Class 11B Football Playoff Preview: Powerhouses Elk Point-Jefferson, St. Thomas More among top contenders for Class 11B title
Elk Point-Jefferson's Brody Van Roekel (23) runs for a gain during the first quarter against Wagner in a high school football game Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 in Wagner. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)
The more things change, the more they stay the same in Class 11B football.
Both teams that reached the DakotaDome last season enter as the top seeds in this year’s playoffs.
Elk Point-Jefferson, which took runner-up a year ago, enters as the No. 1 seed and will face No. 16 Parker/Marion, while No. 2 seed and defending state champion St. Thomas More is the No. 2 seed and will host No. 15 Mount Vernon/Plankinton. The third undefeated team in the class, Clark/Willow Lake, earned the No. 3 seed for a second straight year and opens against No. 14 Mobridge-Pollock.
Most intriguing first-round matchup
The only 9-0 team in the state will be put to the test in its first-round playoff matchup.
No. 3 Clark/Willow Lake will face Mobridge-Pollock for the second time in the past four weeks. The Cyclones defeated MP in a nail-biting 26-24 finish on Oct. 2 in Mobridge.
While CWL is one of three undefeated teams in the class, it hasn’t come without multiple close victories. The Cyclones have won each of its past three contests by one score, including a 14-7 win over No. 5 Deuel on Oct. 16.
On the flip side, an injury-riddled Mobridge-Pollock team will look to make a statement and avenge the prior loss with its star running back Mack Saxon returning from injury. The Tigers are coming off a 46-16 win over Miller/Highmore-Harrold on Oct. 16.
Class 11B First-Round Pairings
No. 16 Parker/Marion (1-7) at No. 1 Elk Point-Jefferson (8-0), 7 p.m., CT, Elk Point
No. 9 Chamberlain (4-4) at No. 8 McCook Central/Montrose (5-3), 7 p.m., CT, Salem
No. 13 Groton Area (4-4) at No. 4 Winner (7-1), 6 p.m., CT, Winner
No. 12 Beresford (4-4) at No. 5 Deuel (6-2), 7 p.m., CT, Clear Lake
No. 15 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (2-6) at No. 2 St. Thomas More (8-0), 6 p.m., MT, Rapid City
No. 10 Sioux Valley (4-4) at No. 7 Rapid City Christian (6-2), 6 p.m., MT, Rapid City
No. 14 Mobridge-Pollock (4-4) at No. 3 Clark/Willow Lake (9-0), 7 p.m., MT, Clark
No. 11 Hot Springs (4-4) at No. 6 Wagner (6-2), 6 p.m., CT, Wagner