Elk Point-Jefferson at Winner 

WINNER — Elk Point-Jefferson and Winner will continue their budding Class 11B rivalry this week.

The Class 11B No. 1 Huskies (2-0) will play at Class 11B No. 4 Warriors (2-1) as the two football powers add another chapter to their rivalry. The teams have played the past four seasons, with each winning two games apiece. 

In 2021, Winner picked up a 52-14 win in the Class 11B semifinals on its way to the state championship. The Huskies got their payback in 2022, a 21-14 victory for the Class 11B state championship. 

EPJ won the 2023 regular season meeting, 21-16, and Winner won last season’s regular season game, 18-8. 

Elk Point-Jefferson improved to 2-0 last week, picking up a 32-14 win over Mount Vernon/Plankinton. 

The Huskies rushed for four touchdowns, including Brody Van Roekel scoring two scores. Aiden Hammitt and Beau Schmitz also rushed for touchdowns.  

Dawson Fullenkamp and Anthony Tatro each had interceptions on defense, with Fullenkamp scoring on a pick-six. 

The Warriors, who won last season’s Class 11B state championship, dropped a 34-20 decision against Wagner on Aug. 29. It was Winner’s first regular season defeat since Sept. 21, 2018, a 30-28 loss against Mount Vernon/Plankinton. 

Winner made the 225-mile trek to Groton Area on Sept. 5, and got back on the winning track. The Warriors 297 yards on 64 carries, with Zac Olson (157 yards rushing/3 touchdowns) carrying a bulk of the load. 

Alcester-Hudson at Viborg-Hurley

HURLEY — One of the hottest teams in 9-man football looks to take that momentum into Hurley Friday night. Class 9A No. 3 Alcester-Hudson (3-0) already has two ranked wins against Class 9A opponents Howard (40-29) and Centerville (26-21) and could get a third ranked win this season against Class 9AA No. 5 Viborg-Hurley. The spread offense is led by senior quarterback Tommy Walth and senior runningback Darin Dykstra. Last week against Irene-Wakonda, Dykstra totaled three touchdowns, one on the ground and two receiving scores, totaling 46 rushing yards on seven carries. Walth completed 14 passes for 159 yards and three touchdown passes in the Cubs’ 41-8 win. Jackson Meyer, a junior back, led the team in rushing last week with 73 yards and a touchdown, adding a touchdown reception as well.

Viborg-Hurley (2-1) is trying to get back on track after losing to previously No. 1 ranked Elkton-Lake Benton, 43-0, on Aug. 29. The Cougars have defended the home turf nicely though, outsourcing opponents 110-14 in two home games this season.

Harding County/Bison at Hill City 

HILL CITY — Harding County/Bison and Hill City are set for a West River showdown Friday night.

The Ranchers (2-1) are a solid team out of Class 9A with just one loss to Class 9A No. 1 Wall, 73-20, on Aug. 29, but have played well in their other two games this season. Last week against New Underwood, HCB totaled 344 yards of offense, with 109 yards and two touchdowns coming from sophomore Elim Simmons. Freshman quarterback Ryder Hunsucker tossed two touchdowns while three other players combined for four rushing scores in the 58-14 win.

Hill City boasts one of the highest scoring offenses in the state through three weeks, averaging 55 points per game. That includes 72 points against Stanley County and last week’s 51-0 win over Dupree. This season, quarterback Brensen Veneklasen has totaled 474 yards and seven touchdowns through the air, adding 187 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Mason Weise has 20 carries for 247 yards and four touchdowns, while Zane Messick has caught five touchdowns, adding 254 yards and 10 receptions as well.

Avon at Corsica-Stickney 

CORSICA — Class 9B No. 2 Avon will take its undefeated record up against Corsica-Stickney. 

The Pirates (3-0) are one of three undefeated teams still standing in Class 9B, with No. 1 Sully Buttes (2-0) and No. 3 Dell Rapid St. Mary (3-0) also undefeated. 

The Pirates have put together three convincing victories to start the season, earning wins over Colman-Egan (38-0), Sioux Falls Lutheran (62-20) and Burke (48-0). 

In Avon’s 48-0 victory over Burke, Trenton Soukup led the Pirates rushing attack with 84 yards and a score on 10 carries, Easton Sees added four carries for 68 yards and a touchdown. Cale Cooper added nine carries for 47 yards and two touchdowns, while Grayson Ratzlaff ran three times for 63 yards. Sees completed both pass attempts for 72 yards, with one going for a 25-yard touchdown to Al’Shamon Gunter. Jamie Pelton recorded a 47-yard reception as well.

Corsica-Stickney, which is receiving votes in the latest Class 9B poll, is coming off a 50-14 win over Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian. The Jaguars are paced by Waylon Bolle, a 6-foot, 175-pound all-stater. Bolle rushed for 1,274 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. 

