Hamlin’s next step to a repeat season takes the Chargers out west.

No. 4 Hill City (8-1) will have its biggest test of the season taking on the defending state 9AA champion, No. 5 Hamlin (8-1). The Rangers have just one blemish on the record this season, a 44-43 loss to Philip on Oct. 3.

HC has one of the most explosive offenses in nine-man football averaging 49 points per game, allowing just 14 points per game defensively.

Hamlin will make the six hour drive west on its step to repeating as 9AA champions. The Chargers one loss came at the hands of Class 9AA No. 2 Elkton-Lake Benton, 46-14, on Oct. 17, but have been dominant in nearly every other game this season.

The Chargers defense is allowing just eight points per game, while an offense led by returning all-state quarterback Jackson Wadsworth is posting 43 points per game.

No. 9 Kimball/White Lake (6-3) matches up with No. 1 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (9-0) as the only remaining unbeaten team in Class 9AA football.

The Phoenix have cruised to its undefeated season facing some top teams in nine-man football, including Class 9AA No. 3 Parkston (20-6), Bon Homme (57-7), Class 9AA No. 2 Elkton-Lake Benton (42-28), Class 9A No. 3 Alcester-Hudson (38-19) and Class 9B No. 2 Avon (58-8).

FMFA is averaging 48 points per game while giving up just 10 points per game on defense, and are led by senior quarterback Riley Tschetter.

The WiLdKats enters Freeman having rattled off four straight wins after a midseason slump to three playoff opponents in Parkston (26-14), Platte-Geddes (22-20) and Bon Homme (18-0). Since then, KWL has defeated Stanley County (49-16), Gregory (50-20), Wolsey-Wessington (55-8) and a huge road playoff win over No. 8 Britton-Hecla (14-7) on Oct. 23.

KWL is led by senior running back Johnny Lenz and junior quarterback Keaton Christensen.

No. 10 Hanson (5-4) will travel north to take on a hungry No. 2 Elkton-Lake Benton (9-1) this Thursday. The Elks have taken a big step following last season where it fell short in the 9AA semifinals, 20-16 to eventual champions Hamlin. 

This season, ELB’s only loss came against Class 9AA No. 1 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy, 42-28, on Sept. 5. Since then, the Elks are winners of six straight, including dominant wins over Britton-Hecla (36-13) and Hamlin (46-14).

The Elks are led by senior quarterback Colt Beck, who tallied five total touchdowns against Hamlin on Oct. 17 and senior back Eliot Erickson, adding two more rushing scores against the Chargers as well.

Hanson is a program that’s always a tough matchup to play in the playoffs. Hanson’s four losses came against stout programs in Class 9AA football, including Hamlin (29-23), Parkston (16-6), Howard (12-7) and Viborg-Hurley (28-6).

But the Beavers recently avenged that prior loss to the Cougars in the first round of the 9AA playoffs, defeating VH, 52-34, on Oct. 23. Hanson is led by its lone returning all-state selection, senior Stetson Riggs.

In the final 9AA quarterfinal matchup, No.  6 Bon Homme makes the short trip up Highway 37 to take on No. 3 Parkston. It’s a rematch from earlier this season, a dominant 70-21 win for the Trojans on Sept. 26.

Parkston has been one of the best teams in 9AA football in the past few years, looking to make the 9AA state championship for the fourth consecutive year. The Trojans are the 2023 state champions, and its only loss of the year came against Class 9AA No. 1 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy, 20-6.

It has since won eight straight games including wins over Kimball/White Lake (26-14), Hanson (16-6), Platte-Geddes (28-0) and most recently No. 14 Bennett County (55-22) in the first round of the playoffs on Oct. 23. Parkston is led by senior running back Gage Reichert, and juniors Brycen Bruening and Mason Jervik.

Bon Homme bounced back in a big way following its loss to Parkston, taking a shutout win over Platte-Geddes (26-0) on Oct. 10. The Cavaliers are also a team with recent championship history, making the state title game in 2019 and ‘20, coming home with the championship in 2019.

BH is averaging 35 points per game offensively while giving up 22 points per game defensively and are led by sophomore quarterback Madden Merkwan.

No. 9 Kimball/White Lake at No. 1 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy, 7 p.m., CT, Freeman

No. 5 Hamlin at No. 4 Hill City, 6 p.m., MT, Hill City

No. 10 Hanson at No. 2 Elkton-Lake Benton, 6 p.m., CT, Elkton

No. 6 Bon Homme at No. 3 Parkston, 7 p.m., CT, Parkston