Howard at Canistota

A pair of top-ranked Cornbelt Conference teams will face off in Canistota on Friday.

The Howard Tigers are ranked No. 1 in the Class 9AA, while the Canistota Hawks are rated No. 1 in Class 9A. Howard is the defending Class 9A champions and opened this season with a win over then-No. 4 Hanson, 20-12. The Tigers are led by quarterback Taiden Hoyer, running back Karsyn Feldhaus, and tight end Atticus Darnell. Canistota has played in the state championship game the past four years in a co-op with Freeman, winning three Class 9A titles from 2018-2020 before finishing runner-up in Class 9AA last season. The Hawks opened the season with a 43-28 win over Irene-Wakonda, and are led by quarterback Tage Ortman, running back Noah Kleinsasser, and fullback/linebacker Cayden Scott.

Wolsey-Wessington at Gregory 

A pair of ranked Missouri Valley Conference foes will meet in Gregory on Friday.

Wolsey-Wessington is ranked No. 4 in the Class 9A poll and won their season opener last week against Iroquois/Lake Preston, 66-14. The Warbirds are led by quarterback Blaze Herdman and running back Keegan Haider.

Gregory checks in at No. 2 in the Class 9A poll and had their bye week last week. The Gorillas return several key players from last season, including quarterback Rylan Peck and running backs Owen Hansen and Kade Stukel. Last season, Peck threw for 1,173 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 741 yards and 14 touchdowns. Stukel (37 tackles/INT) and Trey Murray (64 tackles/2 sacks) will be the leaders on the defensive side of the ball.

Dell Rapids St. Mary at Hamlin

Two teams with recent championship game appearances will square off in Hayti on Friday.

Dell Rapids St. Mary is ranked No. 1 in Class 9B and is the defending champion in the class, while Hamlin is ranked No. 4 in Class 9AA and was the 9AA runner-up in 2020. The Chargers are led by running back Luke Fraser, who rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Florence/Henry last week. Quarterback Tyson Stevenson passed for three touchdowns in the win.

The Cardinals are led by senior quarterback C.J. Smith, along with running backs Nic Gaspar and Dylan Mathis and tight end/defensive lineman Gabriel Lindeman. Dell Rapids St. Mary won its season opener against Waverly-South Shore, 52-20.

Platte-Geddes at Parkston 

Platte-Geddes begins its title defense on the road and against a familiar foe.

The Black Panthers, who have won the past two Class 9AA state championships, had their bye week last Friday and will open the 2022 campaign against Parkston. The Trojans handed Platte-Geddes a 27-15 setback last season, its first of two losses during the championship campaign. 

Parkston opened its 2022 season with a 36-8 win over Kimball/White Lake. Kaleb Weber led the Trojans with 80 passing yards and two total touchdowns, while Brayden Jervik, Luke Bormann and Jesse Newton rushed for scores. The Trojans were receiving votes in the preseason rankings. 

Class 9AA No. 4 Platte-Geddes is led by Dawson Hoffman, who threw for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. 

Harrisburg at Sioux Falls Jefferson 

Two Class 11AAA teams — oozing with college prospects — will lock horns on Saturday at Howard Wood Stadium. 

Harrisburg, which won last season’s Class 11AAA state title, was ranked No. 2 in the preseason poll. Sioux Falls Jefferson, which is in its second season of existence, was ranked No. 3 in the preseason rankings. 

The Tigers graduated a host of talented seniors, but returned all-state running back Gavin Ross. A 5-foot-10, 210-pound running back, Ross rushed for 1,948 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. He’s received interest from multiple college football teams across all levels in the region. 

Jefferson, meanwhile, returns all 22 starters from last season’s 4-6 campaign. The Cavaliers are powered by all-stater Taylen Ashley, who threw for 1,850 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Ashley, who is also a college basketball prospect, rushed for 416 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Ashley’s top target, Griffin Wilde, hauled in 54 receptions for 912 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Wilde has verbally committed to the South Dakota State University football team. 

Canton at Sioux Falls Christian

Canton and SIoux Falls Christian meet in Sioux Falls on Friday, where a season opening win could pay major dividends later in the season.

Canton begins the season at No. 4 in the Class 11A poll, and looks to rebound after an upset loss in the quarterfinals last season at the hands of 11A runner-up Milbank. The C-Hawks will be led by Josh Merkle, Canaan McCracken, Kale Ask, Beau Williams, and a host of other players with experience.

Sioux Falls Christian starts the season receiving votes in the preseason 11A poll, but has the weapons to have a potent team this season. The Chargers lost to 11A champion Madison in the quarterfinal round last year, but return several key players to make a title push this year. Sioux Falls Christian returns 21 letterwinners, including quarterback Tayton Snyder (687 passing yards, 5 TD’s/313 rushing yards, 5 TD’s), wide receiver Carter Van Donge (1,159 receiving yards, 12 TD’s), linebackers Max Kaare (102 tackles) and Kade VanEgdom (89 tackles), and defensive back Johnny Skyberg (76 tackles, 2 INT’s).

Dell Rapids at Madison

Two Class 11A powerhouses will begin their seasons in Madison on Friday.

Madison is the defending Class 11A champions after defeating Milbank in last year’s championship game, 31-0.  The Bulldogs begin the season ranked No. 1 in the class and are poised to make a run at a second straight championship. Madison defeated Dell Rapids twice last season en route to the state championship, winning 35-7 during the regular season and 38-28 in the semifinal round of the playoffs. The Bulldogs have appeared in six state championships since 2013, winning four titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2021).

Dell Rapids checked in at No. 4 in the preseason poll and will look to be back in the championship hunt again this season. The Quarriers return several key players, including Brayden Pankonen, Braden Fersdahl, Camden Justice, and Will Jaton. Dell Rapids last appeared in the state championship game in 2018, losing to Tea Area, 39-7, but have won five titles in seven championship appearances (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014).