Class 11B Game-by-Game Playoff Previews: No. 5 Deuel travels to No. 4 Winner for quarterfinal tilt

Two of the best defenses in Class 11B football will battle for spot in the state semifinals.

No. 5 Deuel heads to No. 4 Winner on Thursday at 6 p.m., CT, in a defensive bout.

The Cardinals (7-2) are allowing just 9.2 points per game this season, which is second-best in the class, while Winner (8-1) surrenders a class-best 6.7 points per contest.

Deuel defeated Beresford 37-8 in the first round of the playoffs and have also notched wins over No. 8 McCook Central/Montrose (8-7) and No. 10 Sioux Valley (45-8). Offensively, Gavin Kloos rushed 23 times for 207 yards in the win over Beresford while quarterback Aidan Sievers rushed for two touchdowns and added another touchdown through the air.

Winner defeated Groton Area in the first round of the playoffs, 20-0, to notch its fifth shutout win this season. In fact, the Warriors haven't allowed a point since it's 16-13 win over Class 11A foe Canton on Sept. 25.

In the win over GA, Winner's Camdyn Anderson had 12 carries for 84 yards and two touchdowns while Hudson Peters added 15 carries for 73 yards and a score.

Elk Point-Jefferson's Trey VanderWeerdt (28) carries the football against McCook Central/Montrose on Aug. 21 in Salem. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

No. 8 McCook Central/Montrose at No. 1 Elk Point-Jefferson

In a season-opening rematch, No. 8 McCook Central/Montrose heads to No. 1 Elk Point-Jefferson in the quarterfinals.

MCM (6-3) took down Chamberlain in the opening round of the playoffs (41-14). While the Cougars have just one win against a remaining quarterfinal foe, a 27-26 win against Sioux Valley on Sept. 11, MCM has taken several top-ranked opponents to the wire, including Elk Point-Jefferson (28-13), Deuel (8-7) and Clark/Willow Lake (30-28).

On the other side, EPJ (9-0) has cruised to an undefeated season winning every game by at least two scores. The Huskies defeated Parker/Marion 35-0 in the opening round and have also notched wins over several teams still alive in the postseason, including MCM, Deuel (33-6), Sioux Valley (36-20) and Wagner (27-8). EPJ also earned a win over Class 11A foe Dakota Valley (42-7) on Sept. 11.

St. Thomas More's Noah Wald (5) looks for an open receiver as teammate Dennis Farnsworth (56) blocks on Aug. 21 in Rapid City. (Matt Gade / 605 Sports)

No. 10 Sioux Valley at No. 2 St. Thomas More

The only team to pull off a first-round upset will head back west for its quarterfinal matchup.

No. 10 Sioux Valley, fresh off a 41-37 upset win over No. 7 Rapid City Christian, will head back to the states' second largest city this week to take on No. 2 St. Thomas More. Between the first round and quarterfinals, the Cossacks will put on more than 1,500 miles roundtrip to compete in the playoffs.

The Cossacks record doesn't tell the full story as they've had multiple tight games with teams still left in the playoffs, including No. 3 Clark/Willow Lake (30-28), No. 8 MCM (27-26) and No. 1 Elk Point-Jefferson (36-20).

In the win over RCC, quarterback Wyatt Hardt powered the Cossacks with 192 yards passing on eight completions, with four going for touchdowns while adding 27 carries for 145 yards on the ground. Kellon Tucker tallied four receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns while Luke Johsnon added two receptions for two touchdowns. Johnnie Vermeuelen notched a 23-yard pick-six as well.

The Cossacks will face the top-scoring offense in all of Class 11B football, St. Thomas More, averaging nearly 46 points per game this season.

The defending champs defeated Mount Vernon/Plankinton in the first round of the playoffs 32-16 and also have a win over No. 4 Winner (35-20) this season.

Clark/Willow Lake's Joey Ries (1) throws the football against Deuel on Oct. 16 in Willow Lake. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

No. 6 Wagner at No. 3 Clark/Willow Lake

No. 6 Wagner faces a battle-tested No. 3 Clark/Willow Lake in the final matchup of the quarterfinals.

Wagner (7-2) held off an upset-bid in the first round of the playoffs, defeating Hot Springs 12-7. Wagner's only losses this season are against No. 4 Winner (21-6) and No. 1 Elk Point-Jefferson (27-8).

Wagner averages 23 points per game offensively while surrendering 10 points a game defensively.

Clark/Willow Lake's road to a 10-0 start hasn't been without a number of nail-biters. The Cyclones have won four games by one score or less, including Sioux Valley (30-28), Mobridge-Pollock (26-24), McCook Central/Montrose (30-28) and Deuel (14-7).

CWL defeated Mobridge-Pollock, 34-24, in the first round of the playoffs.

Quarterback Joey Ries had 10 completions for 149 yards and four touchdowns in the playoff win over MP, while Jakob Steen added 27 carries for 159 yards as well.

CWL is averaging 33 points per game while giving up 15 points a game on defense.

No. 8 McCook Central/Montrose (6-3) at No. 1 Elk Point-Jefferson (9-0), 7 p.m., CT

No. 5 Deuel (7-2) at No. 4 Winner (8-1), 6 p.m., CT

No. 10 Sioux Valley (5-4) at No. 2 St. Thomas More (9-0), 6 p.m., MT

No. 6 Wagner (7-2) at No. 3 Clark/Willow Lake (10-0), 7 p.m., CT