Early season lessons, experience have Kimball/White Lake football ready for tough stretch ahead

Sep. 15—KIMBALL, S.D. — The Kimball/White Lake Wildkats knew their schedule would eventually get tougher.

They just had to make the most of the time they had before it did. Sitting at 2-1 through the first three games of the high school football season, KWL has used an experienced roster, an early-season bye week and a strong response from its offensive and defensive units to build some momentum heading into what will be its most challenging stretch of the season.

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"The bye week was really big for us, even though it was early on in the season, we were still able to work on some things that we needed to fix before playing some really tough teams," senior quarterback Keaton Christensen said.

That extra week came at an ideal time for the Wildkats. After opening the season with a convincing 42-8 victory over Gregory, Kimball/White Lake dropped a 26-22 decision to Sully Buttes in its second game on Aug. 28. Rather than dwell on the loss, the Wildkats had a week to examine what needed to improve before returning to the field Sept. 11 against Corsica-Stickney.

The result was a 28-14 road victory over the Jaguars and a 2-1 start heading into a daunting portion of the schedule. Now, the Wildkats' margin for error gets considerably smaller.

Kimball/White Lake travels to Parkston at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, for the Trojans' Homecoming game. Parkston enters the matchup ranked No. 1 in Class 9AA, beginning a stretch in which the Wildkats will face three teams ranked among the top five in the most recent prep football rankings in 9AA with No. 2 Bon Homme and No. 5 Platte-Geddes on the schedule after the Trojans, respectively.

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The challenge is significant, particularly after Kimball/White Lake moved from Class 9AA to Class 9A this season. The Wildkats still see several 9AA opponents as part of the Missouri Valley Conference, but the next three games provide an immediate test of where this year's team stands.

What gives KWL confidence is the experience it brings into that stretch. The Wildkats lost only four seniors from last year's team, including one who was injured throughout the season. Kimball/White Lake returned five seniors and 10 juniors, giving coach Ryan Skluzak a group with considerable varsity experience.

The senior class includes Christensen at quarterback and defensive back, Vincent Lenz at tight end and linebacker, Kiner Kirsch and Koye Mohnen along the offensive and defensive lines, and Reagan Myers at wide receiver and defensive back.

That experience is complemented by a strong junior group that includes starting running backs Carter Konechne and Chevy Fees, along with fullback Joseph Skluzak and tight end Easton Nelson, who all play defense as well. Sophomore wide receiver Colt Leiferman and freshman offensive and defensive lineman Dusty Johnson also provide additional pieces for a team looking to establish itself in its new classification.

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"We have a lot of playing experience coming off of last year, so a lot of these kids that are on the field have been playing since they were freshmen and sophomores, which has been huge for us," Skluzak said.

Christensen is one of the clearest examples. A starter since his freshman season, the senior has continued to grow into the quarterback position. Through the opening games, he has provided a steady presence through the air while also contributing with his legs.

He completed 9 of 13 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown in the season-opening victory over Gregory, adding a rushing score. Against Corsica-Stickney, Christensen completed 8 of 17 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.

But Kimball/White Lake's offensive identity has continued to be built around its ground attack, led by Konechne, who erupted for 157 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries against Gregory while also leading the defense with nine tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. He followed that performance with another three-touchdown effort against Corsica-Stickney, rushing 17 times for 112 yards.

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Fees added 83 yards on 11 carries against the Jaguars and scored on a reception. Defensively, the Wildkats have shown an ability to make adjustments in close games. Against C-S, KWL held the Jaguars scoreless in the second half to pull away after a competitive opening half.

Kirsch led the defense with eight tackles and a sack, while Nelson added seven tackles. Lenz and Joseph Skluzak each recorded six tackles. That type of collective effort will be needed against Parkston and the two ranked opponents that follow.

"We have such good communication on defense, and we really play together as one unit," Konechne said. "That is how we're going to have to get it done all year if we want to make it far, and our senior group has been great. They don't ever get too worked up and they know how to act around the game and the team."

The Wildkats are also learning from the lessons from last season, when Kimball/White Lake finished 6-4 and advanced to the Class 9AA state quarterfinals before falling to eventual state champion Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy.

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That experience has helped shape a team that understands the importance of preparation, especially with the toughest portion of its schedule now arriving.

"We have to play sound, disciplined football, and keep the mistakes down to a minimum," Skluzak said. "But more importantly, we got to be better than we were (against Corsica-Stickney) on the offensive and defensive line in the first half. If we do that against those teams, it's gonna be a tough three games for us. But we feel like we can compete with them if we come out fast."