By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

Teams are one step closer to their ultimate goal: a trip to the DakotaDome in Vermillion.

South Dakota’s seven football classes have reached the semifinals and here’s a game-by-game breakdown of each 11-man semifinal. All times are Central.

Class 11B

Elk Point-Jefferson (8-2) at Winner (10-0) at 6 p.m.

WINNER -- Class 11B power is one win away from another trip to the DakotaDome.

The Warriors have played in four of the past six Class 11B championships, including titles in 2015, ‘16 and ‘20. No. 1 Winner is in the midst of a 21-game winning streak, is averaging 52.5 points per game and has given up just 8.1 points per game on defense. 

The Warriors rely on a bevy of running backs. Riley Orel has produced 724 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while Aiden Barfuss has racked up 653 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Kaden Keiser (568 rushing yards/13 touchdowns) and Riley Shippy (474 rushing yards/5 touchdowns) are also reliable backs out of the backfield. Quarterback Joey Cole has registered 20 total touchdowns, while passing for 467 yards and 157 rushing yards. 

No. 5 Elk Point-Jefferson is paced by quarterback Noah McDermott, who has passed for 1,199 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 492 yards and three touchdowns. Devon Schmitz (580 receiving yards/5 touchdowns; 340 rushing yards/4 touchdowns) is a threat running and receiving the ball. Ben Swatek powers the ground game with 787 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, while posting 56.5 tackles on defense. Lucas Hueser has 779 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. 

Beresford's Tate VanOtterloo carries the ball against Sioux Valley on Oct. 15 in Volga. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Beresford (7-3) at Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (7-3) at 7 p.m.

BRIDGEWATER -- Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan can avenge an early-season loss and secure its fifth consecutive Class 11B state championship berth.

The No. 7 Seahawks dropped a 38-21 decision against Elk Point-Jefferson on Oct. 8. But they’ve rattled off three straight wins, including a 21-8 victory over Sioux Valley last week. 

BEE, which lost to Winner in last year’s Class 11B state title, is paced offensively by Koby Kayser. The senior running back has rushed for 1,254 yards and 15 touchdowns. Quarterback Kaden Klumb has passed for 813 yards and 14 touchdowns, while rushing for four more scores. Jay Storm (224 receiving yards/4 touchdowns) and Sam Hofer (185 receiving yards/5 touchdowns) are the top receivers. Riley Endres has registered five total touchdowns. Defensively, Klumb has 68 tackles and Sutton Arend has four interceptions.

One year after winning just two games, No. 14 Beresford is one victory away from a state championship berth. The Watchdogs nipped Aberdeen Roncalli, 7-6, in overtime last week to earn the semifinal berth. The Watchdogs also edged Mount Vernon/Plankinton, 27-24, in the first round on the game’s final play.

Beresford quarterback Tate VanOtterloo has thrown for 1,156 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. Peyton Fridrich has racked up 637 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. Isaiah Richards has 41 catches for 612 yards and eight touchdowns. 

Class 11AAA

Sioux Falls Lincoln (6-4) at Harrisburg (10-0) at 6 p.m.

HARRISBURG -- Harrisburg’s undefeated regular season was threatened by three teams, including Sioux Falls Lincoln on Sept. 10. 

The No. 1 Tigers edged the Patriots, 35-27, at Howard Wood Field. Harrisburg outlasted its next two opponents Sioux Falls Washington (29-23) and Sioux Falls Roosevelt (38-34). On Friday, No. 5 Lincoln gets another crack at Harrisburg in the Class 11AAA semifinals. 

Harrisburg is gunning for a return trip to Vermillion after falling to Brandon Valley in last year’s state championship. Sioux Falls Lincoln last made the DakotaDome in consecutive seasons in 2013 and ‘14. 

Jacob Knuth powers a talented group of playmakers for the Tigers. The University of Minnesota commit has thrown for 2,235 yards and 25 touchdowns, while rushing for 11 more scores. Lincoln Carlson (812 receiving yards/6 touchdowns) and Andrew Walter (648 receiving yards/6 touchdowns) pace the receiving corps. Out of the backfield, Gavin Ross has produced 1,577 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. 

Lincoln’s Tate Schafer has thrown for 2,031 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Angel Jurshge has posted 914 rushing yards and 10 scores. 

Sioux Falls O’Gorman (6-4) at Brandon Valley (9-1) at 7 p.m.

BRANDON -- Brandon Valley needs one more win to secure a fourth straight trip to DakotaDome. Standing in its way is familiar foe Sioux Falls O’Gorman. 

The No. 2 Lynx nipped the No. 6 Knights, 13-10, on Sept. 17 in Sioux Falls. Brandon Valley won last year’s Class 11AAA state championship, while it lost to O’Gorman in the 2019 title game. Brandon Valley won the 2018 state championship. 

Brandon Valley quarterback Jordan Johnson has thrown for 1,109 yards and 13 touchdowns. Peyton Carroll has recorded 438 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions. 

Sioux Falls O’Gorman, which has won five straight games, is paced by quarterback Bennett Dannenbring (1,460 passing yards/20 touchdowns). He’s also rushed for 405 yards and three touchdowns. Maverick Jones (656 rushing yards/9 touchdowns) and Payton Hage (643 receiving yards/10 touchdowns) also contribute to the offensive unit. 

