East meets West in a pair of Class 9A quarterfinal contests. 

No. 5 Ipswich (8-1) will make a trip west when they face No. 4 Philip (7-1) Thursday night. The Tigers have big wins on the resume this season, including Class 9B No. 5 Faulkton Area (34-30) and Class 9B No. 3 Herreid-Selby Area (52-12).

Ipswich will enter the quarterfinals with a six-game winning streak, with its only loss on the season coming at the hands of Class 9A No. 2 Warner, 36-30, in a comeback win for the Monarchs. The Tigers defeated Harding County Bison, 58-8, in first round playoff action on Oct. 23.

Philip continues to impress after an opening season loss to Class 9A No. 1 Wall (54-6) on Aug. 22. The Scotties have won seven straight games since then, including a 44-43 win over Class 9AA No. 5 Hill City on Oct. 3. Philip is led by returning all-state selection Tyce Gropper.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 7 Howard (7-2) will hit the road to take on No. 2 Warner (9-0). Howard is the defending Class 9A state champion and has won two titles since 2021.

The Tigers suffered an opening season loss to Class 9A No. 3 Alcester-Hudson, 40-29, before rattling off six wins in a row. After losing to Viborg-Hurley (32-22) in the regular season finale, Howard outlasted Centerville, 52-32, in first round playoff action on Oct. 23.

Two teams separated by over 300 miles will battle it out in the quarterfinals for the second straight year. No. 1 Wall (9-0) hosts No. 8 Castlewood (8-1) in a rematch from last season’s 9B quarterfinals, a 62-12 win for the Eagles.

Wall continues to be a top program in nine-man football after winning its first football championship in nearly three decades back in 2022, but the Eagles haven’t been back to the DakotaDome since.

Wall has looked like the best team in 9A football all season long averaging 55 points per game while giving up just four points per game defensively. In fact, the Eagles have only given up six total points in its last seven games, posting six shutouts.

Wall is led by three returning all-state players from last season, including Riley Kerner, Tanner Volmer and Dawson Handcock.

Castlewood will come in with loads of confidence and an eight-game winning streak after a season opening loss to Warner, 23-14, on Aug. 22. Most recently the Warriors took down Dupree, 46-12, in the first round of the playoffs. Castlewood’s Kamden Keszler had a big game in the playoff victory totaling six touchdowns, five of which came on the ground.

In the final 9A quarterfinal matchup, No. 6 Platte-Geddes (8-2) travels east to No. 3 Alcester-Hudson (7-2) Thursday. The Black Panthers are looking for its first trip to the DakotaDome since its back-to-back 9AA titles in 2020 and ‘21.

This season, PG started the year 6-0 before facing two setbacks against Parkston (28-0) and Bon Homme (26-0). The Black Panthers got back on track with a win over Corsica-Stickney (28-22) and most recently defeated Lyman, 42-30, in the opening round of 9A playoffs. PG is led by seniors Jye Bailey and Kenyon Kuiper.

The Cubs have been a surprise team in 9A after a 4-5 season a year ago. AH is 7-2 with notable wins over Class 9A No. 5 Howard (40-29) and Viborg-Hurley (28-26).

AH’s only two losses were against top-ranked teams in Class 9AA No. 1 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (38-19) and Dell Rapids St. Mary (34-2).

Seniors Tommy Walth and Darin Dykstra have powered the Cubs to victory this season. Walth ran 16 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s playoff win over Deubrook Area, while Dystra added 62 yards on 10 carries as well. Walth also returned an interception for a touchdown in the 36-0 shutout win last week.

No. 8 Castlewood at No. 1 Wall, 6 p.m., MT, Wall

No. 5 Ipswich at No. 4 Philip, 6 p.m., MT, Philip

No. 7 Howard at No. 2 Warner, 7 p.m., CT, Warner

No. 6 Platte-Geddes at No. 3 Alcester-Hudson, 7 p.m., CT, Alcester