Class 11A Semifinal Preview: Sioux Falls Christian puts 22-game winning streak on the line against Dell Rapids
Sioux Falls Christian's Cooper Strande (2) throws a pass against Madison on Oct. 2, 2026, in Madison. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)
No. 5 Dell Rapids at No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian
Sioux Falls Christian is one win away from another trip to the DakotaDome.
No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (10-0) will host No. 5 Dell Rapids (7-3) at 7 p.m. Friday in the Class 11A semifinals.
The Chargers, who are riding a 22-game winning streak, have played in the past two Class 11A state championships. Sioux Falls Christian won the 2025 state championship, while it finished as runner-ups in ‘24.
Sioux Falls Christian defeated Milbank (44-0) in the first round of the playoffs. Quarterback Cooper Strande has completed 103-of-160 passes for 1,295 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. Jude Prins has hauled in 33 catches for 422 yards and seven touchdown receptions. Trey Meehan has rushed for 650 yards on 121 carries and has 17 touchdowns.
The Chargers defeated Dell Rapids, 28-15, on Sept. 25.
Dell Rapids is looking for its first trip to the DakotaDome since 2023, when the Quarriers won back-to-back titles in ‘22 and ‘23.
The Quarriers will be on the road for the second straight week of the playoffs. Dell Rapids edged No. 4 seed Canton, 7-3, last week on the road.
Hayden Hansen’s second-quarter touchdown toss to Camden Jones proved to be the difference in the playoff victory.
The Quarriers, who are on a four-game winning streak, will now look to defeat Sioux Falls Christian for the first time since the 2023 Class 11A semifinals.
No. 3 Lennox at No. 2 West Central
Lennox’s last loss was a 24-12 setback against West Central on Oct. 2 in Hartford.
The Orioles have not lost since and will get another crack at the Trojans in the Class 11A semifinals.
No. 3 Lennox (8-2) will play at No. 2 West Central at 7 p.m. with a trip to the DakotaDome at stake.
Lennox earned a 48-20 victory over Madison in the playoff opener, one week after defeating the Bulldogs (46-0) in the regular-season finale.
Lennox’s Cayden Huls completed 20-of-28 passes for 330 yards and four touchdown passes to University of Minnesota recruit Drake Mikkelsen. Mikkelsen hauled in nine catches for 156 yards. Levi Simonsen added a pair of rushing touchdowns.
West Central opened its playoff run with a 47-12 victory over Dakota Valley. The Trojans have won six of their last seven games, including that win over Lennox on Oct. 2.
West Central’s two losses have come against Sioux Falls Christian (28-0) and Dell Rapids (13-7).
No. 5 Dell Rapids (7-3) at No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (10-0), 7 p.m., CT
No. 3 Lennox (8-2) at No. 2 West Central (8-2), 7 p.m., CT