Oct. 9 Football Games to Watch: No. 3 Sully Buttes hosts No. 5 Timber Lake in ranked 9A tilt
Sully Buttes Easton Moore (10) jukes a defender during a game against Kimball/White Lake on Aug. 28, 2026, in Kimball. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)
Timber Lake at Sully Buttes
Class 9A No. 5 Timber Lake travels to No. 3 Sully Buttes Friday night in a battle of unbeatens.
Timber Lake (6-0) has battled to an undefeated record this season, including narrow victories over Lemmon-McIntosh (22-20), Ipswich (12-8) and North Central (12-6). The Panthers also have wins over Herreid-Selby Area (44-24), Hill City (50-7) and Lead-Deadwood (36-10).
Timber Lake averages 29 points per game while allowing just 13 points per game defensively, which is second-best in Class 9A football.
The Panthers are led by junior quarterback Pete Maher and junior wideout Broc Bauer. Maher collected four touchdowns in the win over Lead-Deadwood on Sept. 25, tallying two rushing scores, a pick-six on defense, and a passing touchdown to Bauer. Bauer also scored on the ground as well.
Sully Buttes enters as the third-ranked team in the latest Prep Media Football Poll, receiving 67 total points. The Chargers have similarly had multiple narrow wins this year, including victories over Faulkton Area (30-20), Kimball/White Lake (26-22) and Lyman (42-34). Sully Buttes most recently beat Redfield (22-0), Gettysburg (22-12) and Herreid-Selby Area (34-14).
Sully Buttes averages 29 points per game while giving up 17 points a game defensively, and currently sit as the No. 1 team in the Class 9A seed points (47.250).
The Chargers are led by sophomore quarterback Easton Moore, who completed 18 pass attempts for 244 yards and three touchdowns in the comeback win over Kimball/White Lake on Aug. 28. Junior wideout Jett Yackley hauled in nine passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the win as well.
Bennett County's Maddux Risse (1) carries the football against Kadoka Area on Oct. 2, 2026, in Kadoka. (Matt Gade / 605 Sports)
Philip at Bennett County
Philip will head to Bennett County in a west river brawl Friday night.
Philip (5-1) has been battle-tested this season with tight wins over Lead-Deadwood (12-9) and Lyman (19-18). The Scotties have wins over Jones County (47-12), Harding County/Bison (34-12) and New Underwood (19-0). Philip’s lone loss came against Class 9B No. 2 Wall (50-0) on Sept. 25.
The Scotties average 21.8 points per game while surrendering 16.8 points a game defensively.
Bennett County (5-1) has found its groove following a season-opening loss to Wall, 40-32, on Aug. 21. The Warriors have rattled off five wins in a row against New Underwood (42-6), Stanley County (24-6), Jones County (20-14), Hill City (54-10) and most recently Kadoka Area (42-22).
The Warriors average 36 points per game while allowing 16 points per defensively. Philip defeated Bennett County, 30-6, last season.
Hamlin's Boden Stevenson (1) carries the football while Jonathan Leonardi (7) lead blocks during a game against De Smet on Sept. 11, 2026, in De Smet. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)
Hamlin at Garretson
A top five Class 9AA ranked matchup takes place in Garretson Friday night.
No. 3 Hamlin enters Friday’s contest with a 5-1 record, receiving 73 points in the latest Prep Media Poll while No. 5 Garretson just cracked the top five this past week with a 5-1 record as well.
The Chargers are currently on a five-game winning streak after a season-opening loss to Class 9B No. 2 Castlewood (46-34) on Aug. 21. Hamlin has defeated Class 9AA No. 4 Britton-Hecla (34-22), Baltic (43-6), De Smet (56-20), Sisseton (56-6) and Webster Area (54-0).
Hamlin averages the second-most points per game in the class at 46 points per game while surrendering 17 points per game defensively. The Chargers are highlighted by senior quarterback Boden Stevenson, senior running back Jonathan Leonardi and sophomore wideout Trig Heinrich.
Stevenson totaled 11 carries for 242 yards and four touchdowns, adding 11 completions for 115 yards and a touchdown through the air. He also notched an interception defensively.
Garretson has been a late riser in the Class 9AA ranks, cracking the top five in the latest Prep Media Poll this week. The Blue Dragons sit as the No. 5 team with 30 total points.
Garretson has defeated Baltic (35-6), Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (36-12), Hanson (37-30), Estelline/Hendricks (48-16) and Viborg/Hurley (35-34). Garretson’s lone loss came against Bon Homme (40-8) on Sept. 11.
The Blue Dragons average 33 points per game while surrendering 23 points per game defensively.
Madison's Henry Veenhof (2) carries the football against Sioux Falls Christian on Oct. 2, 2026, in Madison. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)
Madison at West Central
Fresh off a win over powerhouse Lennox, Class 11A No. 2 West Central welcomes another top-ranked Dak-XII opponent to town Friday night.
West Central (5-1) is on a three-game winning streak over Tri-Valley (48-0), Class 11AA No. 5 Mitchell (34-2) and most recently Class 11A No. 3 Lennox (24-12) on Oct. 2. The Trojans opened the year with two wins over Dakota Valley (37-0) and Milbank (56-6) before falling to top-ranked Sioux Falls Christian (28-0).
West Central averages 33 points per game while giving up just 11 points a game on defense, both of which are second-best in Class 11A football.
West Central’s Boche Knight totaled 138 total yards with three touchdowns in the win over Mitchell, tallying two touchdowns through the air and one on the ground.
Madison (4-2) is looking for a bounce back game after falling to No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (27-7) on Oct. 2. The Bulldogs have wins over Tri-Valley (42-7), Belle Fourche (50-0), Vermillion (28-26) and Dakota Valley (35-21). Madison opened the year with a narrow loss to Dell Rapids (15-14).
Madison averages 29 points per game while surrendering 16 points per game on defense and is highlighted by junior quarterback Henry Veenhof. Veenhof completed 13-of-19 pass attempts for 192 yards and two touchdowns, rushing 24 times for 151 yards and two more scores against Dakota Valley on Sept. 25.
Mitchell's Brady Hoesing (2) carries the football against Douglas on Sept. 12, 2026, in Mitchell. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)
Mitchell at Tea Area
Fresh off of a double overtime thriller, Mitchell is eyeing a second-straight road win over a ranked opponent.
The Kernels enter Friday’s contest with a 4-2 record with wins over Brookings (28-13), Douglas (69-0), Aberdeen Central (31-7) and most recently Class 11AA No. 4 Watertown (23-22). Mitchell knocked off the Arrows in double overtime after a game-winning blocked PAT.
Mitchell averages 33 points per game while surrendering 21 points per game, and are highlighted by junior quarterback Brady Hosing. Hoesing completed 11 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown, adding the eventual game-winning 9-yard touchdown run in double OT.
Tea Area currently sits as the No. 2 team in Class 11AA football with a 5-1 record, with it’s only loss coming against top-ranked Pierre (38-17) on Sept. 25.
The Titans have wins over Huron (35-32), Aberdeen Central (45-7), Class 11AA No. 4 Watertown (28-21), Sturgis Brown (39-15) and Brookings (42-25).
The Titans average 34 points per game while giving up 23 points per game defensively and are led by junior quarterback Mitch Grant. Grant threw for 127 passing yards and a score, adding 88 yards and three rushing touchdowns in the win over Brookings on Oct. 2.