Seahawks
Season Preview
After being bounced from the playoffs last season in the first round by the eventual State Champion Hot Springs, the Seahawks return a mix of experience and youth heading into the 2024 season. In total, BEE returns 8 players with starting experience from last year.
Junior Holden Wollmann (6'0", 165 lbs.) will take over at QB after playing WR last season. Holden had 11 receptions for 161 yards last season. Wollmann also returns in the defensive secondary where he was tied for a team high in interceptions with 2, adding 26 tackles and 7 pass break-ups.
Returning in the backfield this year will be senior Macklen Weber (6'1", 190 lbs.) and sophomore Carson Johnson (6'0", 195 lbs.). Weber started last season off strong, rushing for 499 yards and 8 TDs through the first 5 games before an injury ended his junior season early. Weber returns at LB on the defensive side where he had 23 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception last year. Johnson filled the spot left by Weber after his injury and rushed for 141 yards and 2 TDs, adding 24 tackles and 2 interceptions defensively.
The Seahawks will return 3 starters on the offensive line, including Big East All-Conference lineman Jason Zeeb (6'0", 205 lbs.). The senior will look to anchor the offensive line once again after garnering an honorable mention All-State selection in 2023. Zeeb was also tied for a team-high in tackles with 55 last season, adding 4 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Senior Riley Weber (6'2", 220 lbs.) also returns for BEE on both sides of the ball. Weber had 33 tackles defensively last season. Sophomore Thiago Juarez (5'7", 175 lbs.) returns at center. Another starter returning on the line is senior Kean Stevenson (6'0", 195 lbs.). Stevenson makes the move to the line from the fullback position last year where he rushed for 231 yards and a TD. Kean also returns at LB on defense where he was tied for a team-high in tackles with 55, adding 3 tackles for loss, a sack and 2 interceptions.
Some other top returnees from last season include senior WR/DB Landen Brummett (5'11", 160 lbs.) and senior TE/DB Braeden Nebelsick (6'3", 170 lbs.)
As the season goes on, the Seahawks will also be looking for contributions from Junior WR/DB Parker Burke (5'8", 135 lbs.), Sophomore RB/DB KJ Ripley (5'11", 155 lbs.), Junior TE/DE Luke Storm (5'11", 155 lbs.), Sophomore OL/DL Ethan Longe (5'11", 190 lbs.), and Sophomore OL/DL Creighton Klumb (6'3", 199 lbs.)
Schedule Preview
After tonight the Seahawks will have their bye week, before heading on the road for consecutive weeks at Deadwood and Beresford. BEE will have three straight home games against Wagner, Baltic and McCook/Central Montrose before rounding out the regular season with road trips to Sioux Falls Christian and Parker. Below is a quick preview of the regular season schedule.
September 7th @ Lead-Deadwood
The Seahawks will make the long road trip west on a Saturday to battle the Golddiggers in their annual Prospector Bowl. Lead-Deadwood, who finished the 2023 season with a 1-7 record, earned their only win the last week of the season over Lakota Tech. Four of their losses came against Rapid City Christian, Winner, Hot Springs and W/WS/SC, all playoff teams last year.
September 13th @ Beresford
Back in the 11B ranks after two seasons in 11A, the Watchdogs are coming off a 2-7 season with wins over Flandreau and Lakota Tech. Beresford, however, had a very tough schedule taking on the likes of Canton, Winner, Dell Rapids, Sioux Falls Christian and Dakota Valley. The last time BEE played Beresford was in the 2021 semi-finals that saw the Seahawks avenge a regular season loss to the Watchdogs.
September 20th vs Wagner (Homecoming)
After going 2-6 in 2022, the Red Raiders were much improved under new head coach Hunter Hewitt and went 6-2 last season, earning their first home playoff game since 2012. Wagner fell to Aberdeen Roncalli in the playoffs but will look to build off their success with key playmakers returning this year.
September 27th vs Baltic
The Bulldogs struggles in 11B continued last season, going winless for their second straight season. Since moving up to the 11-man ranks in 2021, Baltic has only one win under their belt. In 3 match-ups since 2021 BEE has outscored the Bulldogs 142-0.
October 4th vs McCook Central/Montrose
The Fighting Cougars went 1-7 in 2023, missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and posting their first losing record since 2015. MCM will have a new head coach this fall and will work towards getting back to the success they had before last year when they went 29-11 from 2019-22, including a semi-final appearance in 2022.
October 11th @ Sioux Falls Christian
If any team has been the Seahawk's kryptonite since moving up to 11-man, it's the Chargers. BEE faced off against SFC each season from 2015-18, the first two in the regular season and the last two in the 11B title game. The Chargers won all 4 contests, with the closest being a 14-0 loss for the Seahawks in 2016. SFC went 8-3 last season, falling in the semi-finals to Dell Rapids, the eventual 11A Champions. This will, by far, be the toughest test for BEE in the regular season.
October 18th @ Parker
The Pheasants posted their first winning season and playoff berth last season since moving back up to the 11-man ranks in 2021. After going 1-7 in consecutive seasons, Parker went 5-3 in 2023 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2020. BEE narrowly escaped with an 8-6 win at home against the Pheasants last year.
W/WS/SC
Last Season
The Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central Blackhawks rolled through the first 7 games of the season in 2023 defeating Mount Vernon/Plankinton 36-8, Scotland/Menno 59-13, McCook Central/Montrose 22-6, Miller/Highmore-Harrold 41-0, Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian 35-12, and Lead-Deadwood 42-20. They met up with Rapid City Christian in the final game of the regular season and fell 7-0. That set-up a rematch in the playoffs with RC Christian which saw the Blackhawks fall, 36-7.
