Football in the Dakotas
There is some very good football played to our North. North Dakota State and South Dakota State have won ten of the last twelve NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national titles.
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Are these teams dominant? Most certainly. North Dakota State had won nine of the last eleven FCS national titles. Then last year South Dakota State defeated them twice, once in the national championship game. And then there are the universities of North Dakota and South Dakota. They play very good football, too. There are 33 athletes from Missouri and Kansas on those four rosters. Would they win as much without them? Maybe. But, probably not. Below, you will get to meet these athletes and see what they are accomplishing.
These teams have played their first game of this year. Here are the results:
South Dakota 10 Missouri 35 (L)
North Dakota 55 Drake 7 (W)
South Dakota State 45 Western Oregon 7 (W)
North Dakota State 35 Eastern Washington 10 (W)
All of these teams will play each other in the regular season. Perhaps, like last year, one of those games will be the prelude to a rematch in the national championship game. Here are the dates of the regular season clashes:
9/30 South Dakota at North Dakota State
9/30 North Dakota at South Dakota State
10/24 North Dakota State at North Dakota
10/28 South Dakota State at South Dakota
11/4 North Dakota State at South Dakota State
11/11 North Dakota at South Dakota
Please meet these football players. They are listed in alpha order within each of the four universities.
North Dakota State
Javier Derritt - Senior - Defensive Tackle - St. Thomas Aquinas High School
The two time Kansas All-State selection has been a mainstay in the defensive line since his sophomore year. Last year, Javier made 29 tackles, seven of which were for a loss. His 3.5 sacks resulted in 24 yards of losses. The additional local connection is that his older brother, Jacob Derritt, is the Boys Basketball coach at Bishop Miege High School.
Reggie King - Sophomore - Cornerback - Grandview High School
After redshirting his freshman year, Reggie played in two games last season and was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll
Logan Kopp - Sophomore - Linebacker - Lindbergh High School
As a redshirt freshman last year, Logan started one game as a linebacker. But, he made his presence felt on special teams. His special teams play earned him a spot on Phil Steele’s Freshman All-America Team. He was the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer of the Year (MVFC). Logan was also named to the MVFC Honor Roll and earned the MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
Eli Ozick - Freshman - Kicker - Liberty High School
As a senior at Liberty last year, Eli made 9 of 11 field goal attempts and was perfect on his 33 extra point kicks.
Jayden Price - Senior - Cornerback - Mulvane High School
Jayden is back after his senior year to play the season granted due to the Covid season. Last season he served double duty as a corner back and as a punt returner. His returns included a 66 yard return for a touchdown. His play earned him Honorable Mention All-Missouri Valley Football Conference. Jayden was also named to the MVFC Honor Roll for the fourth time.
Jalen Sundell - Senior - Offensive Tackle - Maryville High School
As a starter, Jalen was instrumental last year in an offensive line that produced the No. 2 FCS rushing attack with over 280 yards per game. He has been named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll all four years. Jalen’s additional local connection is his sister, Serena Sundell, who is the starting point guard for Kansas State University’s Women’s Basketball Team.
South Dakota State
Isaiah Davis - Senior - Running Back - Joplin High School
Isaiah rushed for 1,451 yards as a junior. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and scored 15 touchdowns. Those rushing yards propelled South Dakota State to their first FCS national title. He rushed for over 100 yards in each of the four postseason games and scored a touchdown in each of the last ten games of the season. He was named All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) First Team after being named Honorable mention twice. He has received the MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award and has been on the MVFC Honor Roll twice. Isaiah is a 2023 Team Captain.
Brody Gormley - Redshirt Freshman - Tight End - Seaman High School
As a high school senior two years ago at Seaman High, Brody caught 30 passes for 735 yards and ten touchdowns. He was named first team All Topeka and Honorable Mention All-State.
Quinton Hicks - Senior - Defensive End - Campus High School
Quinton started fast as a freshman, being named to the Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-America Second Team. Since then he has earned the MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award and is a four time MVFC Honor Roll honoree. He enters his senior year in the regular rotation at defensive end.
Amar Johnson - Sophomore - Running Back - Chaminade College Prep
Amar has been named to the MVFC Honor Roll in each of his two years. He has been rushing alongside the Jackrabbit’s leading rusher, Isaiah Davis, who is featured above. Amar performed especially well against the defending national champions, North Dakota State. In the second half of their regular season game, he rushed for 89 yards in 12 attempts. When facing them in the national championship game, Amar gained 126 yards on just nine rushes. For the season, Amar accumulated 744 rushing yards, averaging 5.7 per carry.
Jalen B. Lee - Redshirt Freshman - Cornerback - Fort Zumwalt North High School
Jalen was redshirted last year, but still made three tackles in the games in which he appeared. He was a known quantity on their Scout Special Teams.
Daeton Mcgaughy - Senior - Linebacker - Lafayette High School-Wildwood
Daeton was in the regular linebacker rotation last year which was a defense that led the Football Championship Subdivision in rushing defense. He received the Missouri Valley Football Conference Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award and is a three time MVFC Honor Roll honoree.
