Alcester-Hudson at Dell Rapids St. Mary

DELL RAPIDS — Two No. 3 teams in their respective classes battle it out Friday.

Class 9A No. 3 Alcester-Hudson heads up I-29 to take on Dell Rapids St. Mary at 7 p.m. Friday in Dell Rapids.

The Cubs (5-1) continue to show its muscle in the 9-man football sphere. AH has knocked off Class 9B No. 4 Howard (40-29), Centerville (26-21), Irene-Wakonda (41-8), Viborg-Hurley (28-26), and Gayville-Volin (41-6). The only loss on the season came against Class 9AA No. 1 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy, 38-19, on Sept. 19. Darin Dykstra has been one of the best running backs in 9-man football this season, including a 75 yard and two touchdown game two weeks ago against GV on just seven touches. Quarterback Tommy Walth is also a dual threat at quarterback, rushing for 90 yards and a touchdown on eight carries against the Raiders as well.

For DRSM, it’s been business as usual all season long. The Cardinals currently sit at the top of the seed points in 9B football, averaging the second-highest points per game in the class (54 PPG). Returning all-staters Trimmier Hanson and Lincoln LeBrun have powered the Cardinals this season. Hanson racked up 123 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries two weeks ago against Iroquois/Lake Preston, while Lincoln LeBrun added 96 rushing yards in the win as well.

Sully Buttes at Herreid-Selby Area

HERREID — A top-5 matchup in 9B football takes place Friday night.

Top-ranked Sully Buttes (6-0) takes on No. 5 Herreid-Selby Area (5-2) Friday in Herreid.

The Chargers have been as advertised this season cruising through the first six games undefeated. SB is scoring 43 points per game, allowing just seven points defensively. The Chargers have won by at least 30 points in every game but one this season, a 30-22 win over Faulkton Area on Sept. 26 that saw a late touchdown to push the Chargers ahead. The Chargers are led by three returning all-stater seniors in quarterback Wesley Wittler, receiver Gavin Colson and defensive lineman Kadyn Westergren.

HSA has had a steady season to get to a 5-2 record, with their only losses coming at the hands of Class 9B No. 4 Faulkton Area (24-6) and Ipswich (52-12). The No. 5 Wolverines will have one final test ahead of the postseason Friday against the Chargers. Offensively, HSA is averaging33 points per game, allowing just 13 points per game on defense. The Wolverines have also pitched three shutouts this season. Sophomore running back Porter Gregg has led the rushing attack for HSA, including a 117 yard and two touchdown game against Northwestern earlier this season.

Castlewood at Estelline-Hendricks

ESTELLINE — A big matchup in 9A football takes place in Estelline Friday.

Castlewood (5-1) makes the short trip South to take on Estelline-Hendricks (4-2) in a Dakota Valley Conference matchup Friday at 7 p.m.

The Warriors head into the matchup with loads of momentum following its 60-8 win over Waverly-South Shore last week on homecoming. In Castlewood’s five wins this season, the Warriors have outscored opponents 238-36, including two shutout wins. The only loss this season was back on Aug. 22 in a 23-14 loss to Class 9A No. 2 Warner.

Estelline-Hendricks is vying for a home playoff game after suffering two losses to No. 4 Howard, 58-8, and Colman-Egan, 30-14, two weeks ago and now sit as the No. 10 seed in 9B. The Redhawks are averaging 35 points per game while allowing just 19 points per contest, pitching two shutouts in the last three weeks.

Philip at Lyman

PRESHO — A team with a signature win will look to keep the momentum going this Friday.

Philip (4-1) is coming off the biggest win of its season after knocking off Class 9AA No. 5 Hill City last Friday, 44-43. The Scotties now sit as the No. 3 team in Class 9A seed points and could separate itself with a win Friday. Philip is averaging 33 points per game while giving up 23 points per on defense, and is led by senior quarterback and returning all-state running back Tyce Gropper.

Lyman is still vying for a potential home field playoff game as the Raiders currently sit as the No. 10 seed in 9A. Lyman has picked up wins over Dupree (4-2), Jones County (46-8), Bennett County (38-20) and New Underwood (64-20). The Raiders are averaging 39 points per game while allowing just 23 points per game defensively.

Bon Homme at Platte-Geddes

PLATTE — A Little Missouri Valley Conference matchup with playoff implications takes place Friday.

Bon Homme (5-2) looks to close out the regular season with a win while Class 9A No. 5 Platte-Geddes tries to get back in the win column before the postseason.

The Cavaliers sit as the No. 7 seed in Class 9AA, picking up wins over Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian (51-0), Scotland-Menno (50-14), Gregory (49-18), Kimball/White Lake (18-0) and Wolsey-Wessington (48-12). The only losses BH has this season came against Class 9AA No. 1 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (57-7) and No. 4 Parkston (70-21).

PG will try to end its regular season on a high note after suffering its first loss last week against Parkston (28-0). This season, The Panthers are averaging 39 points per game while allowing 17 points per on defense. Quarterback Jye Bailey and running back Kenyon Kuiper have powered the Panthers season so far, including a combined seven rushing touchdowns between the pair in a 64-28 win over Lyman on Sept. 29.

Elkton-Lake Benton at Britton-Hecla

BRITTON — Two of 9AA’s top-teams will battle it out after major changes in the original scheduling.