Tea Area's Chase Van Tol carries the ball against Watertown on Sept. 24 in Tea. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Class 11AA

Yankton (6-4) at Tea Area (10-0) at 7 p.m.

TEA -- New class, same Tea Area.

After winning last year’s Class 11A state title, the Titans moved up a class and they haven’t skipped a beat. No. 1 Tea Area has won 21 straight games and is averaging 46 points per game this season. 

Offensively, Cael Lundin orchestrates the unit with 1,227 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. Chase Van Tol has rushed for 764 yards and nine touchdowns, while Jaxon Weber has rushed for 692 yards and 13 touchdowns. Klayton Slatter has 37 catches for 697 yards and 13 touchdowns. 

No. 4 Yankton lost to eventual state champ Pierre in last year’s state semifinals. The Bucks are led by Rugby Ryken, who has thrown for 2,101 yards and 26 touchdowns. Gavin Swanson has rushed for 755 yards and seven touchdowns. Tyler Sohler (521 receiving yards/8 touchdowns), Cameron Zahrbok (499 rushing yards/4 touchdowns) and Cody Oswald (492 receiving yards/11 touchdowns) also contribute to the offensive attack. 

Pierre's Lincoln Kienholz delivers a pass against Huron earlier this season. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Aberdeen Central (4-6) at Pierre (8-2) at 7 p.m.

PIERRE -- Two of the state’s most dynamic quarterbacks will headline the Class 11AA semifinal contest. 

No. 3 Pierre, powered by Lincoln Kienholz, will host No. 7 Aberdeen Central and its dual-threat quarterback Sam Rohlfs in semifinal action. 

Kienholz has thrown for 2,849 yards and 35 touchdowns, while rushing for 874 yards and 10 more scores. The junior threw for 400 yards and seven touchdowns in Pierre’s 52-35 win over Aberdeen Central on Oct. 15. Jack Merkwan has hauled in 1,103 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Matthew Hanson (632 receiving yards/7 touchdowns) and Cade Keiser (423 receiving yards/6 touchdowns) have also been reliable weapons for Kienholz in the passing game.  

Pierre has won four straight Class 11AA state championships, including last year’s 38-6 victory over Brookings. 

Rohlfs has produced 1,477 passing yards and 17 touchdowns through the air. Rohlfs, who has committed to the South Dakota State University track and field team, has also rushed for 565 yards and nine touchdowns. Jacob Merxbauer (580 receiving yards/9 touchdowns) and Alec Voegele (387 receiving yards/6 touchdowns) pace the receiving unit. 

Running back Karson Carda has racked up 941 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Carda erupted for 242 rushing yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 42-34 win over No. 2 Brookings.  

Aberdeen Central moved down from Class 11AA and it hasn’t advanced to the semifinals since its 2009 Class 11AA runner-up finish. 

Aberdeen Central's Karson Carda (24) carries the ball against Mitchell on Sept. 11 in Mitchell. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Class 11A

Dell Rapids (7-3) at Madison (10-0) at 7 p.m.

MADISON -- Dak-12 foes Dell Rapids and Madison will square off for the second time this season.

The No. 1 Bulldogs handed the No. 4 Quarriers a 35-7 loss on Oct. 8 in Madison. The winner of the rematch punches a ticket to the DakotaDome.

The Bulldogs, who lost in last year’s semifinals to Tea Area, are led offensively by Nate Ricke (1,750 passing yards/13 touchdowns). He’s also rushed for 540 yards and 13 touchdowns. Peyton Wolf (490 receiving yards/3 touchdowns) and Mickale Dohrer (453 receiving yards/3 touchdowns) pace the receiving unit. Dillon Bickett has hauled in four touchdown receptions and 280 receiving yards. Trey Smith has rushed for a team-high nine touchdowns and has 120 tackles on defense, while Bruce Galde has 529 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Kadin Hanscom has  269 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Dell Rapids is led offensively by Austin Henry, who has 1,037 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. Landon Ruesink has 673 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, while hauling in 425 yards and eight touchdown receptions. Defensively, Brayden Pankonen has five interceptions.

Dell Rapids last made the semifinals in 2018 when it lost to Tea Area in the Class 11A state title game. 

Milbank (7-3) at Vermillion (7-3) at 7 p.m.

VERMILLION -- Vermillion hosts upset-minded Milbank in the Class 11A semifinals.

No. 7 Milbank has won six straight games, including last week’s 6-0 win over No. 2 Canton in the quarterfinals. Last week, No. 3 Vermillion avenged a regular season defeat against Tri-Valley, winning 21-7 in the quarterfinals. 

Vermillion’s offensive unit is paced by Jack Kratz, who has 930 passing yards and seven touchdowns. He’s added 964 rushing yards and 17 more scores. Jeremy Crowe has rushed for 660 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Mehki Sheffield (396 receiving yards/3 touchdowns) and Zoan Robinson (249 receiving yards/3 touchdowns) have been Kratz’s top weapons on the perimeter. Nick Sorensen has racked up 103 tackles (11 for loss) and three sacks on defense. 

Milbank’s Bennett Schwenn rushed for 111 yards and its lone score in last week’s upset win. Milbank last advanced to the state championship in 2009 when it defeated St. Thomas More for the Class 11A title. Vermillion last made state finals in 1999 when it defeated Hamlin for the Class 11A crown.