Experience and new talent to fuel Tea Area football’s 2025 season

The Tea Area Titans are gearing up for the 2025 football season set to kick-off this Friday at home with a mix of veteran leadership, new talent, and a determination to build off last year’s 5-5 record. Head Coach Scott Frey, entering his 35th year of coaching and 15th at Tea, said the Titans are prepared for the upcoming season.

“We cannot overlook any opponent on the schedule. The Parity in Class AA football has shrunk over the years and to overlook someone would not be the right decision to do. We are trying to be 1-0 after every week of the season,” said Frey. 

Frey played high school football at Marshall, MN and college football at Augustana in Sioux Falls. He began his coaching career at Sioux Falls O’Gorman before moving to Sioux Falls Roosevelt and eventually coming to Tea. 

The Titans went 5-5 in 2024, earning victories over Aberdeen Central, Huron, Douglas, Mitchell, and Sioux Falls Washington. Their playoff run ended in the first round with a loss to Brookings.

Assisting Frey will be Brent Johnson – Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers Coach; Mason Scheidegger – Offensive Line Coach & JV Offensive Coordinator; Shanw Kennedy – Defensive Backs Coach & JV Defensive Coordinator; Matt Brue – Wide Receivers Coach & 9th Grade Offensive Coordinator; and Logan Shockman – Defensive Line Coach, 9th Grade Defensive Coordinator, Special Teams Coordinator. 

This year the Titans will be without three strong athletes who have graduated moved on to play college football. Those athletes include: Jacob Jongejeugd (University of Sioux Falls); Sam Werdel (Northwestern, IA); and Riley Svanda (Jamestown University, ND). 

But the Titans do return several key players this year on the field, including quarterback, Brenner Konrad who was hurt most of last season. Also offense, the Titans return running back Carter Brown, and key players on the offensive line anchored by Cody Petersen, Kingston Nyberg, and Trey Krell.

On defense, Brown will also lead at linebacker, with Chase DeBoer and Hayden Bialas on the line, and Carter Christensen and Grifin Wiebenga in the secondary.

Several underclassmen are ready to step into bigger roles, with Coach Frey highlighting Kade Korleski (RB/LB), Mitch Grant (QB/DB), and Thiik Lual (OL/DL). 

Frey said the Titans’ combination of athleticism and experience at key positions will be crucial.

“We have to take advantage of our athleticism and experience that we have at certain positions,” Frey explained.

At the same time, the coach acknowledged that every program faces challenges.

“Every coach at this time of the season is concerned with injuries and developing depth at every position,” he said.

While the Titans face a competitive schedule, Frey emphasized the importance of treating every week the same. Games to circle on the schedule include homecoming against Huron, back-to-back home contests with Brookings and Watertown, a road trip to Yankton, and a season-ending matchup at Sioux Falls Washington.

“Selfishly, I think every game is a must-watch,” Frey added.

As the Titans prepare to take the field this Friday at home against Spearfish, their focus is clear.

“We want to go 1-0 every week,” Frey said. “We cannot look ahead or behind during the season, we just need to focus on each week and put everything we can into winning the week. If we do that, things will take care of themselves in the end.”

2025 Tea Area Titans Roster

Daschle Lowery, Senior, 6’1, 165, QB/DB

Lucas Randall, Sophomore, 6’2, 175, WR/DB

Zac Webb, Senior, 6’1, 163, RB/DB

Sam Stansbury, Sophomore, 5’11, 180, RB/LB

Caden Bohnenberger, Senior, 5’10, 145, WR/DB

Devyn Rhodes, Freshman, 6’, 175, QB/DB

Mitch Grant, Sophomore, 6’3, 185, QB/DB

Cameron Hillestad, Sophomore, 6’, 155, WR/DB

Grifin Wiebenga, Junior, 6’4, 190, WR/DB

Beau Werdel, Sophomore, 6’, 175, RB/LB

Carter Christensen, Senior, 6’2, 188, WR/DB

Ben Bruns, Sophomore, 5’11, 180, WR/LB

Adam Berglund, Sophomore, 5’10, 145, WR/DB

Brenner Konrad, Senior, 6’3, 230, QB/LB

Kiley Pendergast, Senior, 5’5, 135, K

Landon Biddle, Sophomore, 5’8, 132, WR/DB

Trevin Audiss, Sophomore, 5’9, 165, RB/LB

Landen Bolte, Junior, 5’9, 140, WR/DB

Avery Hangman, Junior, 6’3, 195, RB/DL

Leyton Moran, Senior, 5’11, 170, WR/LB

Brady Tapia, Senior, 5’7, 175, RB/LB

Kade Korleski, Junior, 6’1, 180, RB/LB

Carter Brown, Senior, 6’, 195, RB/LB

Emmett DeGeest, Sophomore, 5’11, 195, RB/LB

Braeden Gniffke, Junior, 5’8, 175, RB/LB

Ryder Henriksen, Senior, 5’11, 170, RB/LB

Darren Rhodes, Freshman, 5’9, 170, RB/LB

Chase DeBoer, Senior, 6’4, 230, OL/DL

Kingston Nyberg, Senior, 6’1, 220, OL/DL

Hayden Bialas, Junior, 6’3, 210, OL/DL

Gavin Stahnke, Sophomore, 6’2, 205, OL/DL

Thiik Lual, Sophomore, 6’4, 220, OL/DL

Jeremiah Wilgers, Junior, 5’8, 178, OL/DL

Jameson Biggins, Junior, 6’, 220, OL/DL

Tyson De Young, Junior, 6’3, 220, OL/DL

Trevor Cordell, Sophomore, 5’10, 155, OL/DL

Luke Wharton, Sophomore, 6’1, 245, OL/DL

Beau Wranek, Sophomore, 6’, 235, OL/DL

Dawson Bunkofske, Sophomore, 6’1, 205, OL/DL

Cody Petersen, Senior, 6’6, 265, OL/DL

Mason Sazue, Sophomore, 6’, 265, OL/DL

Trey Krell, Junior, 6’3, 270, OL/DL

Jaden Knodel, Senior, 6’, 230, OL/DL

2025 Tea Area Titans Football Schedule

• Fri, Aug. 29 – vs. Spearfish, 6:00 PM

Tea Area High School Titan Stadium

• Fri, Sept. 5 – @ Aberdeen Central, 7:00 PM

Gene Brownell Complex

• Fri, Sept. 12 – vs. Huron, 6:00 PM (Homecoming)

Tea Area High School Titan Stadium

• Fri, Sept. 19 – @ Douglas, 6:00 PM

Douglas High School Patriot Stadium

• Fri, Sept. 26 – @ Mitchell, 7:00 PM (Homecoming)

Joe Quintal Field

• Fri, Oct. 3 – vs. Brookings, 6:00 PM

Tea Area High School Titan Stadium

• Fri, Oct. 10 – vs. Watertown, 6:00 PM (Senior Night)

Tea Area High School Titan Stadium

• Fri, Oct. 17 – @ Yankton, 7:00 PM

Crane-Youngworth Field

• Thu, Oct. 23 – @ Sioux Falls Washington, 5:00 PM

Howard Wood Field