Class 9A Semifinal Previews: Freeman hosts Castlewood in highly-anticipated semifinal contest
Freeman's Easton Tschetter (5) carries the football against Howard on Sept. 4 in Howard. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)
No. 3 Castlewood at No. 2 Freeman
In a highly-anticipated matchup, Castlewood travels to Freeman for a spot in the Class 9A state championship.
No. 3 Castlewood (10-0) will play at No. 2 Freeman (10-0) at 7 p.m. CT, in the Class 9A semifinals.
Freeman, which won the 2025 Class 9AA state championship at Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy, has been the No. 1 ranked team in the South Dakota Prep Media Football Poll all season long. The Warriors, meanwhile, quickly rose to No. 2 in the poll and have rolled to a 10-0 regular to this point.
The Flyers picked up wins over Scotland-Menno (56-0) and Howard (58-6) to start their playoff run. Last week against Howard, Tayden Kerrigan connected with Oliver Waltner six times for 134 yards and two touchdowns. David Walter hauled in four catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.
The Warriors blanked Ipswich (51-0) in the playoff opener and held high-scoring Centerville (62-22) in check to advance to the semifinals.
Kamden Keszler led the Warriors with 208 yards passing and four touchdown passes, while he rushed for 92 yards and two more scores.
Castlewood last qualified for the state championship in 1999, a 44-22 loss against Stickney/Mount Vernon in the Class 9AA title.
No. 8 Kimball/White Lake at No. 5 Bennett County
Kimball/White Lake will continue its playoff run on the road this Friday.
No. 8 Kimball/White Lake (7-3) will play at No. 5 Bennett County (9-1) at 6 p.m., MT in the Class 9A semifinals. After their win over Faulkton Area in the opening round, the WiLdKats blanked No. 1 seed Timber Lake (38-0) in the quarterfinals on the road.
KWL traveled nearly 500 miles round trip for the playoff victory. The WiLdKats will now travel roughly 400 miles round trip to face the Warriors in the semifinals.
Last week, KWL’s Chevy Fees rushed for two touchdowns and hauled in a touchdown reception from Keaton Christensen. Carter Konechne and Christensen added rushing touchdowns.
KWL last advanced to the DakotaDome in 2018, a Class 9AA runner-up finish against Bon Homme.
Bennett County also picked up a road win last week, a 28-22 come-from-behind victory over No. 4 Sully Buttes in Onida. The Warriors lost their season opener against Wall, 40-32. Bennett County has since won nine consecutive games, including wins over Lyman (47-27) and Sully Buttes (28-22) in the playoffs.
Last week, quarterback Maddux Risse connected with Isaias Mesteth three times in the fourth quarter, sparking the comeback victory.
The Warriors are looking for their first-ever trip to a state football championship.
No. 8 Kimball/White Lake (7-3) at No. 5 Bennett County (9-1), 6 p.m., MT
No. 3 Castlewood (10-0) at No. 2 Freeman (10-0), 7 p.m., CT