By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

Canistota and Gregory — two programs synonymous with nine-football success — will face off in a highly-anticipated Class 9A quarterfinal contest on Thursday. 

The Gorillas, who have been bit by the injury bug this season, went on the road last week and knocked off No. 5 Harding County/Bison in the opener. 

Gregory, which won last season’s Class 9A state championship, will go on the road again this week to face the Hawks, another program filled with nine-man football success. 

Hawks (7-2) will host the Gorillas (5-4) in a Class 9A contest full of intrigue. Canistota played another tough schedule and handed two Class 9AA quarterfinalists — Howard and Elkton-Lake Benton — their only losses of the season. The Hawks’ two losses were against Class 9AA quarterfinalists Hanson and Platte-Geddes. 

Canistota improved to 7-2 last week with a 58-6 win over Centerville in the opener. 

Gregory's Gannon Thomas carries the ball against Wolsey-Wessington earlier this season in Wolsey. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

The Gorillas also played a touch schedule, but were handed some defeats as they battled injuries during the season. Gregory lost to Class 9AA quarterfinalists Platte-Geddes and Parkston during the regular season. It also lost to Wolsey-Wessington and Bon Homme in conference action. 

Gregory punched its ticket to the quarterfinals last week, picking up a 46-14 win over the Ranchers. 

No. 1 Warner (9-0) will host No. 9 Castlewood (5-4) in a rematch for a regular-season meeting, a 67-16 Monarchs’ win. Warner has pitched three straight shutout wins, including a 57-0 win over Colman-Egan in the Class 9A playoff opener. The Monarchs also own signature wins over quarterfinalists Faulkton Area (9B) and Hamlin (9A). 

PHOTOS from Castlewood's 50-0 win over Lyman in a 9A football playoff on Thursday in Presho (Photos by Rodney Haas/605 Sports) #SDPreps https://t.co/zXNm24ZtHT pic.twitter.com/n3IqkajzO5

— 605 Sports (@605_sports) October 20, 2023

The Warriors are riding a four-game winning streak, in which they’ve outscored their opponents 188-8. They advanced to the quarterfinals with a 50-0 win over Lyman in the opener. 

No. 2 Alcester-Hudson and No. 3 Philip improved to 9-0 last week, and will host quarterfinal contests on Thursday. The Cubs will host Deubrook Area (6-3), while the Scotties will host Chester (5-4). 

Alcester-Hudson defeated Burke, 50-12, in last week’s opener and won against Class 9B quarterfinalists Corsica-Stickney and Avon during the regular season. 

Deubrook quarterback Jace Vomacka drops back to pass against Canistota earlier this season in Canistota. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

The Dolphins lost two games against quarterfinalists Elkton-Lake Benton (9AA) and Canistota (9A), while they also dropped a 20-18 2OT decision against Dell Rapids St. Mary. Deubrook Area picked up a 45-6 win over Estelline-Hendricks in the opener. 

The Scotties stayed undefeated last week, in a 52-0 win over Timber Lake in the Class 9A playoff opener. Philip has pitched three straight shutouts and handed Class 9AA quarterfinalist Wall its lone defeat of the season. 

Chester is looking for its second straight road upset. The Flyers topped No. 6 Wolsey-Wessington, 28-26, last week on the road. Chester dropped contests against quarterfinalists Hanson (9AA), Alcester-Hudson (9A) and Howard (9AA) during the regular season. 

Class 9A Quarterfinal Pairings

No. 1 Warner (9-0) vs. No. 9 Castlewood (5-4), 7 p.m., CT, Warner

No. 4 Canistota (7-2) vs. No. 12 Gregory (5-4), 6 p.m., CT, Canistota 

No. 2 Alcester-Hudson (9-0) vs. No. 7 Deubrook Area (6-3), 7 p.m., CT, Alcester-Hudson 

No. 3 Philip (9-0) vs. No. 11 Chester (5-4), 5 p.m., MT, Philip