South hamilton’s WYATT gelder runs the ball last season. Gelder will be a sophomore for the Hawks. (DFJ file photo by Angela Hewitt)

JEWELL — The 2025 season begins for the South Hamilton football team here Friday night vs. Saint Ansgar.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Taylor Field.

The Hawks have qualified for the postseason for three consecutive years and have won at least four games in each of the past nine seasons, going 5-5 a year ago.

Paul Skartvedt’s group will feature several new faces this season as quarterback Braden Young has graduated, along with losing the Top-4 leading rushers from a unit that racked up over 2,600 yards on the ground and scored 31 touchdowns.

Junior Kaden Dean, senior Jose Babcock and sophomore Wyatt Gelder are the top producers back, as Dean had 100 yards, Gelder 96 and Babcock 68. Sophomore Garrett Johnson is slated to take the snaps under center, replacing Young, as he will have Lyndon Johnson to throw to.

On defense, Gelder, Dean, Babcock, Brody Harris, Liam Ealy, Benjamin Swneson and Titus Herrick are all key players back.

Standing opposite South Hamilton will be the Saints, who have gone a combined 20-3 the past two years and own eight 10-plus win seasons since 2014. They are expected to challenge for the Class A state championship this season behind Korben Michels.

Michels ran for 1,295 yards and scored 16 touchdowns a year ago, averaging over 11 yards per carry. Saint Ansgar rushed for over 3,400 yards with 52 TDs on the ground, as Joe Clevenger, Andrew Hall, Matt Clevenger and Jaeger Trytten all return with experience.

Porter Schwiesow is likely to replace his brother, Jayce Schwiesow, who threw for over 1,200 yards and led the Saints to a state baseball championship on the mound this past summer.

This will be the first meeting between South Hamilton and Saint Ansgar.