By 605 Sports Staff

De Smet 62, Britton-Hecla 12

DE SMET -- De Smet finished with 331 yards of total offense on their way to a first-round playoff win Thursday. 

Rett Osthus rushed for three touchdowns on seven carries while grinding out 111 yards on the ground. Tory Holland rushed for two touchdowns on just four carries. Quarterback Colt Wilkinson completed three passes for 57 yards and one passing touchdown while rushing for 81 yards and a rushing touchdown. Kalen Garry caught two passes for 23 yards while hauling in one touchdown reception. Defensively Garry contributed eight solo tackles with Noah Harrison and Damon Wilkinson combining for 3.5 tackles for loss. 

Aidan Fredrickson completed six passes for 105 yards. He also led the Braves in rushing with 92 yards and two touchdown runs. Defensively Elijah Jensen contributed a sack and a tackle for loss. 

Britton-Hecla quarterback Aidan Fredrickson gets tripped up on the keeper during the first half of the Braves’ 62-12 loss to De Smet Thursday night in the 9A playoffs in De Smet. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Howard 40, Kimball/White Lake 6

HOWARD -- Howard racked up 422 total yards en route to a Class 9A playoff win over Kimball/White Lake on Thursday.

John Callies paced the Tigers with 137 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Ty Beyer and Griffin Clubb each scored rushing touchdowns. Taiden Hoyer threw for 128 yards and two passing touchdowns. Beyer and Clubb each hauled in touchdown receptions. Atticus Darnell had 87 receiving yards. Beyer finished with nine tackles. 

Kimball/White Lake’s Carter Lenz threw for 125 yards and one passing touchdown. Jacob Novak rushed for 22 yards, while Beau Kirsch had 57 receiving yards and one touchdown reception. Iden Meyers recorded nine tackles, while Levi Nightingale had an interception.  

Kimball-White Lake’s Levi Nightingale runs for a few yards during the first half of the WiLdKats playoff game against Howard on Thursday night in Howard. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Wall 56, North Central 6

WALL -- A balanced Wall attack that included 344 yards of total offense powered the Eagles to a Class 9A playoff win Thursday. 

Burk Blasius completed ten passes for 129 yards and three touchdown passes. Cedar Amiotte put up 120 yards rushing on eight attempts and also scored three touchdowns. Mason Heath and Blasius combined for 86 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Stran Williams was the leading receiver catching five passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. Rylan McDonnell grabbed three passes with two of them being touchdown receptions. Defensively Heath and Blair Blasius each had two tackles for loss with Cedar Amiotte recording an interception. 

North Central managed just 25 yards of total offense and ended their season with a 2-7 record. 

Howard’s Karsyn Feldhaus leaps over a pair of Kimball-White Lake defenders during the first half of the Tigers’ playoff game on Thursday in Howard. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Winner 60, Clark Willow-Lake 0

WINNER --Class 11B’s top ranked Winner Warriors looked every bit the part Thursday rushing for 264 yards to earn a first-round playoff win Thursday. 

Riley Orel led the Winner attack with 81 yards rushing on four attempts. Aiden Barfus finished with 72 yards and a rushing touchdown. Kaden Keiser added a pair of rushing touchdowns with Riley Shippy and Jack Peters each finding the endzone for touchdowns. Defensively Charley Pravacek had two tackles for loss, Keiser had 1.5 tackles for loss. Ashton Klein, Slade Cournoyer and Jackson Vesley each recorded interceptions for Winner. 

For Clark/Willow Lake Trey Huber completed six passes for 15 yards. Running back Griffin Muser had 17 yards rushing on four attempts. Musser caught one pass for 46 yards in the loss. 

Beresford 27, Mount Vernon/Plankinton 24

MOUNT-VERNON -- Tate VanOtterloo’s touchdown pass to Isaiah Richards as time expired propelled Beresford to an upset win in the first round of the 11B playoffs. 

VanOtterloo completed 23 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns to lead Beresford. Peyton Fridrich managed 30 rushing yards on nine carries with Van Otterloo rushing for 16 yards and one rushing touchdown. Richards caught ten passes for 140 yards while hauling in two touchdown passes. Jake Goblirsch finished with 65 receiving yards and a touchdown. Defensively Nehemiah Wipf contributed six tackles with Jaxson Tadlock, Ashton Tjaden and Landon Schurch each recording four stops. 

