Elkton-Lake Benton at De Smet 

DE SMET — The Dakota Valley Conference championship is up for grabs in De Smet.

Class 9B No. 2 De Smet (6-1) will host Class 9AA No. 5 Elkton-Lake Benton (6-1) for the conference championship.

In addition to the conference title, the nine-man teams will use it as a final tune-up for the postseason. The Bulldogs have rattled off five straight wins, including a convincing 46-0 win over ranked foe Hitchcock-Tulare last week. Against the Bulldogs, Britt Carlson completed 11 of 20 passes for 240 yards, while rushing for 98 yards on 10 carries. He added 13 tackles on defense. Tommy Aughenbaugh hauled in six catches for 114 yards and three touchdowns, while he added an interception on defense. Kadyn Fast rushed for 58 yards and scored a touchdown. 

The Elks dropped a 24-12 decision against Canistota on Sept. 15, but have pitched back-to-back shutouts against Iroquois/Lake Preston and Florence-Henry. Against the Falcons, ELB’s Colt Beck had 72 yards rushing and a touchdown. Blake DeVries added 69 yards and two rushing touchdowns while Riddick Westley had 52 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Colt Beck finished with 141 yards passing and one touchdown to Quinten Poindexter, who led with 55 yards receiving.

Canistota at Platte-Geddes 

PLATTE — Two nine-man powers with recent history will clash in Platte.

Class 9A No. 2 Canistota (6-1) will play at Class 9AA Platte-Geddes (6-1) in an afternoon contest. The Hawks and Black Panthers have locked horns for some instant classics in recent years.

In 2021, Platte-Geddes outlasted Canistota/Freeman twice, including for the Class 9AA state championship. The title game was decided by a 14-8 score, while the regular season was 16-8 in Platte-Geddes’ favor. Last season, Canistota picked up a 22-8 victory in the regular-season finale. 

They will continue their budding rivalry in Platte, as both teams will use it as one final tune-up for the postseason. 

The Hawks are coming off a 28-20 win over Deubrook Area on Sept. 29, one week after dropping a 38-28 decision against Hanson. Against the Dolphins, Tage Ortman finished with 113 rushing yards on 25 carries and scored two touchdowns. He completed 15 of 23 passes for 202 yards and threw two more touchdown passes. Ty Doblar hauled in eight catches for 123 yards and caught two touchdowns. 

The Black Panthers, who are honorable mention in the Class 9AA poll, dropped their first game against No. 1 Parkston. Platte-Geddes has since rattled off six straight victories, including a 48-0 win over Colman-Egan on Oct. 6. 

Rapid City Christian's Braylon Marshall (26) carries the ball against Mount Vernon/Plankinton earlier this season. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Rapid City Christian at Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central 

WESSINGTON SPRINGS — Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central is one win away from an undefeated regular season. 

Standing in its way is Rapid City Christian, which is looking to get back on track after a 23-13 setback against Hot Springs last week.

WWSSC (7-0) has risen up the Class 11B standings and is one of four undefeated teams in the class, joining Winner, Deuel and Sioux Valley. The Blackhawks are coming off a 42-20 win over Lead-Deadwood. Against the Golddiggers, Holden Havlik passed for 188 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for 34 yards. Ryder Michalek hauled in eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Blake Larson also caught two touchdown passes. 

The Comets (5-2) are No. 11 in the Class 11B seed points standings. Last week against Hot Springs, Simon Kieffer passed for 152 yards on 13 completions and threw two touchdowns to Welsey Schlabach. Braylon Marshall added 71 yards rushing and posted 10 tackles on defense. 

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan's Drake Gustafson pitches the ball against Sioux Valley earlier this season in Bridgewater. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan at Elk Point-Jefferson 

ELK POINT — Two Big East Conference foes will meet in Elk Point. 

No. 4 Elk Point-Jefferson (6-1) will host Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (5-2) in a key Class 11B contest. The Huskies are No. 5 in the Class 11B standings, while the Seahawks are No. 10 in the standings. 

EPJ is coming off a 24-14 win over Tri-Valley on Oct. 6, its fourth consecutive win. Against the Mustangs, EPJ rushed for 251 yards and finished with 53 passing yards. 

The Seahawks are coming off a 50-6 win over McCook Central/Montrose, coach Jeff Van Leur’s 300th coaching win. Against the Fighting Cougars, BEE quarterback Drake Gustafson rushed for three touchdowns and tossed a pair of touchdown passes. 

Pierre at Tea Area 

TEA — Familiar Class 11AA foes will face off in Tea.

Class 11AA No. 1 Pierre (6-1) will play at Class 11AA No. 3 Tea Area (5-2) in a matchup between two 11-man powerhouses. 

The Governors have won six straight Class 11AA state championships, including the last two over the Titans. Overall, Pierre has won four straight games against Tea Area. 

The Governors, who are looking to cement the No. 1 seed in the Class 11AA playoffs, are coming off a 35-0 win over Huron. Against the Tigers, Cade Kaiser finished with 170 yards passing and threw two touchdown passes. He also rushed for 78 yards on 14 carries. Jett Zabel hauled in four catches for 121 yards, while Brock Moser rushed for 76 yards. 

Tea Area is No. 3 in the Class 11AA standings and is coming off a 62-13 win over Spearfish. Against the Spartans, Brenner Konrad rushed for 121 yards and four touchdowns.

Brandon Valley at Sioux Falls Jefferson 

SIOUX FALLS — The Class 11AAA slate is highlighted by No. 3 vs. No. 5. 

No. 5 Brandon Valley (4-3) plays at No. 3 Sioux Falls Jefferson (5-2) in a top-five Class 11AAA contest. 

The contest looms large for postseason implications. Jefferson and Brandon Valley are No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, in the Class 11AAA standings. 

Sioux Falls Jefferson is coming off a 14-0 win over Rapid City Stevens on Oct. 6. Against the Raiders, Ethan Swenson passed for 99 yards and Thomas Heiberger and Dawson Sechser both scored rushing touchdowns. 

Brandon Valley is coming off a 55-13 loss against Sioux Falls Lincoln. The Lynx are powered by Jack Thue, Levi Veskrna, Dveyoun Bonwell-Witte and Landon Dulaney. The contest features a pair of major Division I prospects in Brandon Valley’s Navarro Schunke and Heiberger, a University of Wisconsin commit.