Titans to kick-off football season this Friday
“With the loss of a great senior class, the younger players will need to step up and fill the positions that are open due to graduation.”
— Scott Frey
Titan Head Football Coach
Tea Area High School football team prepares to kick off their 2023 season under the leadership of second-year Head Coach Scott Frey this Friday, Aug. 25 in Huron. With an impressive record of 10-2 last year that saw them earn State AA runner-up honors, the Titans are ready to take on new challenges and continue their journey towards success.
Last season the Titans earned wins over Huron, Aberdeen Central, Sioux Falls O’Gorman, Rapid City Douglas, Yankton, Sturgis, Spearfish, and Watertown. The team’s only two losses came at the hands of the 2022 State AA Champions, Pierre.
The 2023 season will see some new faces in key positions with last year’s quarterback and running backs graduating. The team will also be without a couple of wide receivers, offensive lineman, and defensive lineman after graduating athletes in those positions.
“With the loss of a great senior class, the younger players will need to step up and fill the positions that are open due to graduation,” said Frey. “We will also need to be relatively injury-free.”
The Titans return three starters on both offense and defense. Returning starters on the offense include Keegan DeYoung, Carter Turek, and Garrett Weibenga. Returning starters for the defense include Jessen Weibenga, Ethan Vis, and Sam Werdel.
The team will also welcome newcomers like Jacob Jongejeugd and Charlie Leslie on the offensive and defensive line, who are anticipated to make significant contributions on the field. Also looking to make an impact will be Juniors Tyler Rhead and Riley Svanda, both at running back. Sophomore Brenner Konrad will take the reins at quarterback.
The Titans are set to face an intense lineup of opponents, and Frey is keenly aware of the challenges ahead.
“I think every team we play will be better than last year, so I believe that every week will be tough. It is how we go through the season. Our toughest opponent is our next opponent,” Frey remarked.
Tea Area’s journey begins on August 25th as they take on Huron on the road. The Titans first home match-up will be on Sept. 1 when they take on Aberdeen Central. On Sept. 8 they face off against O’Gorman and on Sept. 15 they host Rapid City Douglas in the 2023 Homecoming match-up. On Sept. 22 they host Yankton before heading to Sturgis on Sept. 29. They will be out west again on Oct. 7, taking on Spearfish. The Titans wrap up the regular season with home games against Pierre on Oct. 13 and Watertown on Oct. 19.
As the Titans aim for a successful season, they are focused on harnessing their potential and adapting to the changes that come with new players and challenges. Frey realizes that replacing a good class from last year and traveling across the state in back-to-back weeks will have its challenges but he also emphasized the camaraderie and unity among the players as a strength on this year’s team.
“I love the energy that the players have. They are all united in getting better as a team every day,” said Frey. “They also look out for each other and realize that we cannot reach our goals if we play as individuals or even individual classes.”
This marks the third season the Titans will compete in Class AA. They won the Class A State title in 2018 and 2020.