Class 9A Game-by-Game Playoff Previews: No. 5 Bennett County heads to No. 4 Sully Buttes in quarterfinal showdown

A pair of one-loss foes will battle it out on the gridiron for a spot in the semifinals.

No. 5 Bennett County (8-1) heads east to face No. 4 Sully Buttes (8-1) Thursday at 7 p.m., CT.

The Warriors have won eight straight games following its season-opening loss to Wall (40-32). Most recently, BC defeated Lyman in back-to-back weeks, including a 47-27 win in the first round of the playoffs.

BC averages 35.4 points per game while surrendering 18 points a game defensively.

On the flip side, Sully Buttes' lone setback came against Timber Lake, a 44-36 overtime loss on Oct. 9. The Chargers have notable wins over Kimball/White Lake (26-22), Herreid/Selby Area (34-14) and Corsica-Stickney in a nail-biter, 18-14, on Oct. 22.

The 2024 Class 9B state champions are averaging 30.2 points per game on offense, while giving up 18.4 points a game defensively.

Timber Lake's Blaise Lei (24) carries the football against Lead-Deadwood on Sept. 25 in Deadwood. (Duncan Martin / 605 Sports)

No. 8 Kimball/White Lake at No. 1 Timber Lake

Kimball/White Lake will test its luck against one of three unbeaten teams in Class 9A football.

No. 8 Kimball/White Lake heads to No. 1 Timber Lake for its quarterfinal matchup on Thursday at 6 p.m., MT.

The WiLdKats (6-3) have rattled off three straight wins, including a 32-12 win over Faulkton Area in the first round of the playoffs. KWL's losses were against Sully Buttes (26-22) and Class 9AA foes Parkston (36-6) and Platte-Geddes (25-8).

KWL is averaging 28.7 points per game while giving up 17 points per game on defense. Junior running back Carter Konechne rushed 11 times for 95 yards and three touchdowns in the playoff win over Faulkton Area.

Timber Lake (9-0) has rattled off nine straight wins including notable victories over Herreid-Selby Area (44-24), Sully Buttes (44-36, OT) and most recently Elkton-Lake Benton (48-0) in the first round of the playoffs.

The Panthers are averaging 35.3 points per game while giving up 13.2 points per game on defense. Quarterback Pete Maher had three rushing touchdowns in the win over the Elks, Broc Bauer and Hudson Gill hauled in receiving touchdowns while Blaise Lei and Treyden Beer each punched in rushing scores as well.

Freeman's Easton Tschetter (5) carries the football against Howard on Sept. 4 in Howard. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

No. 7 Howard at No. 2 Freeman

For the second time this season, Howard and Freeman will battle it out on the gridiron on Thursday at 7 p.m.

No. 7 Howard heads to No. 2 Freeman in a rematch from the Flyers' 52-13 win on Sept. 4.

Since the loss to Freeman and a 1-2 start, Howard (7-2) has strung together six straight wins, including dominant showings over Alcester-Hudson (40-12), Elkton-Lake Benton (37-0) and Philip (36-0). The Tigers beat the Scotties in the first round of the playoffs.

Howard is averaging 38.4 points per game while giving up 14.2 points per game defensively. Senior running back Kolt Becker had 151 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the playoff win over Philip last week.

It's been business as usual for Freeman (9-0) this season winning nine straight contests by an average of 36.2 points a game. In fact, the Flyers haven't allowed a point since it's 62-26 win over Centerville on Sept. 18. Freeman has notable wins over Centerville, Howard, Avon (56-34) and most recently took down Scotland/Menno (56-0) in the first round of the playoffs. 

Freeman quarterback Tayden Kerrigan completed 15-of-18 pass attempts for 289 yards and six touchdowns, completing five passes for 101 yards and three scores to David Walter in the win over the Trappers. Easton Tschetter added five receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns as well.

Castlewood's Kamden Keszler, left, throws the football against Howard on Aug. 28 in Castlewood. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

No. 6 Centerville at No. 3 Castlewood

Centerville heads north to take on the third and final undefeated team in Class 9A.

No. 6 Centerville travels to No. 3 Castlewood on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the state quarterfinals.

The Tornadoes (7-2) have had a strong 2026 season, including wins over Sioux Falls Lutheran (58-14), Elkton-Lake Benton (38-28), Viborg-Hurley (52-6) and most recently De Smet (36-12) in the first round of the playoffs. The Tornadoes lone loss are against No. 2 Freeman (62-26) and Class 9B foe Avon (48-40) in the Great Plains Conference championship.

Centerville averages 43.4 points per game, good for the third most in the class, while giving up 20.4 points a game on defense.

Castlewood (9-0) has continued to flex its muscles into the quarterfinals after a 51-0 win over Ipswich in the first round of the playoffs. The Warriors also have notable wins over Hamlin (46-34), Howard (14-8) and Elkton-Lake Benton (35-12).

The Warriors are averaging the second-most points per game in Class 9A (45.9) while giving up the least points per game defensively (8.7).

Castlewood is led by one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in nine-man football with senior Kamden Keszler. Keszler, an Augustana football commit, rushed nine times for 106 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Ipswich, adding four completions for 159 yards and a touchdown. He also had eight tackles on defense.

No. 8 Kimball/White Lake (6-3) at No. 1 Timber Lake (9-0), 6 p.m., MT

No. 5 Bennett County (8-1) at No. 4 Sully Buttes (8-1), 7 p.m., CT

No. 7 Howard (7-2) at No. 2 Freeman (9-0), 7 p.m., CT

No. 6 Centerville (7-2) at No. 3 Castlewood (9-0), 7 p.m., CT