Howard at Canistota 

CANISTOTA — This Cornbelt Conference matchup rarely disappoints. 

Howard and Canistota, a pair of perennial nine-man powerhouses, have collided for some high-level football games in recent years. The latest edition takes place Friday in Canistota.

Class 9A No. 1 Howard (4-0) will play at Class 9B No. 5 Canistota (3-1) in a matchup that’s always circled on each other’s calendars. Canistota won last season’s meeting, 30-18, while Howard won the 2022 matchup by a 21-20 decision. 

Howard, which is one of four undefeated teams in Class 9A, has won all four games with relative ease this season. The Tigers have pitched shutouts against Deubrook Area (55-0) and Chester (52-0), while also defeating Alcester-Hudson (45-8) and Estelline-Hendricks (35-8). 

Canistota dropped a 40-20 decision against Viborg-Hurley in the opener, but have picked up wins over Colman-Egan (12-6), Iroquois/Lake Preston (40-0) and Garretson (20-13) the past three weeks. 

Pierre at Brookings

BROOKINGS — How will the Governors respond?

For the first time since 2021, Pierre lost to a Class 11AA opponent, falling to Watertown by a 28-14 decision last week. Pierre’s last Class 11AA defeat was against Brookings on Oct. 21, 2021, and ironically its next game is against the Bobcats. 

Class 11AA No. 2 Pierre (2-1) will play at Class 11AA No. 5 Brookings (3-0) in an Eastern South Dakota Conference contest. 

Last week against Watertown, Kaleb Lounsbury finished 19-of-39 for 156 yards and two passing touchdowns. Lounsbury has completed 55-for-104 attempts for 654 yards and eight passing touchdowns this season. Trevor Rounds has 202 rushing yards on 50 carries and one touchdown. 

Prior to its Watertown defeat, Pierre beat Aberdeen Central (20-14) and Huron (48-6) to start the season.

Brookings has defeated Sturgis (31-0), Mitchell (34-0) and Aberdeen Central (8-7) to open the 2024 season. Against the Golden Eagles, a 67-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Anderson to Bergen Tetzlaff and a two-point conversion with 23 seconds left lifted Brookings to the one-point win. 

At 3-0, Brookings is one of two undefeated teams left in Class 11AA, with Spearfish also sitting at 3-0. 

Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central at Winner

WINNER — Another week, another top-five matchup for the Winner Warriors. 

One week after defeating then-No. 2 Elk Point/Jefferson, Class 11B No. 1 Winner (3-0) hosts Class 11B No. 4 Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central (3-0) in a top-five contest. 

It will be the first meeting between the Warriors and Blackhawks since 2021, a 32-0 Winner victory. Winner has won the past four meetings in the series, with WWSSC’s last victory coming in the 2017 Class 11B playoffs. 

Winner is coming off an 18-8 win over EPJ, preceded by wins over Hot Springs (36-0) and Wagner (24-6). Against the Huskies, Eli Vobr led the Warriors with 13 rushes for 44 yards and a rushing touchdown. Vobr also hit Karson Keiser for a 62-yard touchdown pass. Zac Olson rushed for 26 yards and a score while Gus Bartels rushed 11 times for 54 yards. 

The Blackhawks, meanwhile, are coming off a 50-12 victory over Webster Area. WWSSC has also defeated Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (28-13) and Lead-Deadwood (42-6). Against the Bearcats, Holden Havlik completed 12-of-28 passes for 265 yards and threw two passing touchdowns. He added 66 rushing yards and a score. Bryce Larson threw for a passing touchdown. Ryder Michalek caught five catches for 132 yards and two touchdown passes. Colby Flowers hauled in three catches for 74 yards and caught a touchdown. Payton Uecker had 36 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Tyson Eddy had 62 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Canton at Sioux Falls Christian 

SIOUX FALLS — There are three undefeated teams left in Class 11A, and two of them will play Friday in Sioux Falls. 

Class 11A No. 2 Canton (3-0) will play at Class 11A No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (3-0) in a key 11-man matchup. Tri-Valley (3-0) is the other undefeated team in the class.

Sioux Falls Christian has earned wins over West Central (42-13), Rapid City Christian (41-22) and Lennox (19-8) to start the season. 

Canton has wins over Rapid City Christian (20-16), Dakota Valley (20-13) and Vermillion (45-31). Canton has won five straight meetings against Sioux Falls Christian, which last defeated the C-Hawks in 2018. 

Tri-Valley at Dakota Valley 

NORTH SIOUX CITY — A pair of Dak-XII Conference foes will renew their football rivalry on Friday.

Class 11A No. 4 Dakota Valley (2-1) hosts Class 11A Tri-Valley (3-0) in an 11-man contest, with it being their first meeting since 2021. Tri-Valley won the 2021 matchup, but prior to that, Dakota Valley had won the four previous contests. 

Dakota Valley has picked up wins over Dell Rapids (22-14) and Lakota Tech (63-0), while its lone defeat was against Canton (20-13). 

Tri-Valley is one of three undefeated teams in Class 11A, joined by Sioux Falls Christian and Canton. Tri-Valley has defeated Custer (20-13), Milbank (14-13) and Belle Fourche (37-0).