Avon has won the last two meetings over Corsica-Stickney, a 54-20 win last season and a 30-14 decision in 2023. 

Warner at Faulkton Area 

FAULKTON — Two ranked Lake Region Conference foes will collide in Faulkton.

Class 9A No. 2 Warner (3-0) will play at Class 9B No. 4 Faulkton Area (1-1) in a highly-anticipated Lake Region Conference clash. The Monarchs have won 10 straight games against the Trojans, who last beat Warner in 2014. 

The Monarchs are coming off a come-from-behind 36-30 win over Ipswich, which led 22-0 before Warner staged its comeback. 

Chays Mansfield completed 12 of 21 pass attempts for 123 yards, Jesiah Baum caught six passes for 70 yards and touchdown while rushing 10 times for 50 yards and a rushing touchdown. Baum also returned a punt for a score in the win as well. Alec Mikkelsen caught three passes for 29 yards and a touchdown for the Monarchs as well. Mansfield led the defense with 13 tackles.

The Trojans topped Class 9B No. 5 Herreid/Selby Area, 24-6, on Sept. 5. Against the Wolverines, Tristen Baloun rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Spencer Melius added a rushing score in the win. 

Lennox at Sioux Falls Christian 

SIOUX FALLS — It’s No. 1 vs. No. 2 in a state championship rematch.

Class 11A No. 2 Lennox (2-0) will play at Class 11A No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian (2-0) in a matchup of two Dak-XII Conference powers. The teams played twice last season, including a 14-6 Lennox victory for the Class 11A state championship. Sioux Falls Christian won the regular season game, 19-8.

The Orioles have picked up victories over Vermilion (35-18) and Custer (66-13) to start the season. Against Custer, Lennox QB Jhaimann Huntington passed for 129 yards and four touchdown passes. Lennox wide receiver Drake Mikkelsen hauled in five catches for 77 yards and caught four touchdown receptions. Ramsey Williams added nine carries for 106 yards and two rushing touchdowns. 

The Chargers have earned wins over West Central (24-0) and Rapid City Christian (48-21) to open the 2025 campaign. 

Huron at Tea Area

TEA — After last week’s monumental win over previously top-ranked Pierre, Class 11AA No. 5 Huron looks to keep the momentum going at Class 11AA No. 2 Tea Area on Friday.

The Tigers (1-1) have faced the top-2 teams in the preseason prep media poll, with Tea Area being the third consecutive ranked team on Huron’s schedule. Huron took down Pierre, 13-7, last week behind a late pick-six from junior defensive back Jeremy Hofer to stun the Governors late. Huron’s quarterback Anderson Porisch is trying to get the passing game going after a slow start through two games. Porisch has completed 46% of his passes for 273 yards and a touchdown, with five interceptions as well. Landon Hulst and Porisch are spearheading the run game with 87 and 76 yards, respectively, with Porisch totaling the only two rushing touchdowns this season for the Tigers. Mason Jurgens has caught eight passes for 64 yards and a score while freshman tight end Carter Porisch has reached the century mark with four receptions for 110 yards as well.

The Titans (2-0) could cause more fits for the Tigers as Tea Area will enter Friday’s game as the No. 2 team in the class, jumping up a spot from last week’s poll. The Titans have topped  Spearfish (22-14) and Aberdeen Central (25-7) so far this season, and look to pick up a third win this week. The Titans will rely heavily on their run game that totaled 213 yards last week in their win over AC. Tea Area is led by sophomore Mitch Grant, who collected 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns last week. Kade Korelsie rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown last week as well.

Brandon Valley at O’Gorman

SIOUX FALLS — Class 11AAA Brandon Valley will make the short trip west to take on a hungry team in Class 11AAA No. 4 Sioux Falls O’Gorman Saturday.

The Lynx (2-0), last season’s runners-up, are once again off to a steady start picking up wins over Sioux Falls Washington (28-7) and Rapid City Stevens (55-3). The Lynx have already got the best of O’Gorman last season in a shutout win over the Knights, 27-0.

In the 55-3 win over Stevens, Lynx QB Briggs Knutson passed for 130 yards and two touchdown passes. Levi Veskrna rushed for 140 yards on 10 carries and scored four touchdowns. Jack Blomgren hauled in 123 yards receiving on five catches and scored two touchdowns. 

As for OG (1-1), they’re looking for a big response after last week’s 50-31 loss to Class 11AAA No. 1 Sioux Falls Lincoln. It’s already been a rollercoaster start for the Knights’ season after a narrow win over Class 11AAA No. 5 Harrisburg, 25-24.

Against Lincoln, Chase Hermanson completed 26-of-32 passes for 300 yards and one touchdown. Isaac Myers caught 11 catches for 126 yards and one TD reception. Tanner Charron added five catches for 75 yards, while Braylon Treasure had four catches for 65 yards.