Avon places three on Class 9B all-state team following runner-up finish

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Nov. 21—AVON, S.D. — A trio of senior standouts represented state runner-up Avon on the Class 9B all-state football team, as selected by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association. Tight end Al'Shamon Gunter, running back Trenton Soukup and offensive lineman Randall Powers.

Taking over the role as the Pirates' leading receiver, Gunter, a 6-foot-6 frame, hauled in 14 receptions for 339 yards — over 50% of the team's receiving yards — and six touchdowns. On the ground, Gunter added 92 rushing yards on eight carries and one score. He also had two defensive touchdowns as part of his season total of nine scores.

"Gunter is the best all-around player on our team," said Avon head coach Justin Lukkes. "He is a great blocker, and we run behind him over half the time. He is also a great threat at receiver and runs the ball very hard and is hard to bring down."

Up front, Powers, at 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, helped pave the way for Soukup and the ground game for Avon. The Pirates accumulated 3,942 yards of total offense and 70 offensive touchdowns, including 3,269 rushing yards and 60 touchdowns on 426 carries, an average of 7.67 yards per carry. In Powers' three-year career as a starter, Avon tallied 10,744 rushing yards and 172 touchdowns.

"Randall was a three-year starter on the offensive line and our anchor," Lukkes said. "We don't rush for as many yards as we do without him up front, and he is a great, deserving kid for this selection."

From the running back position, Soukup led Avon's rushing attack throughout the season, compiling 915 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 113 carries. Soukup was tabbed as an honorable mention all-state offensive selection.

"Trenton is a hard-hitting kid and a great runner with the football in his hands," Lukkes said. "He notched 97 and 98-yard rushing touchdowns this year, and he is an even better lead blocker for us."

State quarterfinalist Corsica-Stickney had three all-state honorees in senior running back Waylon Bolle and junior defensive lineman Quinten De Vries, as sophomore Max VandenHoek was an honorable mention pick.

In 10 games, Bolle posted 1,012 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 107 rushing attempts. He also added 218 receiving yards and two scores on seven receptions. As a four-year starter, Bolle tallied 4,340 total rushing yards and 64 rushing touchdowns to go with 828 receiving yards and 13 more scores.

"Waylon has been a very important part of our team the last four years," said Corsica-Stickney head coach Gregg Olawsky. "He runs hard and is difficult to bring down on first contact. He was a very good leader for us this year, and set a good example for our younger players to look up to."

Quinten De Vries, at 5-foot-10 and 250 pounds, offered 59 total tackles, 38 solo, eight tackles for loss and five sacks on the year to be tabbed as all-state defensive lineman.

"Quentin set the tone for our group up front this year," Olawsky said. "He has great speed for a guy his size, which allowed him to play multiple positions on the defensive line. He really improved his game from a year ago and became a leader for us."

Canistota landed senior defensive lineman Adam Kleinsasser, at 6-foot-5 and 350 pounds, on the all-state team. This season, Kleinsasser tallied 22 1/2 tackles and two sacks in nine games.

"Adam is one of those players that you dream of coaching," said Canistota head coach Brandon Jacobsen. "He is hard-working, self-motivated, smart, and always gives his all. Adam sets a fantastic example for everyone with what he does not only on the field, but off of it as well. If anyone is deserving of an all-state award, it would be Adam. I will sincerely miss him when he graduates."

The Hawks also put Payson Acheson on the all-state squad on special teams, as the sophomore had 11 punt returns for an average of 30.4 yards per return. Seniors Prayden Acheson and Easton Miller were honorable mention picks for Canistota.

Class 9B state champion Dell Rapids St. Mary's had a class-best eight all-state selections, including senior standout quarterback Trimmier Hanson, who was honored as the Class 9B All-American.

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