moved around a lot from DE to LB and really came around to take on the strength of the Gregroy scheme wherever they went with the ball.
Long Snapper — Cutter Gillaspie, Sr., Stanley County: The 6-5, 220-pound senior helped Stanley County started the play for a special teams unit that averaged 37.4 yards per punt attempt and hit 19 of 24 PAT kicks, as well as a 40-yard field goal. I think some people might look at an all-state long snapper selection and roll their eyes a little, but I love it. Special teams is such a part of the game, the establishment of field position and the conversion of extra points is huge. To convert 19-24 extra point attempts is freaking ridiculous at the high-school level.
Just a note about Stanley County football. I'd read and heard about the coaching staff up there and I saw then up-close, coaching, telling people how to block, why and really taking a hands on approach to making the kids better. Guessing this team will be back and in the hunt very soon.
A look ahead to Stanley County boys winter sports -
Kinda have Stanley County on the brain anyway as I'm super fired up to attend the Stanley County wrestling tournament on Sat. Dec. 3. My nephew, Clarence Winter wrestles for Bennett County (106/112), some good friends of mine have a son, Jacob Wike from Todd County (106) that should be pretty salty. Aside from that, it's a really good tournament that brings some really tuff kids that meet early in the season.
Can't wait to see what this Luke Heniger kid is all about:
Stanley County junior Luke Heniger is the defending state champion at 120 pounds.
Was looking for some wrestling photos this morning for Luke Heniger, happened across his Facebook page and found this photo....Of course the kid rides bulls, lol!
He's pretty wicked on the mat as well, compiling a 44-2 record on his way to a state title at 120 lbs. for the Buffs. Guessing he'll be getting after it next Saturday...Wheeeeooowww, can't wait to see that!
Are people still looking past the Stanley County boys team:
Remember last year when Stanley County ripped off like 8 or 9 wins to start the season and were either ranked or right on the cusp of being ranked? Can't help but wonder how much further coach Max Foth (Sully Buttes) is going to bring this team along, again this season.
Those guys that made all-state football.....Hofteizer and Gillaspie are pretty dang good a the game of basketball. Big, physical, tuff, been through the wars and were there when Stanley County was BAD just a few years ago. I know the Buffs lost a starting guard, can't remember his name, so they'll have to get some guard play from some up-and-comers but with the two Hofteizer brothers and Gillaspie, you have 6-foot-2, 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-5 banging you around. They will get after you on the glass, and I expect this to be a good Stanley County squad....Hmmmm, might have to go see Chamberlain and Stanley County this season.
At any rate, congratulations to the all-state guys and good luck to all the winter sports athletes.
