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Class 11AAA Playoff Preview -  Brandon Valley, Sioux Falls Lincoln earn top seeds in state's largest class
Sioux Falls Lincoln's Brody Schafer carries the ball against Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Sept. 14 in Sioux Falls.
(Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)
Oct 30, 2024
 

By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

Brandon Valley and Sioux Falls Lincoln emerged as the top two seeds in the Class 11AAA playoff field. 

Brandon Valley (9-0) earned the No. 1 seed and is the lone undefeated team in the state’s largest class. The Lynx will host No. 8 Sioux Falls Washington (2-7) in the opening round. 

Brandon Valley defeated Washington, 20-7, in the season opener on Aug. 31. The Lynx are scoring 35.3 points per game and are allowing 4.9 points per game on defense. Brandon Valley has pitched three shutouts this season.

Washington averages 20 points per game and gives up 23.2 points per game on defense. 

No. 2 Lincoln (8-1) will host No. 7 Rapid City Central (2-7) and it's the second time this month the teams will play. The Patriots defeated the Cobblers, 46-7, on Oct. 11. 

Lincoln averages 40.6 points per game and gives up 16.6 points per game on defense. The Patriots’ lone defeat was a 39-13 setback against Brandon Valley on Oct. 4. 

Rapid City Central is coming off a 35-33 win over rival Rapid City Stevens. The Cobblers snapped a 29-game losing streak earlier this season, edging Washington 3-0 on Oct. 4. Rapid City Central scores 12.7 points per game and allows 33.6 points per game on defense. 

No. 4 Sioux Falls Jefferson (6-3) will host No. 5 Sioux Falls O’Gorman (5-4). The Cavaliers defeated the Knights, 34-14, on Sept. 27. Jefferson’s three defeats are against the top three teams in Class 11AAA — Lincoln (28-16), Harrisburg (21-14) and Brandon Valley (28-3). The Cavaliers score 30.6 points per game and allow 16.1 points per game on defense. 

O’Gorman started 0-3 this season, but have won five of its last six games to close the season. The Knights have pitched two straight shutouts against Stevens (48-0) and Roosevelt (42-0). O’Gorman’s four losses were against the top teams in Class 11AAA — Harrisburg (14-0), Lincoln (36-19), Brandon Valley (27-0) and Jefferson (34-14). 

The Knights score 27.3 points per game on offense and allow 18.3 points per game on defense. 

No. 3 Harrisburg (7-2) hosts No. 6 Roosevelt (3-6) in the final quarterfinal matchup. The Tigers topped the Rough Riders, 49-13, in Harrisburg. 

The Tigers are on a two-game losing skid, dropping games against top teams Brandon Valley (21-7) and Lincoln (27-17). Harrisburg averages 32.1 points per game and allows 11.6 points per game on defense. 

Roosevelt’s three wins were against Rapid City Central (21-19), Brookings (26-21) and Rapid City Stevens (35-7). The Rough Riders average 14.4 points per game and allow 36.3 points per game on defense. 


Class 11AAA

No. 1 Brandon Valley vs. No. 8 Sioux Falls Washington, 6 p.m., CT 

No. 4 Sioux Falls Jefferson vs. No. 5 O’Gorman, 7 p.m., CT

No. 2 Sioux Falls Lincoln vs. No. 7 Rapid City Central, 4 p.m., CT

No. 3 Harrisburg vs. No. 6 Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 6 p.m., CT