Sioux Valley and Winner sit atop the Class 11B playoff standings. But then there’s a host of two-loss teams looking to play spoiler in the class. 

Sioux Valley (46.875) edged Winner (46.500) for the No. 1 seed in Class 11B, and then there’s a logjam of 6-2 teams right behind them. After the Cossacks (8-0) and Warriors (8-0), there are nine 6-2 teams and two 5-3 teams in the Class 11B playoffs. 

The 6-2 teams include McCook Central/Montrose, Mobridge-Pollock, Elk Point-Jefferson, Clark/Willow Lake, Aberdeen Roncalli, Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central, Mount Vernon/Plankinton, Groton Area and St. Thomas More. Flandreau and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan are both 5-3. 

Sioux Valley opens its playoff campaign against No. 16 Deuel (2-6). The Cossacks defeated Deuel, 47-14, on Sept. 27. Winner, meanwhile, plays Hot Springs (4-4) in a rematch of a 36-0 Warrior victory in the season opener. 

Most intriguing first-round matchup 

Elk Point/Jefferson edged Flandreau, 21-14, on Oct. 11. The Huskies and Fliers will meet just 13 days later in the Class 11B playoff opener. 

In the regular-season meeting, Keaton Gale rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown. Gunner Ewing and Luke Schmitz added rushing touchdowns in the win. 

For Flandreau, Paul Parsley completed 16-of-35 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown. Parsley also rushed for a score. Ben Ballard hauled in a touchdown catch. 

The Huskies, who have played in the past two Class 11B state championships, have won 10 straight meetings against Flandreau. 

Familiar foes, unfamiliar matchups

The Class 11B first round is filled with both familiar and unfamiliar teams facing off on Thursday.

Of the eight matchups, four are rematches of regular season games and the rest feature teams traveling across the state for games. 

The rematches feature Sioux Valley vs. Deuel, Elk Point/Jefferson vs. Flandreau, Winner vs. Hot Springs and Mount Vernon/Plankinton vs. Wagner. 

The other half of the field includes teams playing at unfamiliar sites, and includes a couple long road trips for Mobridge-Pollock at McCook Central/Montrose (277 miles) and St. Thomas More at Groton Area (375 miles). Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan at Clark/Willow Lake and Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central at Aberdeen Roncalli are the other two matchups.