Faulkton Area at Sully Buttes

ONIDA — Faulkton Area travels to Onida for a top-five Class 9B football game.

Class 9B No. 3 Sully Buttes (4-0) hosts Class 9B No. 4 Faulkton Area (2-2) in a matchup featuring two games heading in opposite directions. 

The Chargers have picked up easy wins over Northwestern (46-6), Burke (56-6), Hitchcock-Tulare (48-18) and Potter County (52-0) to start the season. Against the Battlers, Sully Buttes rushed for 260 yards, led by Kadyn Westergren’s 204 and quarterback Wesley Wittler passed for 230 yards. Westergren scored three total touchdowns and Lucas Arcoren scored a pair of rushing touchdowns. Sully Buttes racked up 490 total yards.

Faulkton Area, meanwhile, has dropped two straight games after opening with a 2-0 record. After wins over Ipswich (28-14) and Herreid/Selby Area (46-8), the Trojans dropped games against Warner (28-20) and Leola-Frederick Area (42-20). 

Against the Titans, Faulkton Area’s Gian DiMaria passed for 226 yards and a touchdown. Tristen Baloun rushed for two touchdowns.

Yankton at Pierre 

PIERRE — Pierre is looking to avoid its first three-game losing streak since 2014. 

The Governors, who have been on an historic run with seven straight Class 11AA state championships, have lost two straight games for the first time since 2017. Pierre will look to avoid the three-game skid against Yankton on Friday.

Class 11AA No. 3 Pierre (2-2) will host Class 11AA No. 4 Yankton (2-2). 

After defeating Aberdeen Central (20-14) and Huron (48-6), the Governors have lost games against Watertown (28-14) and Brookings (13-0).

Yankton has picked up wins over Huron (60-0) and Douglas (74-6), sandwiched between losses against Watertown (27-13) and Harrisburg (49-14). 

The Governors have defeated the Bucks six straight meetings, with Yankton’s last win coming in 2020. 

Groton Area at Clark/Willow Lake

CLARK — A signature Class 11B victory is up for grabs in Clark.

Groton Area (3-1) visits Clark/Willow Lake (3-1) in a Class 11B matchup between two teams looking to move up the seed points standings. 

Groton Area is coming off a 14-9 win over Deuel, while it also defeated Mobridge-Pollock (29-12) and Webster Area (14-7). Groton Area’s lone defeat was against Class 11A Milbank (32-28). 

Against Deuel, Groton Area’s Korbin Kucker rushed for 112 yards on 23 carries. Christian Ehresmann hauled in two touchdown receptions from Ryder Johnson. 

Clark/Willow Lake has picked up wins over Aberdeen Roncalli (2-0), Sisseton (46-6) and Parker (36-0). CWL’s lone defeat was against Class 11B No. 2 Sioux Valley (56-36). 

Against Parker, Emmerson Larson led the Cyclones rushing for 87 yards with two touchdowns. Griffin Musser finished with nine rushes for 52 yards and a score with Ernesto Garcia adding another score on the ground. Larson led the defense with a pick six and also had 80 yards passing. 

Dakota Valley at Lennox 

LENNOX — Dakota Valley travels to Lennox in a matchup between two 3-1 Class 11A teams. 

The teams are two of the four teams with 3-1 records in Class 11A, and are currently tied for second in the seed points standings.

No. 4 Dakota Valley’s lone defeat was against Canton (20-13), while it has defeated Dell Rapids (22-14), Lakota Tech (63-0) and Tri-Valley (21-14). 

No. 2 Lennox has picked up wins over Vermillion (28-13), Custer (52-0) and West Central (40-28). The Orioles gave No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian its closest game of the season, a 19-8 Charger victory. 

Dell Rapids at Tri-Valley 

CROOKS — Dell Rapids is 3-1. Tri-Valley is 3-1.

They’ll face off Friday in a Class 11A matchup. 

No. 5 Dell Rapids lost its first game of the season, a 22-14 setback against Dakota Valley. The Quarriers have since picked up wins over Madison (30-13), Rapid City Christian (40-24) and Milbank (42-7). 

Tri-Valley, which is honorable mention in the latest poll, is coming off a 21-14 loss against Dakota Valley. The Mustangs started their season with wins over Custer (20-13), Milbank (14-13) and Belle Fourche (37-0).