Parkston and Hamlin have separated themselves atop Class 9AA, but there’s a host of title contenders at their heels. Parkston (47.625) edged Hamlin (47.250) for the No. 1 seed in the class. 

The Trojans and Chargers are both 8-0, but the class is filled with a slew of 7-1 and 6-2 teams. Elkton-Lake Benton, Hill City and Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian are 7-1. Leola/Frederick Area, Kimball/White Lake, Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy, Viborg-Hurley and Britton-Hecla are 6-2. 

Parkston hosts Stanley County (2-6) in its opener, and it’s a rematch of an Aug. 30 contest, a 52-16 Trojan victory. The Trojans, who won last season’s Class 9AA state championship, are riding a 20-game winning streak. 

Hamlin, meanwhile, plays Waubay/Summit and it is also a rematch of a regular-season meeting. The Chargers blanked the Mustangs, 50-0, on Sept. 6. 

Most intriguing first-round matchup 

The playoffs regularly pit teams unfamiliar with each other, and that’s the case between Leola/Frederick Area and Kimball/White Lake.

The Titans and WiLdKats have not played in recent memory, adding a layer of uncertainty in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 matchup. The teams will play in Frederick. 

The teams are both 6-2 and the winner likely gets a shot at No. 1 Parkston in the quarterfinal round. 

Leola/Frederick Area opened the season with six straight victories, but dropped two straight against Ipswich (14-12) and Warner (21-0) to end the regular season. 

Kimball/White Lake’s two losses were against conference foes Parkston (26-0) and Wolsey-Wessington (22-20). 

Unfamiliar foes play in opener 

There are plenty of unfamiliar teams playing in the first-round of the Class 9AA playoffs. 

Of the eight contests, five feature games between teams that have not played this season: Kimball/White Lake at Leola/Frederick Area, Bon Homme at Hill City, De Smet at Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy, Britton-Hecla at Viborg-Hurley and Hanson at Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian.