Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Farmer's Union Insurance
605 Sports
605 Sports
Class 11AAA Playoff Preview - Sioux Falls Lincoln gunning for three-peat in state’s largest class
Sioux Falls Lincoln's Javon Haukaas carries the ball against O'Gorman on Sept. 6 in Sioux Falls.
(Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)
Oct 28, 2025
 

By Ryan Deal

605 Sports

The Class 11AAA playoffs got all the more intriguing in the past few weeks. 

On Oct. 3, Brandon Valley handed Sioux Falls Lincoln a 35-30 setback, catapulting the Lynx to No. 1 in the class. The Lynx, however, dropped a 24-21 decision to Sioux Falls Jefferson on Oct. 23 and now the state’s largest class has no more undefeated teams. 

The class kicks off its postseason on Oct. 30. Brandon Valley, Lincoln, Jefferson and O’Gorman are the top-four seeds, while Harrisburg looms as a dangerous No. 5 seed. 

Brandon Valley (8-1) is the No. 1 seed and will host No. 8 Roosevelt (1-8) in its first-round matchup. The Lynx defeated the Rough Riders, 55-14, on Sept. 19 and will look to return to their winning ways after sputtering last week.

No. 5 Harrisburg (5-4) at No. 4 O’Gorman (6-3) matchup offers more intrigue. The Knights clipped the Tigers, 25-24, in the season opener on Aug. 29. Harrisburg rattled off five consecutive wins after the loss, but have since dropped games against Jefferson (31-28), Brandon Valley (24-0) and Lincoln (56-49) to close the season. 

O’Gorman enters the game on a two-game winning streak, and has lost to Lincoln (50-31), Brandon Valley (43-15) and Washington (20-17) this season. 

Lincoln (8-1) has won the last two Class 11AAA state championships, and it plays Rapid City Central (2-7) to start its quest for a three-peat. After Lincoln’s setback against Brandon Valley, the Patriots won three straight games and outlasted Harrisburg (56-49) in the regular-season finale. 

Sioux Falls Jefferson (7-2) plays Sioux Falls Washington (5-4) in the final quarterfinal contest. The Cavaliers dropped two straight games against Lincoln (57-36) and O’Gorman (32-29), but have since won four straight games. Jefferson edged both Harrisburg (31-28) and Brandon Valley (24-21) down the stretch.


No. 8 Sioux Falls Roosevelt at No. 1 Brandon Valley, 6 p.m., CT, Brandon Valley High School

No. 5 Harrisburg at No. 4 O’Gorman, 6 p.m., CT, O’Gorman High School

No. 7 Rapid City Central at No. 2 Sioux Falls Lincoln, 4 p.m., CT, Howard Wood Field

No. 6 Sioux Falls Washington at No. 3 Sioux Falls Jefferson, 6:30 p.m., CT, Howard Wood Field