Sep. 8—FREEMAN, S.D. — The names may have changed, the classification may be different and the Freeman Flyers may no longer be sharing a roster with Marion and Freeman Academy, but through three games, the results look awfully familiar.
A year after Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy captured the Class 9AA state championship and an undefeated season, the Freeman football program has opened its encore as a Class 9A team with a perfect 3-0 record. And the Flyers have looked more than ready to make another run at a state title.
Freeman entered the season ranked No. 1 in Class 9A, and three games into the season, the Flyers have done nothing to give up that spot. The Flyers have scored at least 36 points in each game, including a statement 52-13 victory over then-No. 3 Howard on Friday, Sept. 4, while Freeman’s defense has surrendered just 12.6 points per game on the year.
“We haven’t changed anything with our program, and a lot of the coaching staff is the same. I think that has really led us to start off strong here,” Freeman coach Dustin Tschetter said. “We are coming along nicely, and some of those newer guys have really shown up, and they aren’t so new anymore, which is great to see.”
That transition was expected to be one of the biggest storylines surrounding the Flyers entering the season. Freeman graduated several key pieces from last year’s championship squad, including quarterback Riley Tschetter, running back Luke Peters and tight end Tate Sorensen, each an all-state selection. But instead of taking a step back, Freeman has quickly found replacements who have embraced larger roles.
Leading that group is junior quarterback Tayden Kerrigan, a first-year starter who spent the previous few seasons learning behind Riley Tschetter. Kerrigan has looked increasingly comfortable with every game.
Against Howard, he completed 14 of 17 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns while adding 19 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. Through three games, Kerrigan is 23-for-28 passing for 456 yards with nine touchdown passes and just one interception, while also finding the end zone three times on the ground.
“It has been better every single game, and I feel more comfortable every time,” Kerrigan said of his confidence growing in his first year starting at quarterback. “And practices are huge, as well as watching film, which is probably the biggest thing for me.”
For Kerrigan, having a front-row seat to Riley Tschetter’s success has been an important part of his development.
“Watching Riley play last year was huge for me, and obviously we lost some athletes from last year’s team, but we also have some returners who are really good for us,” Kerrigan said. “I just have to get it out to them, and they will make plays for me. Riley and my coaches have really helped me with that.”
Kerrigan has certainly done his part, but he has also benefited from a supporting cast that has made his first season under center much easier.
The Flyers have a new running back tandem in junior Axle Schultz and senior Alaric Knittel, players who, oddly enough, wear jersey numbers 55 and 54, respectively. Both have been productive behind an offensive line that has continued to control the line of scrimmage. Knittel leads Freeman with 111 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Schultz has 71 yards and two touchdowns.
“Luke Peters last year was great for us at running back, but Axel and Alaric have filled that spot really well for us,” Kerrigan said. “And our offensive line is so good, so we can really put anybody back there and I feel like we will always be alright.”
The Flyers also have a new starting tight end in senior Oliver Waltner, a 6-foot-4 target who has quickly become an important option for Kerrigan, particularly near the goal line. Waltner hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Kerrigan against Howard for Freeman’s second touchdown of the night and has three catches for 25 yards through three games.
Then there are the returners who have taken another step forward. Junior wide receiver David Walter has seven catches for 164 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding a kickoff-return touchdown. Fellow junior Easton Tschetter has been even more productive through the air, totaling 11 catches for 211 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
And Easton Tschetter has been just as disruptive on defense. He leads the Flyers with 32 tackles and has added a kickoff-return touchdown and two interception-return touchdowns, making him one of the most dynamic players on either side of the ball in Class 9A.
Sophomore offensive lineman and linebacker Trey Maske is second on the team with 17 tackles, while Schultz has 16 tackles and Knittel has 15. With nine juniors and six seniors, the Flyers also have plenty of experience despite the graduation losses from last year’s championship team.
Still, Freeman knows a 3-0 start does not guarantee anything when the ultimate goal is to be holding the championship trophy inside the DakotaDome in November. Now, after opening the season with three consecutive road games, Freeman finally gets to show its home fans what this new-look team can do.
The Flyers will host Avon at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, in Freeman for their home opener and the debut of the school’s new sports complex, which features a new grandstand, press box, concessions area and track surface.
Freeman may have lost some of the players who helped deliver a state championship a year ago, but the early returns suggest the Flyers have not lost their identity. The challenge now is maintaining that standard as the schedule gets tougher and the expectations continue to rise.
“We have a couple challenging opponents coming up with Avon and Centerville, so we’ll get to test ourselves again and again,” Dustin Tschetter said. “We just have to keep correcting the mistakes we make, and hopefully in five or six weeks from now we’re peaking at the right time.”