The Dak-XII Conference has dominated Class 11A for the past several years.

The conference, which consists of Sioux Falls-area teams, has had a team win the Class 11A state championship every year since 2010. The last non-Dak-XII team to win Class 11A was Milbank in 2009. 

This season, expect more Dak-XII teams to contend for the Class 11A crown. Canton was the No. 1 team in the preseason poll and picked up six first-place votes. Sioux Falls Christian (five first-place votes) and Dell Rapids (three first-place votes) were tied for second in the poll. 

West Central (two first-place votes) and Lennox rounded out the top-five teams. The teams all represent the Dak-XII Conference. Rapid City Christian, a Class 11B semifinalist in 2023, moved up to Class 11A this season and projects to be in the mix. 

Storylines to watch

Who is the favorite?: While Dell Rapids has won the past two Class 11A state championships, the Quarriers were hit hard by graduation. That’s opened up the door for more teams to contend and there appears to be no clear-cut favorite. The class features only 14 teams and so several top teams will butt heads during the season, helping to separate the contenders from the pretenders. 

How will Rapid City Christian fare?: The Comets made a run to the Class 11B semifinals last season, winning each of their first two games on the road. They lost to eventual Class 11B state champ Hot Springs in the semifinals. Rapid City Christian lost some key pieces, but the cupboard is not bare and it will bolster up an already-tough class. Rapid City Christian, however, will be tested early and often. The Comets face top-five teams Canton, Sioux Falls Christian and Dell Rapids to open the season. 

Players to watch

Cain Wallner, Canton: A 6-foot-4, 220-pound running back/linebacker, Wallner was an all-stater and did a little bit of everything for the C-Hawks. On offense, he rushed for 1,070 yards and scored 18 total touchdowns. He racked up 1,759 all-purpose yards. On defense, he posted 80 tackles (nine tackles for loss), 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. He will play college football at the University of South Dakota. 

Cole Snyder, Sioux Falls Christian: Snyder, a 6-foot, 170-pound senior wide receiver/defensive back, was an all-stater last season. He racked up 32 receptions for 699 yards and 12 touchdown receptions. 

Wesley Schlabach, Rapid City Christian: A 6-foot-1, 165-pound defensive back, Schlabach tallied 80 tackles (8.5 for loss), including two interceptions and a fumble recovery for the Comets.

Braylon Marshall, Rapid City Christian: Marshall, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound running back, rushed for over 800 yards on 148 carries last season, including eight rushing touchdowns.The all-stater for the Comets also had an additional 98 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in 2023.

Rapid City Christian's Simon Kieffer carries the ball against Mount Vernon/Plankinton last season in Mount Vernon. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Simon Kieffer, Rapid City Christian: A 6-foot, 170-pound quarterback, Kieffer engineered Rapid City Christian’s potent offensive attack last season. He threw for 1,621 yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing for 572 yards and five more scores. 

Lincoln Semchenko, Sioux Falls Christian: Semchenko, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound senior lineman, was an all-state offensive lineman last season. A future Jackrabbit, Semchenko logged 67 pancake blocks and allowed zero sacks in 2023. 

Jackson Boonstra, Dakota Valley: Boonstra, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound senior athlete, put up some big numbers last season. He logged 139 carries for 1,181 yards and scored 20 rushing touchdowns. He added nine kickoff returns for 275 yards. He was an all-state athlete last season. 

Quinn Carr, Dell Rapids: Carr, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound fullback/defensive end, was an honorable mention all-state selection last season. He posted 46 tackles (eight tackles for loss) and four sacks. 

Keaton Vessells, West Central: A 6-foot, 170-pound running back/tight end, Vessells was an all-state defensive lineman last season. He posted 49 tackles (18 solo), six sacks and 15 tackles for loss. 

Emmett Hanson, Milbank: A 6-foot-3, 200-pound tight end/defensive lineman, Hanson was an all-state defensive lineman in 2023. Hanson recorded 34 tackles, 10 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, one interception and one fumble recovery during his junior season. 

Rollie French, Vermillion: A 5-foot-10, 190-pound offensive guard/linebacker, French was an all-state linebacker as a junior. He posted 90 tackles (67 solo), seven tackles for loss and one sack. 

Cole Ruesink, Dell Rapids: A 5-foot-10, 175-pound running back/defensive back, Ruesink was an all-state defensive back last season. Ruesink posted 46 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He added 701 yards rushing, nine rushing touchdowns, 423 yards receiving and five more scores. 

Boston Katzer, Lennox: Katzer, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback/defensive back, was an honorable mention all-state selection in 2023. He passed for 2,534 yards and 31 touchdowns, while rushing for 275 yards and four more scores. 

Brayden Witte, Sioux Falls Christian: A 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior running back/linebacker, Witte was an honorable mention all-state selection last season. He rushed for 1,161 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 378 and three touchdown receptions. 

Hunter Richmond, Canton: A 6-foot-1, 260-pound senior lineman, paved the way for 2,773 rushing yards and 3,729 total yards last season, while scoring 38.5 points per game. 

Jacob Congdon, Sioux Falls Christian: A 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior fullback/defensive lineman, Congdon was an honorable mention all-state selection in 2023. He posted 8.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss last season. 

Easton VanScoyk, Dakota Valley: A 6-foot-3, 240-pound lineman, VanScoyk was an honorable mention all-stater last season. He posted 24 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.