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The Pipestone Area Schools football team returns five starters from last year’s squad that produced a 7-3 record.
All of the starters are two-way players, as reported by PAS head coach Scott Boomgaarden.
Those players are 2024 offensive player of the year Cayden Zephier (who will play running back this year), quarterback/defensive back Austin Musch, offensive/defensive lineman Jackson Post, wide receiver/defensive back Kayden White and running back/linebacker Xavier Banjoko.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Austin Musch warms up on the sideline during a scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 23, at Paulsen Athletic Complex. Musch is expected to be the Arrows’ starting quarterback. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Pipestone Area Schools’ Jackson Post (60) pursues to the ball during a scrimmage versus Russell-Tyler-Ruthton on Saturday, Aug. 23, at Paulsen Athletic Complex. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Zephier, as a wide receiver last season, paced the Arrows with 655 yards including a 94-yard TD. He picked off three Redwood Valley passes during the Section 3AA playoff game.
Playing quarterback while Landon Quist was injured will prove to be beneficial for Musch (602 yards, five passing TD). He also provided 94 tackle points defensively.
Boomgaarden named Musch last year’s most improved player.
In the Pipestone County Star’s defensive statistical system, a solo tackle is worth two points — not one.
Banjoko was a first-team all-section player on both the offensive line and at linebacker. Xavier had 145 tackle points (with nine solo tackles for loss).
The Pipestone Area Schools’ defense has been so stout this season because of players like Xavier Banjoko (50). (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Other returning letterwinners who will see plenty of playing time are offensive and defensive lineman Griffin Smidt, junior wide receiver/defensive back Luka Quist, tight end/linebacker Zayne Zollner and running back/linebacker Mason Fruechte.
It’s hopeful that Fruechte’s success in wrestling last winter will translate to the gridiron.
There are several newcomers who will be in the mix to help the Arrows — juniors Santino Teboe, Gavyn Rowden and Carlos Saenlouangraj, sophomores Jakob Dion and Troy Chaulsett, ninth-grader Blake Bosma and eighth-grader Oliver Sterud.
Dion’s a hard worker who was named scout team player of the year when postseason awards were handed out in December 2024.
Those players will look to fill roles vacated by 13 graduates: Bentley Pater, Weston Reinhard, Hayden Brooke, Tagon Woelber, Evan Gawerecki, Logen Punt, Nohel Vivanco, Lucas Thooft, Nehemiah Ostermeier, Connor Wagner, Trevor Chaulsett, Makhi Winter and Landon Quist.
Here’s part of what was lost.
— Gawerecki was last year’s Mr. Hustle, now a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
— Vivanco served as the Arrows kicker, now at Dakota State University in nearby Madison, S.D.
— Pater (58 tackle points in five games) and Brooke were award-winning players.
— Woelber was the team leader in interceptions with five.
— Wagner and Quist were honorable mention all-silver subdistrict performers.
— Winter’s athleticism was a valuable commodity, and he’s now playing basketball at the University of Minnesota-Morris.
Still, Boomgaarden is optimistic about the season ahead.
Pipestone Area Schools’ head football coach Scott Boomgaarden directs the team during a Saturday, Aug. 23, scrimmage at Paulsen Athletic Complex. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“We have speed and we return several key players from last year’s section (3AA) runner-up team,” the coach commented.
The line-up for Thursday’s game versus Redwood Valley isn’t completely etched in stone.
Without getting into specific people, Boomgaarden said there are position battles remaining on the offensive and defensive lines and at linebacker.
Special teams roles — kicker, holder, long snapper, punter and returners — are all set, Boomgaarden said.
Other concerns are size and building depth.
Like last year, the team to beat is Class AA state champion Jackson County Central, who beat Staples-Motley 42-26 for the title.
The Huskies feature offensive lineman Weston Rowe and Roman Voss, who verbally committed to the University of Minnesota on June 23, 2025. Rowe has pledged to South Dakota State University.
The Jackson County Central football team celebrates winning the Class 2A title after beating Staples-Motley 42-26 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, Nov. 22. (Contributed photo from Dan Condon/Jackson County Pilot)
Boomgaarden said LeSeuer-Henderson and Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial will be vastly improved.
Luverne and PAS will square off in the Battle Axe game on Sept. 26 at Paulsen Athletic Complex, a series that began in 1957. The Cardinals have the traveling trophy after a 6-0 overtime victory in 2024.
“We want to go 1-0, and improve each week,” said Boomgaarden, entering his 15th year coaching within the PAS program, “and we always want to compete for a section title.”
Last year, PAS scored 184 points and gained 2,557 yards while allowing 188 points and surrendering 2,581 yards — another indication of how competitive the Arrows were.
Pipestone Area Schools logo. (Contributed graphic from the PAS school district)
INFORMATION
FOOTBALL
Pipestone Area Schools
2025 Schedule
August
23, RUSSELL-TYLER-RUTHTON (SCRIMMAGE), 9 a.m.; 29, at Redwood Valley, Inglis Athletic Complex, Redwood Falls
September
5, WINDOM AREA; 12, at Minnesota Valley Lutheran, Johnson Field, New Ulm; 19, JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL; 26, LUVERNE (BATTLE AXE)
October
3, at Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial; 10, SIBLEY EAST (HOMECOMING); 15, at Le-Seuer-Henderson, LeSeuer
Playoff Schedule
October
21, Section 3AA Quarterfinals; 25, Section 3AA Semifinals; 31, Section 3AA Championship
November
6-8, MSHSL State Quarterfinals (various sites); 13-15, MSHSL Semifinals, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis; 21-22, MSHSL Finals, Prep Bowl Series, U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
Editor’s Note: All home games are listed in ALL CAPS, and played at the Paulsen Athletic Complex. Kickoffs are set for 7 p.m.