Three West River football players were named to the Class 11AA all-state football team, headlined by standout Spearfish tailback Jordan Johnson. One of Johnson's offensive linemen - Nick Olson - and a defensive lineman that spent the past few seasons chasing him - Rapid City Central defensive end Steve Dolan - were the other two selections to the team from western South Dakota.

Johnson rushed for more than 1,100 yards during his senior season to cap a career that saw him gain 3,495 yards - third all-time in Class 11AA - and score 38 rushing touchdowns.

Olson was a three-year starter for the Spartans and, like Dolan, was an all-Greater Dakota Conference selection at guard. Dolan finished the 2008 season with 67 total tackles, three sacks and four fumble recoveries for the Cobblers.

Despite falling in the semifinals, Sioux Falls O'Gorman dominated the team, with eight players named to the 28-man squad.

The honor team, selected by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association, featured 20 players from the Sioux Falls area.

Washington, the runner-up to state champion Lincoln, landed five players on the all-state team, while Lincoln and Brandon Valley each had three.

The Knights had four players on the defensive unit with lineman Mike Pharis; linebacker Jason Feit and backs Phil Wright and Will Powell.

They also had two on offense, fullback Mike Isaacson and guard Robbie Hakl, as well as a pair of specialty players in kicker Trevor Hooten and long snapper Mike Fettig.

"To get eight players on the all-state team is a great tribute; I don't think it's ever been done," Knights coach Steve Kueter said. "This is one of the best defensive units we've had, and almost all of them played both ways."

Leading that group was the defensive signal-caller - Feit, with 75 tackles, and Pharis, who had 62 tackles and seven sacks in 2008.

Kueter joked that cornerback Wright and safety Powell, who doubled as high-powered halfbacks, "caught more balls in the secondary than we threw to them."

Representing the runner-up Warriors were center Tom Farniok, tight end Quintin McMartin, defensive end Nick Franken, linebacker Tyler Johnson and defensive back Adam Heck.

Washington coach Brian Hermanson said Farniok was his best player.

"He's the best offensive lineman I've been around in 27 years. He's a punishing blocker who takes great pride in pancaking his opponents," Hermanson said.

Heck and Johnson led the Warriors in tackles, with 87 and 82 respectively, and McMartin averaged 20 yards on his 35 receptions and scored 11 touchdowns.

The title-winning Patriots were represented by Gannon Moore, who scored 27 touchdowns while running 201 times for 1,777 yards; wide receiver Brett Anderson, who caught 37 passes for 1,009 yards and 10 TDs; and wide receiver Derek Carlson, who caught 40 passes for 582 yards and 4 TDs.

Eastern South Dakota Conference champion Brandon Valley rode the golden arm of Austin Sumner to an undefeated regular season.

Sumner set three state season passing records: attempts (357), completions (209) and yards (3,332). He threw 33 TDs and had 181 passes without an interception.

Darren Niklason was Sumner's favorite target. He also set state records for catches (74), TD catches (17) and yards (1,455).

Left tackle Chase Douglas anchored the line for the Lynx, helping the offense rack up 4,591 total yards without allowing a sack in 370 attempts.

Roosevelt linebacker Ross Peterson was in on 111 tackles while playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder after the second game of the season.

Watertown, Brookings and Spearfish each had three players honored, while Roosevelt, Pierre and Rapid City Central each had one.