•  Minnewaska to host Morris Area-CA Tigers in 2023 opener 

The Minnewaska Area football team is set to kick off the new season Thursday, Aug. 31 at home against the Morris Area-CA Tigers.

The Lakers, coached by second-year head coach Jared Lyle, are coming off an 0-9 season from a year ago.  Minnewaska Area also went 1-8 in 2021, giving the football program just one win in the last two seasons.

Victories this fall will be just as hard to come by as the Lakers face a very tough schedule that includes Pierz, Rockford Area, Montevideo and Albany, among other teams.

Last year, the Lakers scored 102 points while giving up 395 points.  Minnewaska Area was shut out twice and scored 14 points four times.  The closest the Lakers came to a win was a 14-point loss at Morris Area-CA (28-14) late in the season.

The season came to an end with a 59-12 loss to second-seeded Albany in the opening round of the Section 6AAA Tourney.  Albany went on to lose to NLS in the section championship and the Wildcats went on to win the Class AAA title with a 27-26 victory over Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton.

•  Seniors lost to graduation from last year’s team include Paul Johnson, Jr., Conner Stein, Blake Andreas, Hunter Kloos, Cole Baker, Ethan Barron, Chase Boelke, Brady Blair and Jack Larson. 

•  This year’s roster, which includes 11 seniors, 16 juniors and 20 sophomores, totals 47 players in grades 10-12.  Assisting Lyle this fall are Matt Meagher, Jason Weber, Jeremy Christensen, Brian Gruber, Zach Traphagen and Nathan Snider.

“Practices have been going well so far,” coach Jared Lyle said.  “The guys are working really hard and we are focusing on getting a little better every day.

“The kids have been pushing each other the last few weeks and we have multiple kids pushing for starting positions.”

•  Austin Ballhagen, PJ Johnson, Jack Majerus and Austin Weber were among the leaders for the Minnewaska Area during the 2022 season.  

PJ Johnson, the starting quarterback, ended the season 35-of-96 passing for 630 yards with eight interceptions and four touchdowns.  Levi Johnson was 21-for-44 for another 273 yards with four interceptions and two touchdowns, while Ballhagen was 2-of-9 for eight yards with one interception.

Nine players had at least one reception last year for the Lakers, including Ballhagen with 17 receptions for 453 yards and four scores, while Austin Weber had 13 catches for 188 yards, Majerus had eight for 83 yards, Hunter Kloos also had eight for 81 yards, Blake Andreas had five for 63 yards, Conner Stein had four for 21 yards before being injured for the season and PJ Johnson, Bode DeZelar and Noah Jensen each had one catch.

The Lakers rushed 285 times for 960 net yards last fall.  Majerus was the top rusher with 127 carries for 548 yards and four touchdowns, while Chase Boelke rushed 35 times for 121 yards, Myles Reichmann had 20 carries for 107 yards and PJ Johnson ran 41 times for 58 net yards.

On defense, Reichmann had a team-high three sacks, while Weber, Boelke, Brady Blair, Jack Larson and Jensen each had one.  Majerus had five of the Lakers’ six interceptions last season, with Ballhagen snaring one, while Weber and Boelke both had two fumble recoveries and Levi Johnson and Jensen both had one.

The top kickoff returners were Weber (14-for-165 yards), Majerus (12-for-161 yards) and Andreas (6-for-96 yards), and Andreas was also the top punt returner, returning two for 15 yards.

Handling the kicking duties last year was Zach Gugisberg, while the punters last season were Stein, Kloos and Guggisberg.

•  During the final Mid State 1 Football Standings, Pierz, Rockford and Morris Area-CA tied for first with 4-1 records, while Melrose Area was fourth (2-3), Montevideo fifth (1-4) and Minnewaska Area sixth (0-5).

This year, the sub-districts have changed as Morris Area-CA moves out and Albany, Howard Lake-WW and Sauk Centre move in.

“There are any number of teams that, if healthy, can challenge for the sub-district or section title,” coach Lyle said.  “Our goal is not to focus on the end result, but to focus on the process.  We call for the kids to become champions and pursue championships both on and off the field.”

In Section 6AAA, Morris Area-CA and Pierz have moved out while Sauk Centre moves in to form a 6-team section which also includes Albany, Melrose Area, Montevideo and NLS.

“Our section is still loaded with other very good teams and it should be fun to compete in,” coach Lyle said.

•  Earning All-District honorable mention last season were junior Jack Majerus and senior Brady Blair.

•  Earning the Dan Wold Award was senior Conner Stein, a wide receiver, defensive back and punter for the Lakers, who was injured early in the season.

•  Selected for All-District Academic honors were Chase Smith, Carter Meyer, Levi Johnson, Austin Weber, Jack Majerus, Owen Meulebroeck, Myles Reichmann, Jack Larson, Lucas Tauber, Kaiden Harvey, Drew Winter and Oliver Rieland.

Minnewaska Area football roster 2023

1-Austin Ballhagen WR-DB 160 12 

2-Marc Gruber QB-DB 155 10

3-Carter Meyer RB-DB 160 11

4-Austin Weber WR-LB 170 12

5-Zachary Gugisberg WR-DB 140 11

7-Brady McCrory WR-DB 155 11

8-Levi Johnson QB-DB 150 11

9-Braylen Scharmer WR-DB 160 10

10-Josh Hippe WR-DB 135 11

11-Conner Frey WR-LB 155 11

12-Carter Huckle WR-DB 160 10

15-Nathan Dell WR-LB 175 12

18-Tate Anderson QB-DB 150 10

20-Bode DeZelar WR-DB 140 12

21-Kearri Dickens RB-LB 160 10

22-Jack Majerus RB-DB 160 12

23-Jackson Marquart WR-LB 165 10

24-Luke Danielson WR-LB 160 10

25-Tyson Metz WR-LB 160 10

26-Asante Adams RB-LB 150 10

27-Owen Meulebroeck TE-LB 175 11

28-Myles Reichmann RB-LB 185 12

30-Evan Armstrong RB-LB 145 10

35-Riley Dell TE-LB 220 10

36-Oliver Rieland RB-LB 155 11

44-Kolton Rogers RB-LB 175 10

52-Ethan Jacobs OL-DL 215 10

54-AJ Svec OL-DL 145 10

55-Austin Hoverud OL-LB 180 12

57-Cole Kittelson OL-DL 170 12

58-Kenneth Czech OL-DL 200 12

60-Jayda Kolstoe OL-DL 190 10

62-Eric Bowen OL-DL 250 10

64-Jordan Chakua OL-DL 230 11

65-Ike Spychalla OL-DL 185 10

66-Evan Friese OL-DL 305 11

67-John Jenson OL-DL 230 12

71-Lucas Tauber OL-DL 220 11

73-Koulten Hoffman OL-DL 175 11

74-Ben Jenson OL-DL 240 12

76-Drew Winter OL-DL 205 11

77-Joel Lange OL-DL 310 10

82-Noah Jensen TE-DL 205 11

84-Tristan O’Neill WR-DB 140 10

87-Kaiden Harvey TE-DL 205 11

90-Lucky Hippe OL-DL 185 11

95-Landon Otto OL-DL 215 10

(Head coach:  Jared Lyle . . . Assistants:  Matt Meagher, Jason Weber, Jeremy Christensen, Brian Gruber, Zach Traphagen and Nathan Snider)

Check out more photos in our photo gallery!