Josh Keyes was a 6-foot, 210-pound three-sport star for Detroit Lakes, a graduate of the Class of 1996, and a member of the 1993 and 1995 state football championship teams.
Keyes starred in football, where he was a key contributor on both sides of the ball during the Lakers dynastic mid-90’s.
“Football turned into my primary sport as it progressed in high school,” Keyes said. “The success we had was huge too. That was a really fun experience.”
Keyes also made a state tournament appearance in hockey and was strong with the bat and relieved on the mound in baseball until a broken wrist sidelined the latter half of his senior hockey season and all of his senior baseball season.
Accolades piled up for the Laker gridiron star. He was named to the 1995 Star Tribune All-State football team at linebacker and was named to the Minnesota Associated Press all-state team for a second time. He was the only player on the AP all-state team to be named at the same position (linebacker) twice. Keyes was a two-way starter, all-conference three straight years and was twice the Lakers’ top tackler on defense. Keyes also garnered selection to the 1994 and 1995 Fargo Forum all-area team. He played in the Minnesota All-Star football game between outstate and metro teams and made national press being named one of the top players in Minnesota by USA Today as a junior.
Keyes’ accomplishments in football alone are enough to garner induction into the Hall of Honor.
“It’s an honor to be chosen,” he said. “It was unexpected. I didn’t anticipate getting the call. Just from the years I played there were a lot of great athletes around me. It was something real special. I had a great time playing sports and growing up in DL.”
Keyes showcased his two-way abilities in the 1995 state championship victory over St. Peter scoring two fourth quarter touchdowns to seal the game. His first score was a five-yard run and he followed it up with a 13-yard interception pick six. The 1995 Lakers won a notable eighth straight Section 8 championship. The ’95 squad finished with a perfect 14-0 season. On the first play from scrimmage in the section clincher, Keyes ran 54-yards up the middle for the Lakers’ opening score.
Scoring in big games on big plays was a regular thing.
In October of 1994, Keyes scored twice in a school record 33-point second quarter in a 47-8 bombardment of Staples-Motley.
Keyes grew up with football success as an underclassman with DL’s two undefeated back-to-back championships occurring in 1992 and 1993. He had the key play in the Lakers’ 31st consecutive victory on a 65-yard touchdown run on the first carry of the game in a 21-6 win over East Grand Forks.
Keyes was a part of three state championship football teams from his freshman to senior season. Head Coach Rick Manke referred to Josh as, “an excellent hitter and a very smart football player.”
Keyes played collegiate football at the University of North Dakota. The Fighting Sioux compiled an 8-2 season in 1997. Keyes appeared in all 10 games on special teams making 15 tackles. He redshirted his freshman season and made the traveling squad and lettered two years before a concussion in spring ball and two in the fall nipped his career early by two years.
“I had a great time,” he said. “It was very enjoyable. We had a good experience“
Keyes was also part of a hockey team that made new strides historically in Detroit Lakers.
He was a defenseman on the 1995-96 DL hockey team that won the section tournament gaining the Lakers’ first-ever berth in the Minnesota Class A state tournament. The Lakers were beaten by heavy favorite Warroad 6-0 in the opening round and Simley 2-1 in the consolation bracket.
The 94-95 Lakers set a school record with eight consecutive victories. The baseball team that year opened the season with 10 straight wins. Keyes’ Lakers won conference titles in football and hockey and were runners-up in baseball.
In legion baseball, Keyes was named the winner of the 1994 Ray Hedstrom Most Valuable Player award. His 1994 team finished with a record of 28-12. Keyes marked team highs batting .367, with five homers, 47 hits, and 53 RBIs.
Keyes was a 1995 Mid-State Conference honorable mention award winner in baseball. While a standout hitter, Keyes also took to the mound as a reliever. Had he been able to play his senior year, there would have been plenty of more headlines for the Laker star.
“I had a bunch of teammates that really made it a great time.”
Winning streaks were simply a part of DL athletics during Keyes’ tenure and they happened in every sport in which he participated.
Keyes is the son of Christine and the late Thomas Keyes.
This is the final installment of six Hall of Honor features. The induction ceremony honoring Keyes, the 1987 True Team track team, Ron Noesen, Jerry Fox, Michele Mallow Baker, and Del Mollberg will be held Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Holmes Community Center Ballroom at 6:45 p.m. A social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the High School or Herzog Roofing.
