Parity is the theme of this year’s Class 11A playoffs. Unlike past years where one or two teams seemed to be ahead of the pack, this year’s Class 11A playoff bracket features several title contenders. 

Records and seedings do not seem to matter, and there does not seem to be a clearcut favorite, although top-seeded Dell Rapids is the lone unbeaten in the bracket. West Central comes in with one loss, while Beresford enters with a record of 7-2. 

The Trojans and Watchdogs each have a loss to Winner, the top-seed in the Class 11B playoffs, while the Watchdogs also have a loss to the top-seeded Quarriers. 

Sioux Falls Christian and Dakota Valley each enter with 6-3 records and look to create chaos in the semifinals should either team meet up with Dell Rapids. 

Dakota Valley narrowly lost to Dell Rapids on Oct. 20, 22-18, to end the regular season. Also keep an eye on Canton and Madison. The C-Hawks and Bulldogs have played in several close contests this season and have the pieces to make deep playoff runs.

The 11A quarterfinal round features three rematches from the regular season. Fourth-seeded Sioux Falls Christian defeated fifth-seeded Dakota Valley 24-14 on Sept. 9 and will meet up again in Sioux Falls at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Second-seeded West Central edged seventh-seeded Madison 28-25 on Sept. 9 in Madison, and this time the two teams will meet in Hartford at 7 p.m. on Thursday. In the third rematch, third-seeded Beresford hosts sixth-seeded Canton in a game that was played on Sept. 2 in Canton. 

Beresford edged Canton, 7-6, after the C-Hawks missed an extra-point late in the game that would have tied the game and potentially sent it to overtime. The only quarterfinal matchup that will not be a rematch will be No. 1 Dell Rapids hosting No. 8 Lennox at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

No. 8 Lennox (3-6) at No. 1 Dell Rapids (9-0), 7 p.m.

No. 5 Dakota Valley (6-3) at No. 4 Sioux Falls Christian (6-3), 7 p.m.

No. 7 Madison (4-5) at No. 2 West Central (8-1), 7 p.m.

No. 6 Canton (5-4) at No. 3 Beresford (7-2) 7 p.m.