Tea Area at Pierre

The rematch is set. 

Class 11AA No. 1 Pierre hosts Class 11AA No. 2 Tea Area in a rematch of last year’s Class 11AA state championship. The Governors, who trailed 27-7 in the championship game, rallied for a 30-27 heart-pounding win for their fifth consecutive state title. 

The Governors and Titans have been on a collision course since the DakotaDome. They’re both 7-0 and are tied atop the Class 11AA standings with 45.857 seed points. 

Pierre scores 50.9 points per game, while allowing just 12.1 points per game. The Governors are coming off a 59-point outing against Huron. Tea Area averages 44.3 points per game and it allows 11.7 points per game. The Titans’ signature win was a 44-41 win over Class 11AAA No. 3 Sioux Falls O’Gorman. 

The contest also features a host of playmakers, highlighted by Pierre all-state quarterback Lincoln Kienholz. The University of Washington commit has put together another brilliant season, throwing for 2,132 yards and 30 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns. 

Kienholz has a host of dynamic targets at his disposal, too. Jack Merkwan (690 receiving yards/6 touchdowns), Jett Zabel (583 receiving yards/12 touchdowns) and Cade Kaiser (477 receiving yards/7 touchdowns) have also produced big games this season. Tight end Jackson Edman, who stands 6-foot-7, 200 pounds, has hauled in four receiving touchdowns.

The Titans counter with a three-headed rushing attack in Chase Van Tol (640 rushing yards/8 touchdowns), Blake Thompson (534 rushing yards/9 touchdowns) and Keegan DeYoung (365 rushing yards/5 touchdowns). Quarterback Maddix Slykhuis (424 passing yards/6 touchdowns) pilots the offensive attack.  

Dakota Valley at Beresford

Seed points are important in this matchup between two Dak 12 conference foes. Beresford is currently third in the seed point standings with 42.571 seed points, while Dakota Valley is fourth with 42.000 seed points.

Dakota Valley is 6-1 and ranked No. 3 in this week’s Class 11A poll. The Panthers boast a potent passing game led by quarterback Ethan Anema (1,245 passing yards, 11 touchdown passes). Anema has plenty of targets at wide receiver, led by Jaxon Hennies (474 receiving yards, four touchdown receptions). Randy Rosenquist (304 receiving yards, three touchdown receptions) and Trae Piel (130 receiving yards, three touchdown receptions) also contribute in the passing game. Dakota Valley averages 30.3 points per game offensively, while giving up just 10.3 points per game on defense.

Beresford enters the game with a 5-2 record and the No. 4 ranking in the Class 11A poll. The Watchdogs are coming off a heart-pounding win against No. 5 Sioux Falls Christian last week, securing a 20-18 win in the final seconds. Beresford is led by quarterback Tate VanOtterloo, who has passed for 397 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for an additional 174 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Peyton Fridrich leads the team with 754 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. The Watchdogs have played in several close games this season, outscoring their opponents by an average of just 4.1 points per game.

Elk Point-Jefferson at Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan

Two Big East Conference foes will clash with major Class 11B playoff implications on the line. 

Elk Point-Jefferson is currently No. 4 in the seeds points standings with 45.429, just behind Aberdeen Roncalli and Mount Vernon/Plankinton, both with 46.286 points. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan has dropped two consecutive games and is No. 9 in the seed points standings with 42.571, just behind No. 8 Deuel (42.857). 

The Huskies average 50.6 points per game, while allowing just two points a contest. They’ve pitched five shutouts this season and have given up just 14 points all season. 

EPJ’s Noah McDermott has thrown for 735 yards and 14 touchdowns. Benjamin Swatek (618 receiving yards/9 touchdowns) and Lucas Hueser (483 receiving yards/12 touchdowns) complement McDermott out of the backfield. Devon Schmitz is EPJ’s top receiver, hauling in 317 receiving yards and six touchdown passes. 

BEE’s Sutton Arend has hauled in 240 receiving yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 201 yards and another score. Macklen Weber has been thrust into the quarterback role and has thrown for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 272 yards and four more scores. 

Castlewood at Elkton-Lake Benton 

The Dakota Valley Conference championship will be played between Castlewood and Elkton-Lake Benton on Friday in Elkton.