This Season
W/WS/SC comes into the 2024 season hoping to build off the success from last year. The Blackhawks have posted a winning record every season since 2020, but have yet to advance past the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
Senior quarterback Holden Havlik (6'3", 215 lbs.) leads the way for the Blackhawks this year. Havlik was an honorable mention all-state selection last season and accounted for nearly 2,300 yards and 26 TDs. Havlik had 1,752 passing yards and 17 TDs and rushed for 542 yards and 9 TDs last season. The Northern State commit is just shy of 5,000 total yards with 54 touchdowns in his high school career.
Another key player for the Blackhawks is senior WR/DB Ryder Michalek (6'3", 180 lbs.). Michalek was an all-state selection last season with 49 receptions for 816 yards and 6 TDs. For his career, Michalek has 100 catches for 1,595 yards and 14 TDs and will once again be the "go-to" guy for Havlik.
The Blackhawks return plenty of experience this year with 15 seniors and 12 juniors on their roster and could very well be a team to watch as the season goes on.
Previous Match-Up
The Seahawks defense was stout and the offense pounded Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central into submission on their way to a 42-6 win over the Blackhawks in the quarterfinal round of the 11B playoffs in 2020.
The Seahawks started off the game by receiving the kickoff and marching 55 yards in 9 plays before fumbling the ball away at the goal line. The Seahawk defense forced a punt and BEE would score touchdowns on their next four drives. Kaden Klumb started the scoring with an 11 yard run. The Seahawks recovered a Blackhawk fumble on the first play of their next drive and 4 plays and 40 yards later Koby Kayser added to the lead with a 27 yard run to take a 14-0 lead after one quarter. The second quarter saw touchdown runs by Bodie Burnham from 2 yards out and Kayser from 8 yards to take a 28-0 lead. With time dwindling down in the first half, the Blackhawks gained a little momentum after a bad snap on a punt gave the ball to W/WS/SC on the Seahawk 28 yard line. Four plays later Blackhawk QB Tryce Slykhuis scrambled into the end zone from 7 yards out to make the halftime score 28-6.
Any momentum gained at the end of the first half was quickly erased. After BEE forced a Blackhawk punt to start the half, the Seahawks went 44 yards in 4 plays with Kayser scoring from 33 yards out to take a 35-6 lead. Burnham added a 2 yard run on BEE's next possession to put the running clock into effect and the Seahawks came away with a 42-6 win.
Kayser surpassed the 100 yard rushing mark for the 5th time this season as the junior rushed for 130 yards on 18 carries. Kayser also had 2 receptions for 48 yards. Burnham was just short of 100 yards as the senior rushed for 97 yards on 15 carries. Klumb rushed for a season high 53 yards on 8 carries and completed 4-of-6 passes for 85 yards.
For the Blackhawks, Clay Olinger had 15 rushing yards on 7 carries. Tryce Slykhuis carried the ball 6 times for -7 yards and completed 1-of-8 passes for 21 yards.
The Seahawks had 380 yards of offense (295 rushing, 85 passing) and held the Blackhawks to just 60 yards of offense (28 rushing, 32 passing). BEE had 21 first downs compared to only 3 for W/WS/SC.
Game Bits
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BEE is 4-0 against the Blackhawks, outscoring them 162-6. The Seahawks have averaged 301 yards rushing and 95 yards passing per game in those 4 contests for 396 yards per game. BEE's defense has been stout against W/WS/SC, allowing only 68 rushing yards and 36 passing yards for a total of 104 yards per game.
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In the South Dakota Prep Media Preseason Football Poll W/WS/SC is currently ranked 4th, with BEE receiving votes. Top ranked Winner received 10 first place votes, but will be without Nebraska commit Shawn Hammerbeck, arguably the best player in the state, for some time. The Warriors schedule is tough the first half of the season with home games against defending 11B Champ Hot Springs, Wagner and W/WS/SC with a road trip to Elk Point-Jefferson. EPJ is ranked #2, receiving 4 1st place votes. Sioux Valley is #3 with 2 1st place votes. The defending champ Hot Springs rounds out the top 5. Wagner, Deuel and Aberdeen Roncalli also received votes.
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The Preseason Coaches Poll looks like this:
1. Winner (24 1st place votes)
2. Elk Point-Jefferson
3. Sioux Valley
4. Hot Springs
5. Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central
Receiving Votes: BEE, Deuel
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Big East Conference games tonight include:
Sioux Valley vs St. Thomas More
Baltic vs Beresford
Flandreau @ Deuel
McCook Centra/Montrose vs Mount Vernon/Plankinton
Parker vs Elk Point-Jefferson
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The biggest game of the week in 11B has top ranked Winner taking on the defending champ Hot Springs. That game will kickoff at 5pm tonight in Winner.
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The forecast at kickoff tonight in Bridgewater calls for mostly clear skies with a temperature of 78 degrees and winds out of the southeast around 15, gusting up to 25 mph.
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Tonight's game will be broadcast on KOOL 98.3 FM and Q107.3 FM, as well as a live video stream on the Bridgewater-Emery YouTube channel. The livestream link is posted on the home page.
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The BEE JV and JH teams will kickoff their seasons on Monday in Bridgewater. The Seahawks will take on W/WS/SC with the JH game starting at 4:30pm with the JV game to follow.