Here is a look at games to watch for this week in South Dakota high school football:

Chester Area (3-0) at Howard (3-0)

Rankings: Chester Area is No. 4 in Class 9AA; Howard is No. 2 in Class 9A. 

Outlook: Two high-scoring offenses will clash at 7 p.m. tonight in Howard. 

The Chester Area Flyers, who rely on dynamic quarterback Stratton Eppard, will look to offset Howard’s balanced rushing attack. Eppard, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior, has thrown for 572 yards and nine touchdowns this season. He’s added 359 rushing yards and five more scores. Eppard’s top target is Jovi Wolf, who garnered all-state honors last season as a freshman. 

Defensively, Chester Area has complemented its offense so far this season. The Flyers have picked up wins over Arlington/Lake Preston (51-0), Bon Homme (43-0) and Viborg-Hurley (38-0). 

The Tigers are coming off a 59-28 win over Cornbelt Conference foe Canistota/Freeman. Howard erupted for 584 total yards, including 473 yards on the ground. Senior running back Ty Beyer paced the offense with 163 rushing yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns. Senior running back John Callies added 130 rushing yards and two more scores. Sophomore quarterback Taiden Hoyer contributed two rushing touchdowns and threw for another score. Howard began the season with shutouts over Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (55-0) and Colman-Egan (49-0).

McCook Central/Montrose (2-0) at Elk Point-Jefferson (2-0)

Rankings: McCook Central/Montrose is receiving votes in Class 11B; Elk Point-Jefferson is No. 5 in Class 11B. 

Outlook: The McCook Central/Montrose Fighting Cougars have gone 21 days in between games. MCM picked up a 22-13 win over Beresford in the season opener on Aug. 20, but Hill City forfeited the next week due to lack of numbers. The Fighting Cougars will now face a Class 11B gauntlet, which includes games against No. 2 Sioux Valley and No. 3 Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan over the next two weeks. MCM’s Gavin Gordon piled up 296 passing yards and two touchdowns in the opener, while engineering an offense that produced 349 total yards. 

For EPJ, the Huskies have opened the season with wins over Miller/Highmore-Harrold (48-6) and Flandreau (55-6). Elk Point-Jefferson features a balanced rushing attack and has amassed 706 yards on the ground. Junior running back Ben Swatek has rushed for a team-high 178 yards and five touchdowns. Lucas Hueser, Devon Schmitz and Gavin Jacobs have each racked up more than 100 rushing yards this season.

Potter County (2-1) and Hitchcock-Tulare (3-0)

Rankings: Potter County is unranked in Class 9B; Hitchcock-Tulare is receiving votes in Class 9B.

Outlook: Hitchcock-Tulare has already matched last season’s win total and could surpass it tonight with a win over Potter County. The Patriots have picked up wins over Waverly-South Shore (55-0), Northwestern (52-8) and Sunshine Bible Academy (55-0). But they could score an early-season signature win over the Battlers. The Patriots are powered by a two-headed rushing attack in senior Jack Boomsma (227 rushing yards/5 touchdowns) and sophomore Erik Salmen (203 rushing yards/3 touchdowns). Junior wide receiver Landon Puffer has hauled in four touchdown receptions and 190 receiving yards. 

The Battlers squeezed out a 12-7 win last week against Warner. They’ve also defeated Newell (58-8) and lost to Class 9B No. 2 Faulkton Area (36-18). Senior quarterback Grant Luikens (432 passing yards/5 touchdowns) engineers the offensive attack. 

Wall (3-0) at Philip (2-0)

Rankings: Wall is No. 5 in Class 9A; Philip is unranked in Class 9A. 

Outlook: The two West River rivals separated by 30 miles will lock horns tonight in Philip. 

The Eagles topped the Scotties, 16-6, in last year’s contest and this year’s matchup features a host of familiar faces. Wall is powered by sophomore quarterback Burk Blasius, junior running back Cedar Amiotte, senior fullback Ethan Ferguson, junior fullback Mason Heath and junior wide receiver Rylan McDonnell. Amiotte has rushed for 447 yards and six rushing touchdowns this season. Wall rolled up 577 total yards last week in a 61-18 win over Kadoka Area.

For Philip, sophomore running back Layton Terkildsen has rushed for 115 yards and three touchdowns. Senior quarterback Chayson Schofield has thrown for two touchdown passes. 

Rapid City Stevens (1-1) at Sioux Falls Jefferson (1-1) 

Rankings: Rapid City Stevens is receiving votes in Class 11AAA; Sioux Falls Jefferson is No. 5 in Class 11AAA. 

Outlook: Last week, Rapid City Stevens snapped a 13-game losing streak in a 44-33 win over Sioux Falls Roosevelt. The Raiders narrowly lost to Brandon Valley (14-0) in the opener. Up next, Stevens will face South Dakota’s newest school in Sioux Falls Jefferson. 

The Cavaliers are coming off a 33-21 loss against Brandon Valley, but earned a 17-14 win over Sioux Falls Washington in their inaugural game on Aug. 27. Jefferson is paced by junior quarterback Taylen Ashley, who has 309 passing yards and two touchdowns through two games.