VOLGA Every time Donovan Rose touched the ball in his senior season there was a possibility that he was going to take it to the end zone.
Twenty-one times he did just that and that was a big reason that Sioux Valley made it to the Class 11B State Championship for the first time since 1988. Rose finished the 2024 season with 1,826 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns. He took two kickoffs back for touchdowns as well and was a member of the Class 11B All-State Team.
The final accolade of his senior season will be being the 2024 Brookings Register Football Player of the Year.
He put up those numbers this season despite missing two games after breaking his finger in the third game of the season. But individual accomplishments arent something that Rose focuses on. He was excited to play in the championship game and finish off his career with some of his best friends, even if it ended with a loss.
It felt really good [to play in the championship game], Rose said. I felt like we were the better team but we hurt ourselves in [that game]. But it felt unreal because its been so many years since [Sioux Valley] has been there and it just felt amazing that we were able to be there and be the team that represented Sioux Valley.
The connections and friendships that we had with each other [made this season special] and how long weve been with each other really helped us [be successful]. Its really all about the team chemistry and that can take you a long way.
At just 5-foot-9, Roses speed is one of his best attributes on the football field as he also runs track. But its not just speed that makes Rose hard to stop. He said he thinks everyone on the field plays a part in him breaking off big runs.
I never really realized how fast I was, Rose said. I just kind of played the game and didnt think about that. Everyone is just trying to play the game and it doesnt matter how gifted you are [athletically]. Your will to win is what really drives you.
It comes down to everything. Lineman, play calling, and then my field of vision is just really good. I cant just run through 11 players on the other side of the defense. Theres other players that help me do that and it all comes down to the team.
Rose was a two-way player as he played defensive back as well. He had 54 tackles in 2024 to go along with eight tackles for a loss, an interception, a fumble recovery, a sack and a safety.
Its not just the touchdowns, long runs or tackles that made his career at Sioux Valley a special one. It was also the leadership and the personality he has that people will remember about Rose. Sioux Valley head coach Dan Hughes said Rose makes everyone around him better.
Its been an absolute blessing to be able to coach him. Hes a better person than he is an athlete and Ill always admire that. Ill always admire how he uses his attention to make other people better. He wants people to be good people and thats what he uses his influence for and Im extremely proud of him for it, Hughes said.
Rose was a part of the Sioux Valley football teams unity council. Its made up of mostly upperclassmen and they would organize team lifting sessions and off the field gatherings. Rose said being a leader both on and off the field was one of his favorite things about playing for the Cossacks.
I would just try to help [the underclassmen] through practice. If they had any questions, there were some of the younger running backs that would ask me where to hit the hole or about certain plays and I would help them out. Even during school, I talk to them and have a laugh with them.
I just really liked making relationships with underclassmen because it would really strengthen your team. Its not always just strictly football. You can just be friends. Being part of the team makes you better.
Next year Rose will play football at the University of Sioux Falls. He had interest from South Dakota State, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Augustana and Minnesota State Mankato, but said he felt that USF was the right place and he liked the coach.
He knows it isnt going to be easy making the transition from Class 11B to Division II, but he believes if he sticks to his game everything will work out.
Everyone is going to be good [in college]. If you make it to the college level youre good. You cant be bad and make it to college. Everyone is good, so I just need to be myself. Im not going to try to be a superhero and do everything. I know everyone is going to be good, so Im just going to try to be me, Rose said.
For his career he ran for 3,604 yards, which was the all-time record at Sioux Valley. He had 4,669 all-purpose yards and 54 total touchdowns, which makes him the all-time leading scorer for the Cossacks as well.
However, when Rose looks back on his career at Sioux Valley, its not going to be the wins or losses or the amount of yards he ran for. Hes going to remember how fun it was making friends through football.
Im going to remember the friendships. Thats really what can make you a good team, everybody being close with each other. Thats the last time Im ever going to play with my friends and it really just makes me look back at [how great it was], Rose said.
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