The Class 9AA playoffs have been known for producing two headlines through the years: chaos and several title contenders. This year is no different. Class 9AA is once again filled with title contenders and could prove to be chaotic should upsets occur.

Three unbeatens remain in Class 9AA and headline the title contenders. Wall and Howard were Class 9A semifinalists a year ago, with Howard defeating Wall 21-17 en route to the state championship. Both moved up to Class 9AA and look to return to the semifinals and become eventual champions. Wall’s last championship appearance was the 2011 9A title game, a 66-6 loss to Canistota. The Eagles are the No. 1 seed after winning a tie-breaker with Elkton-Lake Benton and host No. 16 Stanley County in the opening round.

Elkton-Lake Benton's Ryan Krog carries the ball against Castlewood on Oct. 14 in Elkton. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Elkton-Lake Benton is the third undefeated team in the class. The Elks have used a balanced offensive attack to run roughshod through opponents en route to an 8-0 record and the Dakota Valley Conference championship. The Elks lone state championship game appearance came in the 2006 9AA title game, a 26-8 loss to Parker. Elkton-Lake Benton begins their playoff run as the No. 2 seed and hosts No. 15 Kimball/White Lake in the opening round. 

Other title contenders looking to create chaos in Class 9AA include Hamlin, Hanson, and Parkston. 

Most intriguing first-round matchup

Hanson and Platte-Geddes have some recent history together.

The two teams have locked horns in the playoffs the past three seasons and will again meet up in the Class 9AA playoffs. The teams met in the Class 9AA first round in 2019, and have met in the 9AA quarterfinals the past two seasons. All three contests ended in Platte-Geddes victories, including last season's 26-24 overtime thriller in Alexandria.

This year’s matchup in Alexandria may not quite have the intrigue as the past matchups, but both teams know what is at stake. For Platte-Geddes, a third straight trip to the DakotaDome and third straight championship are on the line. The Black Panthers have worked their way to a 4-4 record after starting the season with two straight losses. They ended the regular season with a 22-8 loss to Canistota, a game that featured a rematch of last season’s Class 9AA championship game (Canistota was in a co-op with Freeman).

Hanson enters the matchup looking to erase the bad taste of the last three years of heartbreak they experienced against the Black Panthers in the playoffs. The Beavers have relied heavily on their defense with season, allowing just 6.5 points per game, while averaging 36 points per game on offense.

Howard's Griffin Clubb (30) carries the ball against Hanson's Ethan Cheeseman (21) on Aug. 19 in Howard. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

One-loss teams look to play spoiler

Three one-loss teams look to play spoiler and ruin the perfect seasons of the three unbeaten teams in this year’s Class 9AA playoffs. Hamlin is two years removed from a Class 9AA runner-up finish and looks to return to the state title game. The Chargers lone loss came against Warner, the No. 1 seed and lone unbeaten in Class 9A, in an 8-6 decision. Hamlin is the No. 4 seed and hosts No. 13 Viborg-Hurley in the first round.

Hanson looks to return to the state title game for the first time since 2010, and will also look to continue a dominant run this season. The Beavers opened the season with a 20-12 loss to the top-ranked and third-seeded Howard Tigers, but have since won seven straight. Since that loss, Hanson has also pitched three shutouts and has only allowed five touchdowns in the seven game span. The Beavers defeated six of those seven opponents by 20 points or more, with the lone exception being the last one-loss team in the 9AA playoffs… the Parkston Trojans.

Parkston’s lone loss this season was an 8-6 decision that came against the Hanson Beavers. The Trojans were also a Class 9AA semifinalist a year ago, losing to eventual champion Platte-Geddes. Parkston begins this year’s title hunt as the No. 6 seed and will host No. 11 Leola/Frederick Area in the opening round.

Class 9AA First-Round Pairings

Note: Times are Central

No. 16 Stanley County (3-5) at No. 1 Wall (8-0), 7:30 p.m.

No. 9 Ipswich (6-2) at No. 8 Bon Homme (5-3), 7 p.m.

No. 13 Viborg-Hurley (4-4) at No. 4 Hamlin (7-1), 7 p.m.

No. 12 Platte-Geddes (4-4) at No. 5 Hanson (7-1), 7 p.m.

No. 15 Kimball/White Lake (2-6) at No. 2 Elkton-Lake Benton (8-0), 7 p.m.

No. 10 Florence/Henry (4-4) at No. 7 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (6-2), 7 p.m.

No. 14 Britton-Hecla (4-4) at No. 3 Howard (8-0), 6 p.m.

No. 11 Leola/Frederick Area (5-3) at No. 6 Parkston (7-1), 7 p.m.