Class 9B Game-by-Game Playoff Previews: No. 5 Hitchcock-Tulare travels to No. 4 Avon for quarterfinal action

No. 5 Hitchcock-Tulare (8-1) and No. 4 Avon (7-2) will get reacquainted on the football field.

The Patriots will travel to play the Pirates at 7 p.m., CT, in a Class 9B quarterfinal contest. Ironically, it will be their first meeting since the 2023 Class 9B quarterfinals, a 38-14 Avon victory on its way to the state championship.

Avon is riding a five-game winning streak, including a 53-0 win over Iroquois-Lake Preston in the playoff opener. The Pirates, who won this season’s Great Plains Conference championship, are scoring 45.2 points per game. Avon gives up 18 points per game on defense and has pitched three shutouts this season.

Avon is powered by quarterback Easton Sees, along with running backs Grayson Ratzlaff, Cale Cooper and Weston Bierema.

Hitchcock-Tulare's lone defeat was a 17-6 setback against Warner. The Patriots have since won three games, including last week’s 40-0 over Wolsey-Wessington in the playoff opener. Hitchcock-Tulare is led by quarterback Devin Enander.

Wall's Tanner Volmer (8) passes the football against Harding County/Bison on Sept. 11 in Wall. (Matt Gade / 605 Sports)

No. 8 Herreid/Selby Area at No. 1 Wall

No. 1 seed Wall (9-0) will put its 21-game winning streak on the line against No. 8 Herreid/Selby Area (5-4) at 6 p.m., MT in quarterfinal action.

The Eagles, who won last season’s Class 9A state championship, have continued their winning ways this year. Wall is averaging 46.6 points per game, while it gives up just 10.3 points per game on defense.

Wall has pitched four shutouts this season, including a 50-0 win last week against Jones County in the playoff opener.

Wall quarterback Tanner Volmer has completed 66-of-125 passes for 1,080 yards and 17 touchdown passes. He’s also rushed for 1,146 yards on 82 carries and has 23 rushing scores. Teelan Kjerstad (520 yards receiving/six touchdowns) and Carter Sundall (290 yards receiving/seven touchdowns) are Volmer’s primary targets.

Herreid/Selby Area moved onto the quarterfinals with a 56-28 win last week against Deubrook Area. The Wolverines are averaging 27.8 points per game on offense, while they’re allowing 22.4 points per game on defense.

Last week, HSA quarterback Thatcher Kihne completed 11-of-18 passes for 196 passing yards and two touchdown passes. Kihne (100 yards rushing/TD) and Kaden Russell (130 yards rushing/TD) powered the rushing attack. Tyson Schumacher hauled in two touchdown receptions.

Dell Rapids St. Mary's Brady Jewett (15) passes the football against Avon on Sept. 4 in Dell Rapids. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

No. 10 Kadoka Area at No. 2 Dell Rapids St. Mary 

Kadoka Area will head east for another playoff tilt this week.

No. 10 Kadoka Area (4-5) will play at No. 2 Dell Rapids St. Mary (9-0) at 4 p.m., CT in the Class 9B quarterfinals. Last week, Kadoka Area traveled more than 500 miles roundtrip for a 70-36 win over Oldham-Ramona/Rutland in the playoff opener.

The Kougars will make another 500-mile roundtrip to face the Cardinals in the quarterfinals. Last week against ORR, Dalton Grimes rushed for 137 yards and three rushing touchdowns, while he added a touchdown reception. Eli VanderMay added 116 yards rushing, two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown.

Dell Rapids St. Mary is riding a 21-game winning streak into the quarterfinal round. Last season’s Class 9B state champ, DRSM has put together another dominant campaign. The Cardinals are scoring 50.4 points per game, while they allow just 8.7 points per game on defense.

Dell Rapids St. Mary defeated Irene-Wakonda 60-8 in the opening round. Thomas LaVoy rushed for 143 yards on seven carries and scored four rushing touchdowns. Brady Jewett completed 5-of-7 passes for 135 yards and three passing touchdowns. Jewett added 34 yards rushing. Jaxon Baumberger hauled in three catches for 77 yards and two touchdown receptions. Jacob Geraets, Jake Heinitz and Isaac Ahlers hauled in touchdown receptions.

Warner's Braydon Kroll (7) passes the football against Hitchcock-Tulare on Sept. 25 in Warner. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

No. 6 Colman-Egan at No. 3 Warner

Warner, which is one of three undefeated teams remaining in Class 9B, will host Colman-Egan in the quarterfinals.

No. 6 Colman-Egan (7-2) will play at No. 3 Warner (9-0) at 7 p.m., CT in the quarterfinals of the Class 9B playoffs.

Warner, a perennial nine-man powerhouse, is scoring 35.3 points per game on offense and is allowing 9.7 points per game on defense. The Monarchs picked up a 52-16 win over Northwestern in the opening round.

Last week, Beckham Cantalope rushed for 192 yards and four touchdowns to power Warner against Northwestern. He added eight tackles and an interception on defense.

Colman-Egan defeated Gettysburg, 26-6, in the first round of the Class 9B playoffs. Colman-Egan's Rowdy Bowen rushed for 197 yards and a touchdown. Landen McManus added 77 yards rushing and a score.

No. 8 Herreid/Selby Area (5-4) at No. 1 Wall (9-0), 6 p.m., MT

No. 5 Hitchcock-Tulare (8-1) at No. 4 Avon (7-2), 7 p.m., CT

No. 10 Kadoka Area (4-5) at No. 2 Dell Rapids St. Mary (9-0), 4 p.m., CT

No. 6 Colman-Egan (7-2) at No. 3 Warner (9-0), 7 p.m., CT