Reed Rus led the Mount Vernon/Plankinton attack with 81 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Lincoln Klooz added a rushing touchdown and 71 yards. 

Avon 65, Estelline-Hendricks 14

AVON -- Avon continued its perfect season by rushing for 326 yards on their way to a 9B playoff win Thursday. 

Brady Bierema finished with 124 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Aziah Meyer added 117 yards on nine carries and a rushing touchdown. Jaden Stahl put up 38 yards rushing but scored twice on the ground. Quarterback Riley Rucktaeschel completed just one pass to Cody Soukup for a touchdown. Defensively Meyer recorded an interception while Rucktaeschel led the squad with six solo tackles. 

For Estelline-Hendricks Mattix Hausman threw for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Braxton Jongeling and Trey Cass combined for 133 yards receiving with each catching a touchdown pass. 

Gayville-Volin 36, Langford Area 14

GAYVILLE VOLIN -- A productive Gayville-Volin offense ground out 348 yards of total offense to earn a playoff victory Thursday. 

Andrew Gustad led the Raiders with 162 yards rushing on thirteen carries that resulted in two rushing touchdowns. Nate Quatier finished with 108 yards on nineteen carries, finding the end zone three times via the rush. Gustad led Gayville-Volin with 30 yards receiving. Defensively Gustad finished with 15.5 tackles, twelve of them solo and 5.5 tackles for loss. 

Benjamin Gustafson led Langord with 156 yards passing on twelve completions and one touchdown pass. Gustafson added 100 yards rushing with one touchdown to pace the offense. Jackson Bahr led the Lions with four catches for 88 yards. Jess Keough caught a touchdown pass for Langford. 

Wolsey-Wessington 50, Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 0

WOLSEY -- Wolsey-Wessington reached the quarterfinals of the 9A playoffs Thursday with a win over Oldham-Ramona-Rutland. 

Quarterback Blaze Herdman finished with 151 yards passing and two passing touchdowns. Marty Gohn finished with 158 yards rushing while finding the end zone five times. Joey Hoverson added 68 yards on the ground. Jemetrius Scott finished with 97 yards receiving while hauling in two touchdown passes from Herdman. Tate French led the defense with eight tackles while Keegan Haider andMoshe Richmond added six stops apiece. 

Oldham-Ramona-Rutland finished their season with a 4-5 record. Wolsey-Wessington will meet Howard in the 9A quarterfinals. 

Tea Area 27, West Central 13

TEA -- Tea Area capped a perfect regular season with 326 yards of total offense to earn a win in prep football action on Thursday. 

Cael Lundin completed ten passes for 185 yards with three touchdown passes. Klayton Sattler caught seven passes for 158 yards while grabbing three touchdowns. Chase Van Tol and Jackson Smythe combined for 166 yards rushing on 25 carries. Defensively Thomas Ostrem led the Titans with 10 tackles while Isaac Johnson, Jackson Smythe and Reis Kirschenman each contributed seven. 

For West Central, quarterback Gavin Koch completed 14 passes for 215 yards with two touchdown passes. Braden Dierickx caught eight passes for 124 yards. Owen Heath and Gage Nelson each snared touchdown passes for the Trojans. Chet Carda led the defensive effort with 13 tackles, one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss. 

Hitchcock-Tulare 38, Faith 0

HITCHCOCK --  The Patriots earned a 9B first round victory with a balanced offense and stifling defensive effort. Hitchcock-Tulare amassed 297 yards of offense, while only surrendering 61 yards.

Landon Puffer completed 6 of 12 passes for 108 yards and two touchdown passes. Erik Salmen balanced the offensive output with 127 yards on 16 carries. TJ Salmen hauled in a pair of passes for 81 yards and a score. Kyle Hamilton wrapped up 9 tackles.

Caden Selby tossed three completions for 23 yards, and Matthew Gray ground out 23 yards for the Longhorns.

Harding County/Bison 26, New Underwood 12

HARDING COUNTY -- It was a balanced offensive attack with 290 yards of total offense that propelled Harding County/Bison to a prep football win Thursday. 

Rylee Veal completed six passes for 136 yards while throwing two touchdown passes. Keegan Hett caught four of those passes for 128 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Veal led the Harding County rushing efforts with 68 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Cayden Floyd and Dawson Kautzman combined for 63 yards rushing. Braden Routier led the defensive effort with eight solo tackles. Cayden Floyd recorded two quarterback sacks.

