The Class 11B quarterfinal round will feature three undefeated teams and three one-loss teams, with two of those one-loss teams meeting up in Mount Vernon on Thursday.

No. 4 Mount Vernon/Plankinton hosts No. 5 McCook Central/Montrose in a matchup that features two high-powered offenses.

Mount Vernon/Plankinton enters the game averaging 36.1 points per game, while surrendering 13.7 points per game. The Titans feature an offense led by quarterback Reed Rus (407 passing yards/4 touchdowns, 1,078 rushing yards/20 touchdowns) and running backs Drew Gerlach (546 rushing yards/8 touchdowns) and Christopher Mayer (537 rushing yards/5 touchdowns). MVP’s lone loss came against No. 1 Winner, 34-8, on Oct. 14.

McCook Central/Montrose enters the matchup in a similar way to Mount Vernon/Plankinton. The Fighting Cougars, like the Titans, have one loss, a 35-0 setback to Elk Point-Jefferson on Sept. 16. MCM also features a high-powered offense that averages 30 points per game, while giving up just 9.1 points per game on defense. The Fighting Cougars are led by quarterback Boston Katzer (1,576 passing yards/17 touchdown passes). Katzer has plenty of playmakers around him, including running back Jackson Remmers (1,027 rushing yards/15 touchdowns) and wide receivers Jackson Grady (334 receiving yards), Ty Doblar (333 receiving yards/four touchdowns), and Ty Morrison (306 receiving yards/five touchdowns). The winner will face the winner of No. 8 Deuel at No. 1 Winner in the semifinals.

Redfield's Justin Ratigan (82) carries the ball against Parker earlier this season. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Hot Springs, Redfield look to play spoiler against undefeated opponents

Hot Springs and Redfield enter the quarterfinal round as underdogs. Both teams will travel to undefeated opponents that are heavy favorites. However, both teams surprised some in the opening round by pulling off first round upsets.

Hot Springs travels to No. 2 Aberdeen Roncalli after thumping traditional powerhouse Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan 45-6 in the opening round. With the win, the Bison denied the Seahawks a chance at a sixth-straight Class 11B state title game appearance, and have now positioned themselves for a chance at another massive upset. Hot Springs is seeking its first appearance in a state championship game since finishing runner-up in a 48-7 loss to West Central in the Class 11A title game in 2003. The Bison are led by quarterback Preston Iverson, who racked up 178 rushing yards and four touchdown runs, while adding one touchdown pass against BEE last week. Running backs Landon Iverson (720 rushing yards/9 touchdown runs) and Camron Maciejewski (123 rushing yards, one touchdown last week vs BEE) also add playmaking ability to the Bison offense.

Roncalli’s Maddox May has racked up 984 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns this season. Dual-threat quarterback Jackson Isakson has thrown for 584 yards and 10 touchdowns, while rushing for 418 yards and five more scores. Abe Kretchman has amassed 317 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. 

Redfield enters the quarterfinal round as the lowest seed remaining. The No. 11 Pheasants pulled off a 7-6 opening round win against No. 6 Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central after scoring their lone touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Redfield held off the Blackhawks after stopping a two-point conversion attempt with seconds remaining to secure the win. Now the Pheasants must turn their attention to an undefeated Elk Point-Jefferson team that has been dominant all season. 

EPJ has pitched five shutouts this season and has only given up five touchdowns all year. The Huskies are led by running backs Benjamin Swatek (794 rushing yards/11 touchdowns) and Lucas Hueser (710 rushing yards/16 touchdowns). Running back Devon Schmitz leads the team with 330 yards receiving and six touchdown catches, while quarterback Noah McDermott has passed for 970 yards and 16 touchdowns. 

The Pheasants average 21 points per game offensively, while giving up 14 points per game on defense. Redfield’s defense will be tasked with attempting to stop a Huskies offense that averages 48.9 points per game. Running back Mason Whitley leads the Pheasants offense, rushing for 1,028 yards and nine touchdowns so far this season. Redfield and Elk Point-Jefferson are both seeking their first-ever trip to the state championship game in school history.

Quarterfinal Pairings

No. 8 Deuel (8-1) at No. 1 Winner (9-0), 6 p.m.

No. 5 McCook Central/Montrose (8-1) at No. 4 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (8-1), 7 p.m.

No. 7 Hot Springs (7-2) at No. 2 Aberdeen Roncalli (9-0), 6 p.m.

No. 11 Redfield (6-3) at No. 3 Elk Point-Jefferson (9-0), 6 p.m.