Elkton-Lake Benton at Canistota

Two dual-threat quarterbacks headline this nine-man tilt.

Class 9A No. 5 Canistota hosts Class 9AA Elkton-Lake Benton in a contest featuring two prolific offenses powered by two dynamic signal callers. 

Canistota (2-2) is paced by Tage Ortman, who has thrown for 630 yards and eight touchdowns, while rushing for 118 yards and two more scores. Noah Kleinsasser (173 receiving yards/3 touchdowns) and Cayden Scott (170 receiving yards/2 touchdowns) are among his top targets. Tye Merrill has rushed for 191 yards and three rushing touchdowns. 

On the other side, Elkton-Lake Benton’s Ryan Krog is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in Class 9AA. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Krog has passed for 521 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for 533 yards and eight touchdowns. Elkton-Lake Benton’s offensive attack is also powered by running back Riddick Westley (447 rushing yards/3 touchdowns) and wide receiver Tanner Stein (314 receiving yards/5 touchdowns). 

The Elks, who are honorable mention in the latest Class 9AA poll, have won four straight games to start the season over Colman-Egan, Estelline/Hendricks, Bon Homme and Deubrook Area. Tonight’s contest will be their first against a ranked opponent.  

Canistota picked up a 46-0 win over Florence/Henry last week and defeated Irene-Wakonda in the opener. Sandwiched in between, the Hawks lost to formidable foes Howard and Viborg-Hurley in back-to-back weeks. 

Avon at Hitchcock-Tulare

Class 9B pundits will have their eyes fixated on this one. 

No. 2 Hitchcock-Tulare hosts No. 4 Avon in a top-five Class 9B showdown, which starts at 3 p.m. in Tulare. Last season, the Patriots and Pirates duked it out in a seesaw affair, a 30-28 Avon victory. 

The rematch features a host of the same faces. Hitchcock-Tulare quarterback Carter Binger has passed for 690 yards and 12 passing touchdowns, while he’s added two scores on the ground. Running back Erik Salmen has racked up 475 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Landon Puffer has hauled in 363 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions. Riley Fliehe (135 receiving yards/TD) and T.J. Salmen (103 receiving yards/3 TDs) are Binger’s top targets in the passing game. 

The Avon offense is powered by the rushing attack of Jaden Stahl (356 rushing yards/3 TDs), Cade Faulkner (250 rushing yards/3 TDs) and Noah Watchorn (194 rushing yards/2 TDs). Paxton Bierema has scored seven rushing touchdowns and has 168 yards on the ground. 

Hitchcock-Tulare (4-0) is one of three Class 9B teams still undefeated. The Patriots have shutout wins over Northwestern and Waverly-South Shore, along with wins over Faulkton Area and Iroquois/Lake Preston. 

Avon (3-1) is coming off a 28-0 win over Gayville-Volin. The Pirates also have victories over Colome and Burke, while their lone setback was a 34-22 loss against Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy. 

Dell Rapids at Canton 

A pair of top three Class 11A teams will face off in Canton on Friday.

Dell Rapids enters the matchup with a 3-0 record and ranked second in this week’s Class 11A poll, and have represented that ranking well through the first three weeks of the season. The Quarriers opened the season with a 33-14 upset win over defending champion and then-No.1 ranked Madison, before defeating Belle Fourche (45-20) and Hot Springs (41-21) in consecutive weeks. Jack Henry leads the Quarriers at quarterback, passing for 147 yards and two touchdowns thus far, while running back Mason Stubbe has rushed for 197 yards and six touchdowns.

The C-Hawks enter the contest with a record of 2-1 and the number three ranking in this week’s Class 11A poll. Canton opened the season with a win over Sioux Falls Christian (27-20), before falling to Beresford in week two, 7-6. The C-Hawks rebounded last week with a 36-25 win against Lennox.

Elk Point-Jefferson at McCook Central/Montrose

A pair of Class 11B unbeatens will square off in Salem on Friday.

Third-ranked Elk Point-Jefferson has been superb this season, outscoring their opponents 155-0 in their 3-0 start. The Huskies have wins over Parker, Baltic, and Sioux Valley. EPJ is led by quarterback Noah McDermott, who has passed for 338 yards and seven touchdowns this season, and running backs Benjamin Swatek (276 yards, five touchdowns) and Lucas Hueser (five rushing touchdowns).

McCook Central/Montrose is receiving votes in the latest Class 11B poll and have started the season with an unblemished record of 4-0. The Fighting Cougars have picked up wins against Flandreau (20-7), Hot Springs (16-7), Baltic (54-0), and Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central (40-0). MCM is led by quarterback Boston Katzer (814 passing yards, 10 touchdown passes), running back Jackson Remmers (494 rushing yards, five touchdowns) and wide receivers Ty Doblar (211 receiving yards, three touchdowns), Jackson Grady (175 receiving yards), and Ty Morrison (164 receiving yards, four touchdowns).

Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy at Howard

Two teams with contrasting styles will meet in Howard on Friday.

Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy has opened some eyes, beginning the season 3-0 and creating some buzz after an upset win over then-No. 2 Avon (34-22) two weeks ago. The Phoenix rely on a passing attack led by freshman quarterback Riley Tschetter, who has passed for 588 yards and nine touchdowns. Tschetter’s main targets this season have been Maddox Kihne (223 receiving yards, 3 touchdown receptions; three rushing touchdowns) and Rocky Ammann (133 receiving yards). Dominic Sperling adds support in the running game with two rushing touchdowns.

Howard remains the No. 1 ranked team in Class 9AA halfway through the season. The Tigers have earned wins against No. 4 Hanson (20-12), Class 9A No. 4 Canistota (21-20), Kimball/White Lake (9-6), and Colman-Egan (59-26). Howard boasts a potent rushing attack led by running back Karsyn Feldhaus (373 rushing yards, five touchdowns). Quarterback Taiden Hoyer (318 rushing yards, three touchdowns), and running backs Karsten Hamilton (195 rushing yards) and Griffin Clubb (187 rushing yards, two touchdowns) also contribute in the running game. Tate Miller has also added two rushing touchdowns for the Tigers.