Winner at Elk Point/Jefferson 

ELK POINT — Here we go again.

Winner and Elk Point/Jefferson, which sit at opposite ends of the state, have gotten familiar with each other on the football field. They’ve duked it out each of the past three seasons, all coming in the playoffs. 

The Huskies have won the last two meetings, a 21-16 decision in last season’s Class 11B semifinals and a 21-14 win for the 2022 Class 11B state championship. In 2021, Winner knocked off the Huskies 52-14 in the Class 11B semifinals.

They’ll continue their budding Class 11B rivalry on Friday, when No. 1 Winner (2-0) plays at No. 2 Elk Point/Jefferson (2-0) in a top-five tilt. 

Winner was off last week, but picked up a 24-6 win over Wagner in its last outing. Gus Bartels, Eli Vobr and Karson Keiser each scored rushing touchdowns. Bartels had a team-high 48 yards rushing and Winner rushed for 185 yards as a team. Quincy Phillips had 25 yards passing. Kellen Brozik had two catches for 41 yards.

Last week, Elk Point/Jefferson had a tough time shaking Mount Vernon/Plankinton. In the 36-33 victory over the Titans, Keaton Gale finished the game passing 12-for-18 with 178 yards and three passing touchdowns. Gunner Ewing led the rushing attack with 130 yards and two scores on 22 carries. Aiden Hammitt caught five passes for 70 yards and two scores, while Ashton Fairbanks caught a touchdown in the win as well.

Hill City at Harding County/Bison

BUFFALO — Two West River teams will clash in Buffalo. 

Class 9A No. 5 Harding County/Bison (2-1) will host Class 9AA No. 4 Hill City (3-0) on Friday, a matchup between two teams looking to pick up marquee wins. 

Hill City, which won three games all of last season, has already equaled its win total during a resurgence season. The Rangers have defeated Stanley County (48-6), Lemmon/McIntosh (41-8) and Dupree (55-14) to start the season. 

Harding County/Bison picked up a 48-6 win last week against New Underwood. The Ranchers finished with 313 rushing yards. Harding County/Bison’s lone defeat was against Class 9A No. 2 Wall (43-22) and it defeated Potter County (50-8) in the season opener. 

The Ranchers and Rangers last played in 2020, a 48-0 Harding County win. 

Corsica-Stickney at Avon 

AVON — Corsica-Stickney will take its shot at Avon on Friday.

Class 9B No. 1 Avon, which is on a eight-winning streak, will host Class 9B No. 5 Corsica-Stickney in a top-five matchup. Avon, which won last season’s Class 9B state championship, has defeated Colman-Egan (60-38), Sioux Falls Lutheran (58-8) and Burke (60-7) this season.

The Pirates are powered by all-state running back Aziah Meyer, who rushed for 105 yards on nine carries and scored three rushing touchdowns last week. Grayson Ratzlaff rushed for 55 yards and scored on a kickoff return. Landon Mudder scored two rushing touchdowns, while he returned an interception for a score. Trent Soukup added a rushing touchdown. 

The Jaguars (2-1) are coming off a 46-12 loss against Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian. Last week, Waylon Bolle rushed for 52 yards and scored a touchdown. Tate Tolsma added a rushing touchdown. 

Avon won last season’s meeting, 30-14. 

Hanson at Parkston 

PARKSTON — Class 9AA No. 1 Parkston puts its undefeated record up against familiar foe Hanson on Friday.

The Trojans (3-0) will host Hanson (2-1) in a nine-man matchup featuring teams that have gotten well acquainted in recent years. Hanson won four straight meetings between 2019-22, but Parkston won both meetings last season, including a 28-0 victory in the playoffs. 

Parkston, which is riding a 15-game winning streak, has earned wins over Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (42-14), Stanley County (52-16) and Kimball/White Lake (26-0) this season. 

Against KWL, Parkston racked up over 300 rushing yards as Kolter Kramer and Kaden Holzbauer led the charge combining for 223 yards on 19 carries, including a touchdown run by Kramer. Carter Sommer finished 4-for-6 passing with 102 yards and two passing touchdowns. Kramer reeled in a 19 yard touchdown, while Holzbauer caught a 5-yard touchdown as well. Mason Jervik and Gage Jodozi each caught one pass, combining for 78 yards.

Hanson, meanwhile, is coming off a 25-8 win over De Smet. The Beavers also defeated Garretson (50-0) and lost to Class 9AA No. 2 Hamlin (44-6).

Against De Smet, Sutton Dewald rushed for 128 yards on 14 carries and scored a touchdown. Stetson Riggs had a rushing touchdown, while Esten Schlimgen threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Weston Kayser. Nate Wilber added a 25-yard field goal. Kayser rushed for 70 yards on 11 carries. Schlimgen completed 8-for-13 passes for 147 yards. 

Faulkton Area at Warner 

WARNER — Two nine-man state finalists from 2023 will meet in Warner on Friday. 

Class 9B No. 2 Faulkton Area (2-0) will play at Class 9A No. 3 Warner (3-0) in a cross-class nine-man tilt. Warner won last season’s Class 9A state championship, while Faulkton Area was the Class 9B runner-up. 

Warner, which is on a 15-game winning streak, has picked up wins over Castlewood (25-6), Potter County (47-6) and Ipswich (37-0) this season. Against Ipswich, Jesiah Baum and Payton Volk each scored two touchdown runs. Chays Mansfield added a touchdown run. Baum rushed for 90 yards and Drew Bakeberg passed for 70, teaming with Volk four times for 35 yards.

Faulkton Area has earned wins over Ipswich (28-14) and Herreid/Selby Area (46-8). Against HSA, Drake Mueller, Charlie Deiter, and Landon Coyle each scored a pair of touchdowns for the Trojans, who finished with 217 total yards from scrimmage. Mueller caught a pair of touchdown passes from Gian DiMaria, while Deiter and Coyle each had two touchdown runs. 

Warner edged Faulkton Area, 27-20, in last season’s meeting and has won nine straight games in the series. 

Mount Vernon/Plankinton at Wagner

WAGNER — Two Southeast South Dakota Conference foes will play in a key Class 11B contest on Friday.

Class 11B No. 5 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (2-1) will play at Wagner (2-1) in a conference contest. Wagner won last season’s meeting, 40-6, to snap a six-game losing skid against the Titans. 

Wagner is coming off a 27-0 win over Hot Springs, in which the Red Raiders rushed for 302 yards on 42 carries. 

Gannon Knebel led the Red Raiders with 225 yards rushing on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns. Knebel added 87 yards passing and threw a touchdown to Shae Kjeldgaard. Javian Pesicka had 70 yards rushing on 17 carries and scored a touchdown. Hunter Lhotak had 40 yards receiving. 

MVP dropped a tight 36-33 decision against Class 11B No. 2 Elk Point/Jefferson, in which the Titans trailed 36-20 before making a late-game surge. 

MVP’s Riley Mayer ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. Brady Fox added another 60 yards and two scores, while Kyle Sandland added 28 yards and a rushing touchdown, including three catches for another 100 yards through the air.

Sioux Falls Christian at Lennox 

LENNOX — Two top-five Class 11A foes will clash in Lennox.

Class 11A No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (2-0) will play at Class 11A No. 3 Lennox (2-0) in a Dak-XII matchup. 

The Chargers have picked up wins over West Central (42-13) and Rapid City Christian (41-22) to start the season. 

Lennox has also earned easy wins over Vermillion (48-13) and Custer (52-0) to open the season. 

The Chargers have won two straight against Lennox, including last season’s 42-14 win.