East meets West is the Class 9A quarterfinal theme. 

Three of the four matchups feature East River vs. West River matchups, and teams traveling long distances for playoff games. 

No. 1 Wall (9-0) hosts No. 9 Castlewood (6-3) in the first meeting between the teams since 2018, a 28-20 Eagle win in the playoffs. Castlewood blanked Wall, 54-0, in the 2017 playoffs. 

Wall improved to 9-0 last week with a 52-0 win over Chester Area. The Eagles average 51 points per game and give up just 6.2 points per game. Wall has pitched three shutouts this season. 

After an 0-3 start, the Warriors have rattled off six straight wins. The Warriors have pitched three shutouts during the six-game winning streak, and edged Alcester-Hudson 22-18 in their playoff opener. Castlewood averages 27.3 points per game and allows 9.7 points per game on defense. Castlewood will make a 345-mile trek to Wall for the game. 

No. 4 Wolsey-Wessington (8-1) hosts No. 12 Dupree (6-3) in the first-ever meeting between the programs. Wolsey-Wessington’s lone defeat was against Class 9AA No. 1 Parkston, 30-22. The Warbirds picked up a 50-20 win over Lemmon-McIntosh in last week’s first-round action. Wolsey-Wessington averages 37.6 points per game and gives up 16.2 points a contest.

Dupree pulled off an upset over No. 5 Harding County/Bison, 50-28, in last week’s first-round action. It was Dupree’s first win over the Ranchers since 1987, and its first playoff win since 2011. 

The Tigers are averaging 42.4 points per game and they allow 21.9 points per game on defense. Dupree will make a 200-mile trip for the contest vs. Wolsey-Wessington. 

No. 2 Howard (9-0) hosts No. 7 Ipswich (7-2) in an all-Tiger contest, and the second straight playoff meeting between the teams. Howard topped Ipswich, 60-14, in last year’s playoffs. 

Howard has hummed along to a perfect record, and is outscoring its opponents by more than 40 points per game. Howard is scoring 46.3 points per game and is allowing 5.6 points per game on defense. Howard has pitched three shutouts, and rolled past Timber Lake 60-6 in last week’s playoff opener. 

Ipswich dropped two of its first three games of the season, but is riding a six-game winning streak. Ipswich knocked off Estelline/Hendricks, 44-12, in last week’s first-round action. Ipswich is scoring 37.6 points per game, and is allowing 16.6 points per game on defense. 

No. 3 Warner (9-0) hosts No. 6 Philip (7-2) in the second playoff meeting in the past four seasons. The Monarchs blanked the Scotties, 54-0, in the 2021 playoffs. 

The Monarchs, who are riding a 21-game winning streak, defeated Gayville-Volin 49-6 in last week’s playoff action. Warner scores 40.8 points per game and allows 6.2 points per game on defense. 

Philip pulled away from Centerville, 44-30, in last week’s playoff action. The Scotties are scoring 32.7 points per game and are allowing 24.7 points per game on defense. Philip will make a 240-mile trip to Warner for the contest. 

Class 9A Quarterfinal Pairings

No. 1 Wall vs. No. 9 Castlewood, 6 p.m., MT   

No. 4 Wolsey-Wessington vs. No. 12 Dupree, 6 p.m., CT   

No. 2 Howard vs. No. 7 Ipswich, 6 p.m., CT   

No. 3 Warner vs. No. 6 Philip, 7 p.m., CT