Marcus Preston - Junior - Wide Receiver - Free State High School
Marcus is an intra-conference transfer after playing his first two years at the University of North Dakota. In addition to returning kicks, he caught 29 balls for 285 yards while at North Dakota.
Trevor Scott - Redshirt Freshman - Linebacker - Platte County High School
Trevor was redshirted, but participated in the maximum number of games allowed by the NCAA. He recorded five total tackles, including a solo in the national championship game.
University of North Dakota
Jace Boswell - Freshman - Linebacker - Holton High School
A true freshman, Jace was a two time First Team All State selection, while he was a two time finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.
Danny Carroll - Sophomore - Offensive Line - St. Thomas Aquinas High School
The former Saint was a two time All-State designee in Kansas. After a redshirt year, Danny got back into action in the offensive line. He appeared in 11 games, starting seven. The North Dakota quarterbacks completed over 66% of their passes when Danny was at center.
Caden Dennis - Sophomore - Wide Receiver - Liberty High School
Caden got off to a good start with his freshman year. He played in nine games, starting one. He caught 11 balls for 134 yards with a long of 31.
C.J. Elrichs - Redshirt Freshman - Kicker/Punter - Olathe Northwest High School
C.J. spent last year as his redshirt season after having been named All-State Honorable Mention his senior year of high school.
Wyatt Pedigo - Junior - Linebacker - Hoisington High School
Last season, Wyatt was third on his team in total tackles and tackles for loss. He has a habit of coming up big against the best competition. He picked off a pass against both BCS Nebraska and No. 24 Northern Iowa. He got his first career sack against national champion South Dakota State.
Jett Sutton - Redshirt Freshman - Defensive Back - Oak Park High School
After sitting out for his redshirt season, Jett is ready to go for this season, having already played in the first game of this year.
University of South Dakota
Dylan Birge - Freshman - Offensive Lineman - Olathe West High School
Dylan, a four sport athlete in high school, is starting his collegiate career after being a finalist for the top lineman or linebacker in the Kansas City metro area.
Larenzo Fenner - Freshman - Wide Receiver - Fort Osage High School
Larenzo is starting his collegiate career after being named All-State in Missouri his senior year of high school.
Jase Hovey - Freshman - Defensive Back - Louisburg High School
Jase is starting his collegiate career this season. He earned First Team All-State honors as a senior in high school, after leading his team to an undefeated season his junior year.
Teven McKelvey - Junior - Defensive Back - Gardner-Edgerton High School
Teven, a hard hitting defensive back, started showing his stuff in big games back as a freshman. He forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown against No. 16 Northern Illinois and he broke up a pass that was returned for a TD against No. 4 South Dakota State.
Mack Newell - Freshman - Tight End - Louisburg High School
Mack starts his collegiate career after being a multi-sport athlete in high school. He started in four sports last year as a high school senior, earning All-State in both Football and Soccer.
L.J. Phillips, Jr. - Freshman - Running Back - Wichita Northwest High School
Following his multi-sport high school career, L.J. is starting his collegiate career. He amassed over 4,000 yards in high school, at over ten yards per carry.
Cole Rhoden - Redshirt Freshman - Wide Receiver - Platte County High School
After serving a redshirt season, Cole is starting his active collegiate career. A multi-sport athlete in high school, he was a part of two state championship teams.
Austin Rosetta - Sophomore - Linebacker - De Soto (KS) High School
After a redshirt year, Austin competed in five games last season. He earned the MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award and is a two time MVFC Honor Roll honoree.
Noah Smith - Redshirt Freshman - Offensive Lineman - Lawrence High School
After a multi-sport high school career, Noah served as a redshirt last season. He is a MVFC honor roll honoree.
Travis Theis - Junior - Running Back - Pratt High School
Travis was the leading rusher last year which helped win him Honorable Mention All-MVFC honors. He showed his versatility by catching 25 passes, second most on the team. Travis is a MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award winner and a MVFC honor roll honoree.
Roman Tillmon - Freshman - Defensive Back - Fort Osage High School
As a freshman, Roman is just starting his collegiate career. Last year, as a high school senior, he recorded 103 solo tackles which helped earn him All-State honors.
Lem Wash - Sophomore - Quarterback - Derby High School
Lem is looking for his first game action at South Dakota after transferring from Tennessee Tech. In his senior year at Derby, he accumulated over 2,600 passing and rushing yards and scored 38 touchdowns. That earned him being named the 2020-21 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year.
Brendan Webb - Senior - Defensive Lineman - Buhler High School
Brendan has been a mainstay in the defensive line rotation for two years. Last season he got 23 tackles, four of them for a loss, along with three sacks. He is a three time MVFC Honor Roll honoree.
There is some great college football played in the Dakotas, in no small part because of athletes from Missouri and Kansas. To keep up with area athletes competing in the NCAA in a variety of sports, be sure to get your free subscription!