Elkton-Lake Benton enters the game with an undefeated record of 7-0 and the No. 5 ranking in Class 9AA. The Elks boast a high-powered offense that averages 43.9 points per game, while fielding a defense that gives up 14 points per game. Their offense is led by dual-threat quarterback Ryan Krog, who is closing in on 1,000 rushing yards to go along with his 1,000-plus passing yards. Krog has passed for 1,255 yards and 21 touchdown passes, while adding 916 rushing yards and 14 touchdown runs. Krog’s favorite target is wide receiver Tanner Stein (704 receiving yards, 11 touchdown receptions), who leads Class 9AA in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Running back Riddick Westley (527 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns) also gets involved in the offense.

Castlewood comes into the game with a record of 6-1, with their lone loss coming against Hamlin (61-20). The Warriors are ranked No. 3 in Class 9A and have an offense that averages 44.7 points per game, while allowing 12.6 points per game on defense. Castlewood has won two straight games, shutting out Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (55-0) and Waverly-South Shore (54-0) in consecutive weeks. The Warriors are led by quarterback Lane Tvedt, who has passed for 794 yards and 15 touchdowns, while rushing for 352 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Bon Homme at Gregory 

Rivals collide when Gregory hosts Bon Homme on Friday. The two Missouri Valley Conference foes have played many fantastic games, for many years as Class 11B opponents, and in recent years, as nine-man rivals. This year should provide another fantastic matchup in the longtime rivalry.

Gregory enters the game with a 6-1 record and the No. 2 ranking in Class 9A. The Gorillas began the season 5-0 before dropping a 32-25 decision against Parkston. Last week, Gregory picked up their sixth win over Burke, 49-7. The Gorillas average 40.4 points per game while giving up just 12.9 points per game. Quarterback Rylan Peck leads the Gorillas on offense with 791 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, along with 648 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Running back Owen Hanson has added 555 rushing yards. Eli Fogel leads the team with 312 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions.

Bon Homme comes into the game with a 5-2 record. The Cavaliers were on a four game winning streak before losing last week to Parkston, 16-9. Their other loss came back on Sept. 1; a 30-14 loss to Elkton-Lake Benton. Bon Homme averages 33.7 points per game on offense while allowing 9.4 points per game on defense. The Cavaliers are led by quarterback Riley Rothschadl, who has passed for 394 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for 420 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Winner at Mount Vernon/Plankinton 

Winner and Mount Vernon/Plankinton will meet with major Class 11B playoff implications on the line. The winner of this game likely claims the No. 1 seed in the Class 11B playoffs. Currently, Winner is No.1 in seed points with 46.714 seed points, while Mount Vernon/Plankinton is tied for second in seed points with Aberdeen Roncalli (46.286).

Winner is the top-ranked team in Class 11B and enters the game with a 7-0 record. The Warriors are coming off of a win over previous Class 11A No. 1 West Central last week, 46-12. Winner’s offense averages 44.3 points per game, while giving up just 6.3 points per game on defense. The Warriors offense consists of a power running game led by fullback Aiden Barfuss (628 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns). Running back Riley Orel has also contributed with 558 rushing yards and nine touchdown runs.

Mount Vernon/Plankinton comes into the contest with an identical record of 7-0 and is ranked No. 3 in this week’s Class 11B rankings. The Titans are coming off of a bye week, however, two weeks ago they defeated Wagner by a score of 48-24. MVP is led by quarterback Reed Rus, who has rushed for 931 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also passing for 279 yards and three more scores. Running back Drew Gerlach has rushed for 497 yards and seven touchdowns, while Christopher Mayer has added 380 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

Corsica-Stickney at Sully Buttes 

Seed points and playoff standings are at a premium in this top-five Class 9B matchup in Onida on Friday. Corsica-Stickney is currently fourth in the seed point standings with 42.857 seed points, while Sully Buttes is fifth with 42.143 seed points.

Corsica-Stickney is ranked No. 3 in Class 9B and has a record of 6-1 entering the game. The Jaguars have been one of the hotter teams in Class 9B in recent weeks, having won five straight games, including winning key games over Avon (36-28) and Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (48-18) in their last two games. Corsica-Stickney averages 35.4 points per game on offense, while surrendering 19.4 points per game on defense. The duo of Waylon Bolle (904 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns) and Carter Wright (690 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns) power the Jaguars rushing attack. Quarterback Shad Bosma has passed for 486 yards and five touchdown passes.

Sully Buttes enters the matchup with a record of 5-2 and ranked No. 4 in Class 9B. The Chargers have dropped their last two games, losing to Class 9B No. 1 Herreid/Selby Area (46-6) and Class 9A No. 4 Lyman (32-8). Sully Buttes averages 27.4 points per game on offense, while giving up 16 points per game on defense. The Chargers are led by senior quarterback Landon Hepker.