A variety of players from the Northeast Conference gained recognition on the South Dakota Football Coaches Association Class 11B all-state football team announced today.

Aberdeen Roncalli had three players recognized, while Mobridge-Pollock had four members on the honor unit. Deuel and Clark-Willow Lake were also represented on the all-state squad.

Here is a look at each area player that gained all-state recognition, followed by the complete 11B team:

Gabe Sather, Deuel (Wide Receiver): Sather capped off a record-setting career with 532 yards on 35 receptions (15.2 yards per reception average) and 5 touchdowns. He finished with 1,141 yards on 69 receptions (both school records). “Gabe Sather is an explosive multi-sport athlete. His speed, route running, strength and leaping ability made him an elite receiver this year,” said Cardinals coach Dustin Hourigan. “Teams who played us knew where he was on the field and adjusted defenses to try and contain him.”

Josh Kannegieter, Clark-Willow Lake (Defensive Line): Through seven games he had 36 tackles, 5 for loss, and 3 sacks. “Very coachable kid. Plays much tougher than his body should allow. Extremely high football IQ,” said Cyclones coach Dan Severson. “This kid doesn’t wow you with big hits on the highlight reel, but he is a role player that teams look to avoid his side. Does his job very, very well.  Plays the inside run extremely well, and also can stretch the plays to the sideline and take away lanes.”

Zane Backous, Aberdeen Roncalli (Linebacker): This four-year starter left his mark on the Roncalli program. He had 65 tackles and 3 Sacks for a defense that allowed 76 yards rushing per game, and 8.7 points per game. He finished with 220 career tackles, 21 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries and pair of interceptions. He led the Cavaliers in tackles three of the past four years. “Zane has has been as 4-year starter for us defensively and a 3-year starter offensively,” said Cavaliers coach Billy Young.

Jackson Eisemann, Mobridge-Pollock (Athlete): Eiseman hurt opponents with his arm and his feet, passing for 849 yards and 7 touchdowns, and rushing for 231 yards and 6 touchdowns. In the past two seasons, he passed for 1,643 yards and 14 TDs, rushed for 485 yards and 9 TDs, and had 295 yards receiving and 3 TDs. “Jackson has been a stable presence with our offense over the last four years,” said Tigers coach Donovon Flaherty. “During that time he has played both wide receiver and quarterback, showing a unique blend of athleticism and intelligence. He was a great second option for us that could take advantage of teams on the ground or through the air.”

Aiden Fisher, Aberdeen Roncalli (Special Teams): This senior made 19 of 22 PAT kicks, booted a field goal, and averaged 35.7 yards per punt with five inside the 20-yard line. An all-state defensive back last year, he also passed for 1,037 yards and 11 TDs in his career. “Aiden did everything for us on special teams,” said Roncalli coach Billy Young. “He kicked, punted, and returned both kicks and punts.”

Mack Saxon, Mobridge-Pollock (Honorable Mention): Saxon was tough for opponents to bring down. He rushed for 1,241 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and 12 TDs. He also had eight catches for 101 yards and a TD. He finished with 1,770 yards rushing and 17 TDs, and 278 yards receiving and 3 TDs. “Mack was the first 1,000-yard rusher for Mobridge-Pollock in a decade or more,” said Tigers coach Donovon Flaherty. “He is a powerful, strong runner that was the focal point of our offense that every defense we played had to figure out how to stop.”

Carter Hinsz, Mobridge-Pollock (Honorable Mention): Hinsz had a nose for the football, recording 90 tackles (42 solo and 48 assisted), 9 for loss and had a sack this season. He finished with career totals of 191 tackles, 20 for loss, 3 Sacks, 1 interception and 2 fumble recoveries. “Carter has played linebacker over the past 2 and a half years after we had to move him from defensive line due to injuries,” said Tigers coach Donovon Flaherty. “This past season he was the leader of our defense and played with toughness and tenacity. Any team wanting to run between the tackles had to make sure they had a plan to block him.”

Noah Kramer, Aberdeen Roncalli (Honorable Mention): Kramer was a ball-hawk defender for the Cavaliers. This past season the senior had 74 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 interception, and 1 sack. He finished with 141 career tackles, 5 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries. “Noah was the leading tackle on a defense that averaged 8.7 points per game, 51.4 passing and 86 rushing yards per game,” said Roncalli coach Billy Young.

Class 11B

OFFENSE

Quarterback — Keaton Gale, Elk Point-Jefferson.

Tight Ends-Fullbacks-HBacks — Ashton Fairbanks, Elk Point-Jefferson; Gus Bartels, Winner and Tobin Squires, Sioux Valley.

Running Backs — Donovan Rose, Sioux Valley; Karson Keiser, Winner; and Brady Fox, Mount Vernon-Plankinton.

Wide Receivers — Ryder Michalek, Woonsocket-Wessington Springs-Sanborn Central; Gabe Sather, Deuel; and Malachi James, Beresford.

Linemen — Evan Bartels, Winner; Hudson Kempf, Elk Point-Jefferson; Parker Petry, Wagner; Aidyn Janis, Hot Springs; and Luke Lembcke, Sioux Valley.

DEFENSE

Linemen — Shawn Hammerbeck, Winner; Preston Top, Sioux Valley; Gabe Reeve, St. Thomas More; and Josh Kannegieter, Clark-Willow Lake.

Linebackers — Lane Deutsch, McCook Central-Montrose; Brock Christopherson, Sioux Valley; Zane Backous, Aberdeen Roncalli; and Gannon Knebel, Wagner.

Defensive Backs — Paul Parsley, Flandreau; Isaiah Olson, Mount Vernon-Plankinton; Grayson Girard, Elk Point-Jefferson; and Jakob Guthmiller, Sioux Valley.

OTHERS

Athletes — Holden Havlik, Woonsocket-Wessington Springs-Sanborn Central and Jackson Eisemann, Mobridge-Pollock.

Special Teams — Aiden Fisher, Aberdeen Roncalli and Jameson Degen, Sioux Valley.

HONORABLE MENTION — Mack Saxon and Carter Hinsz, Mobridge-Pollock; Colby Flowers, Hunter Fenske and Bryce Larson, Woonsocket-Wessington Springs-Sanborn Central; Luke Schmitz, Elk Point-Jefferson; Cooper Nelson, Beresford; Noah Kramer, Aberdeen Roncalli; Riley Mayer, Mount Vernon-Plankinton; Kellen Brozik, Winner; and Connor Harrison, Lead-Deadwood.

All-American — Shawn Hammerbeck, Winner.