New Underwood quarterback Cole Knuppe completed ten passes for 98 yards with two passing touchdowns. Cash Albers and Kade Montague combined for 122 yards receiving with each player grabbing a touchdown pass. Emmitt Richter led New Underwood with 75 rushing yards. 

Platte-Geddes 35, Chester Area 12

PLATTE -- The Black Panthers ground attack was effective Thursday as Platte-Geddes earned a playoff win over Chester Area. 

Grayson Hanson was an absolute workhorse rushing for 192 yards on 32 carries while scoring four touchdowns. Joey Foxley and Jackson Neuman combined for 51 yards to help the Platte-Geddes ground game. Aiden Bultje picked off a Chester Area pass and returned that for a score to lead the defense. Foxley also recorded an interception with Hanson contributing 15 tackles. 

For Chester Area, Stratton Eppard rushed for 142 yards on 28 carries while scoring two touchdowns. Eppard completed nine passes for 74 yards. Jovi Wolf caught four passes for 49 yards to lead the Flyers. 

Spearfish 28, Belle Fourche 21

BELLE FOURCHE -- Jaden Guthmiller racked up 301 yards and three touchdowns of offense, staking the Spartans to a 28 to 7 lead but had to hold off the Broncs fourth quarter charge.  Guthmiller completed 15 of 33 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown pass, and he carried an additional 17 carries for 78 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. Peyton Millis caught nine passes for 138 yards receiving. Defensively, the Spearfish was led by Aiden Haught recording 9.5 tackles and Caden Lagenfeld chipping in 7 tackles.  Brayden Delahoyde intercepted a pair of passes, and Peyton Millis caught another interception.

Belle Fourche also received an exceptional performance from their Quarterback.  Nolan Wahlfeldt completed 17 of 32 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown, and he led the Broncs with 31 yards rushing and another touchdown rushing. Gabe Heck caught seven balls for 114 yards and a touchdown. Jayden Sechser had an interception.

Canistota-Freeman 22, Florence-Henry 20

FLORENCE -- The Pride picked up a 9AA first round win over the Falcons in a tight game.  The Pride had 248 yards of offense, 181 yards rushing and 67 yards passing, and the Falcons had 246 yards of total offense, 177 yards rushing and 69 yards passing.  The Pride move on to a Quarterfinal matchup with Ipswich.

Canistota-Freeman were led by Isiah Robertson’s 180 yards two touchdown rushing performance. Tage Ortman completed seven passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. Noah Kleinsasser snatched three passes for 40 yards and a receiving score. Riley Heiberger tallied 8.5 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one quarterback sack.

Florence-Henry Ashton Hanson carried 19 times for 140 yards and a score, and he caught three passes for 30 yards receiving. Tegan Sumner converted 10 of his 14 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. Clay Trupe recorded 9 solo tackles for the Falcons.

Castlewood 42, Kadoka Area 20

KADOKA -- The Warriors broke a 14-14 tie with 4:24 remaining in the first half and never looked back en route to victory and a quarterfinal match up with Herreid-Selby Area.

Castlewood received a huge game from Carson Kirwan, who rushed 15 times for 235 yards and four touchdown runs. Jeremiah Wiersma carried the ball nine times for 146 yards and another Warrior rushing touchdown. Castlewood ran for 381 yards. Tristan Nielsen was perfect on four passing attempts, while adding a touchdown pass.  Booker Schooley and Wiersma both recorded double digit tackles, 14 and 11.5 tackles respectively.

The Kougars were led offensively by Reece Ohrtman’s 83 yard two touchdown performance, and defensively by Ian VanderMay, who recorded 10 solo tackles and a quarterback sack.

Garretson 28, Hamlin 7

HAYTI -- The Blue Dragons advance to play Parkston in the next round with the road victory.

Dylan Kindt led Garretson with a 147 yards passing and 130 yards rushing performance.  He threw for a touchdown and ran for another two touchdowns. Cooper Long caught nine passes for 104 yards and a score. Jayse Miller hauled in an interception defensively.

The Chargers were led by Luke Fraser, who ran for 194 yards and a score on 16 carries. Michael Stevenson and Kadyn Swenson each tallied 7.5 tackles for Hamlin.