Class 9AA No. 3 Elkton-Lake Benton, who was originally supposed to host Deubrook Area, will now travel to Britton-Hecla, which was hosting Wilmot, after both teams original opponents forfeited due to injuries. The Elks (5-1) have just one blemish on the record this season, a 42-28 loss to No. 1 Freeman-Marion/Freeman Academy on Sept. 5. ELB is averaging the most points per game in 9AA at 52 points per game, allowing just 15 points per contest. The Elks are led by returning all-stater Colt Beck as well as senior running back Eliot Erickson, who broke two school records in rushing yards (350) and rushing touchdowns (6) last week in a 69-21 win over Garretson.

The Braves enter the newly scheduled matchup looking to make the jump into the top-5 in seed points, and could do so with a win over the Elks. BH hasn’t allowed a single point in over a month, including three straight shutout wins over Florence-Henry (53-0), Great Plains Lutheran (46-0) and Waubay-Summit (53-0). The only loss the Braves have this season came against Class 9AA No. 2 Hamlin on Aug. 22, 36-0.

Mobridge-Pollock at Clark-Willow Lake

CLARK — After knocking off an undefeated team last week, Clark-Willow Lake has a chance to do it again Friday night.

Class 11B No. 5 Clark-Willow Lake (5-1) is coming off a signature win after beating previously unbeaten Deuel (20-14). Now, the Cyclones could do it again this week against Class 11B No. 4 Mobridge-Pollock. The Cyclones are led by junior quarterback Joey Ries and his top target Cooper Pommer, who tallied four catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in the win over Deuel last week. Lincoln Reidbaum added nine catches for 104 yards in the win as well.

While it’s been smooth sailing for the most part for Mobridge-Pollock, the Tigers avoided a near upset in last week’s 18-15 win over Lead-Deadwood. Aside from the win over the Golddiggers, Mobridge-Pollock has scored 40 or more points in four of their other five games, including two 50-0 wins over Aberdeen Roncalli and Webster Area. The Tigers have also picked up wins over Groton Area (29-8), Miller-Highmore-Harrold (52-7) and Belle Fourche (40-6). MP is led by junior running back Mack Saxon, who did not appear last week due to injury.

Madison at Lennox

LENNOX — The top-5 Class 11A matchups continue Friday in Lennox.

The Class 11A No. 5 Orioles, after sneaking into the top-5 of the prep media poll this week, will host No. 3 Madison Friday at 7 p.m.

Lennox is coming off back-to-back wins over Dakota Valley (43-23) and Canton (40-0), while taking wins over Vermillion (35-18) and Custer (66-13) to start the year. The Orioles have only lost to No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (17-0) and West Central (9-7). Lennox is averaging 32 points per game (2nd highest in Class 11A football) while surrendering 13 points per game as well. Returning all-staters Tate Gerdes, Drake Mikkelson, Jevyn Lefers and Talon Eich had led the defending champs this season.

No. 3 Madison is back on track following a crushing loss to No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian two weeks ago, 42-6. The Bulldogs picked up a big win over Tri-Valley in dominating fashion, 33-7. Quarterback Henry Veenhof completed 12-of-19 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns against the Mustangs, adding 86 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Madison’s offense is averaging 29 points per game while allowing 14 points per game on defense as well.

Sturgis Brown at Pierre

PIERRE — Sturgis Brown will head East to take on Class 11AA No. 5 Pierre after a stunning win last Friday over Class No. 1 Yankton.

The Scoopers (4-2), losing to Huron (33-16) and Aberdeen Central (21-13) prior to last Friday’s matchup, came out with a huge upset win over previously top-ranked Yankton, last Friday night. SB averages 26 points per game while allowing just 18 points per game on defense.

Class 11AA No. 5 Pierre (3-3) will look to get back in the win column after losing back-to-back games to Yankton (35-28) and Class 11AAA No. 4 O’Gorman (27-23). The Governors are still looking for a signature win in 11AA football, with its only wins coming against Aberdeen Central (9-6), Watertown (41-19) and Brookings (20-17). Pierre is averaging 21 points per game, while allowing 20 points on defense.

Harrisburg at Sioux Falls Jefferson

SIOUX FALLS — Harrisburg will travel to Jefferson in a top-5 11AAA matchup this week.

The No. 3 Tigers take on No. 5 Jefferson after both teams picked up shutout wins last week. The Tigers (5-1) have given up just 13 combined points during its five-game winning streak, including three shutout wins over Sioux Falls Washington (21-0), Rapid City Stevens (49-0) and Sioux Falls Roosevelt (45-0). The stout Harrisburg defense is allowing just six points per game, while the offense is scoring 38 points per contest. The Tigers are led by returning all-staters Josiah Heinz, Bradley Esser, Kian Upton and Kamden Schimmel.

Jefferson got back into the win column last week with a 58-0 win over Rapid City Stevens. The Cavaliers suffered back-to-back losses prior against No. 2 Sioux Falls Lincoln (57-36) and O’Gorman (32-29). Jefferson is looking for its first 11AAA ranked win this season and has the third-highest scoring offense in Class 11AAA (44 PPG). Jefferson is led by returning all-staters Daevion Simonsen, Cael Nofziger, and senior tight end and Michigan State football commit Edward Whiting.