Freeman Flyers win state football title against Bennett County
The undefeated squad defeated the Warriors 57-12 in the Class 9A championship, securing a first standalone title in 27 years.
By Mei Lin ·
Freeman High School football players defeated Bennett County 57-12 on Thursday at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, South Dakota. The victory gave the Flyers their first Class 9A state championship as a standalone school since 1999. Freeman enters the game as the No. 2 seed and finishes the season undefeated.
Coach Dustin Tschetter led the team to a 42-6 halftime lead, capping a performance he described as special for a former player turned head coach. The Flyers struck 13 seconds into the game when quarterback Tayden Kerrigan threw a 53-yard pass to Easton Tschetter. That play set up a 9-yard touchdown run by Axle Schultz. Kerrigan finished with four passing touchdowns and a rushing score.
The second half maintained the Flyers' dominance. Alaric Knittel rushed for a 6-yard touchdown to end the third quarter. Later, Kerrigan connected with Tannen Auch on an 11-yard pass to make the score 57-6 with under seven minutes remaining. Bennett County's Hayden Risse added a 68-yard rushing score to make the final margin 57-12.
Kerrigan, a junior, was named the Joe Robbie MVP and Most Outstanding Back of the tournament. He completed 12 of 18 passes for 273 yards and rushed for 55 yards on seven carries. The Flyers' defense limited Bennett County to 253 total yards and 12 points. Kerrigan credited his teammates for slowing down a high-powered offense.
Schultz carried the ball 11 times for 125 yards and a touchdown. Tschetter caught four passes for 108 yards and scored on the ground. On defense, Trey Maske recorded eight tackles and a sack. Alaric Knittel added three tackles for loss. Both Kerrigan and Logun Pankratz intercepted passes.
Hunter Nankivel received the Most Outstanding Lineman award. He noted that linemen rarely receive individual recognition but stated that their team controlled the line of scrimmage from the start. Bennett County finished its season with a 10-2 record. Maddux Risse passed for 169 yards and a touchdown while throwing two interceptions. Rush O'Neill caught eight passes for 112 yards and a score.
This is Freeman's second consecutive state title, as the school won last season in a cooperative arrangement with Marion and Freeman Academy. Tschetter recalled that his coaching staff played on the 1990s teams that won championships. He said the current group performed better than those squads. Kerrigan expressed confidence in returning for another championship run next season, citing the strength of the junior class.
The Flyers will next compete in Class B basketball, where they hold the title. Kerrigan indicated the team intends to defend that crown. The football program has now reached the state championship level six times in its history.
