Sully Buttes at Faulkton Area 

FAULKTON — The Class 9B state championship rematch is set.

Class 9B No. 1 Sully Buttes (4-0) will play at Class 9B No. 5 Faulkton Area (2-2) in a rematch of last season’s state championship, a 34-14 Charger victory. The teams also played in the regular season in 2024, a 28-8 Trojan victory.

The Chargers have not lost since and are riding an 11-game winning streak dating back to last season. 

This season, Sully Buttes has defeated Northwestern (36-0), Burke (62-7), Hitchcock-Tulare (52-12) and Gettysburg (30-0). In their recent win over Gettysburg, the Chargers racked up 386 total yards and received four total touchdowns from all-stater Wesley Wittler. Wittler rushed for two touchdowns, and tossed passing touchdowns to Jett Yackley and Easton Moore. 

The Trojans started the season with a 1-2 mark against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the South Dakota Prep Media Football Poll. Faulkton Area defeated Herreid/Selby Area (24-6) on Sept. 5, sandwiched in between losses against Ipswich (34-30) and Warner (17-14). On Sept. 19, Faulkton Area picked up a 37-0 win over Leola/Frederick Area to even its record at 2-2. Against the Titans, Faulkton Area’s Landon Coyle rushed for 70 yards and scored three touchdowns. Tristen Baloun added 84 yards rushing. 

Wagner at Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central 

WOONSOCKET — Two of the last six undefeated teams in Class 11B will clash on Sept. 26. 

Class 11B No. 2 Wagner (5-0) will play at Class 11B No. 5 Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central (4-0) in a top-five clash. 

Wagner is coming off a 49-34 win over Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan on Sept. 19. Quarterback Gannon Knebel powered the Red Raiders with 306 yards rushing and six touchdowns, while he passed for 129 yards and another score. Shea Kjeldgaard hauled in 111 yards receiving and Payne Petry posted 69 yards rushing. Carlos Galindo caught a touchdown reception. 

The Bucks are coming off a 20-6 win over perennial power Winner on Sept. 19. Against the Warriors, Luke Larson completed 9-of-20 passes for 125 yards and two touchdown passes. Colby Flowers hauled in 74 yards receiving and two touchdown catches. Larson added 58 rushing yards and another score. Flowers added 7.5 tackles and an interception. 

Tri-Valley at Dell Rapids 

DELL RAPIDS — One of two top-5 11A matchups takes place in Dell Rapids this week.

Class 11A No. 5 Tri-Valley (4-0) heads to No. 3 Dell Rapids (3-1) in hopes to spoil the Quarrier homecoming game. The Mustangs had cruised to an undefeated start, picking up wins over Custer (53-3), Milbank (34-0), Belle Fourche (30-14), and Dakota Valley (20-7). TV currently holds the second best scoring defense in the class, allowing just eight points per game, while also holding the second best scoring offense through four weeks of the season in 11A football (34.25 points per game).

Dell Rapids has recorded wins over Dakota Valley (28-7), Rapid City Christian (43-8) and Milbank (36-7), only falling to No. 2 Madison in a close loss, 21-20, on Sept. 5. But this week will start a stretch of three ranked match-ups in the next four weeks. The Quarriers most recently defeated Milbank in a dominant win last Friday. Senior running back Ryan Stubbe tallied nine carries for 60 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Bulldogs, with fellow senior back Kenny Swanson adding two rushing scores and 72 yards on just 10 carries.

Sioux Falls Christian at Madison

MADISON — Class 11A No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian travels to No. 2 Madison in a battle of unbeaten teams Friday night.

SFC (4-0) has already picked up big wins over No. 4 West Central (24-0) and defending state champion Lennox (17-0). The Chargers defense has led the 4-0 start, allowing just 5.25 points per game, including three shut out wins. SFC shutout Madison 42-0 in their lone matchup last season. The Chargers are led by four returning all-staters in Nicholas Popkes, Jensen Pixler, Tate Connell and Dawson Unruh.

Madison has been a rising team in 11A this season and are off to a 4-0 start as well. The Bulldogs’ signature win came down to the wire against No. 3 Dell Rapids, a 21-20 win over the Quarriers in Madison, and have rolled in its other three wins against Belle Fourche (35-0), Custer (43-0) and most recently Vermillion (34-15). The Bulldogs bolster the third best scoring defense in 11A football, allowing just 8.75 points per contest. Quarterback Henry Veenhof has led the third highest scoring offense to the undefeated start. Veenhof completed 16 passes for 213 yards and four touchdown passes last week against Vermillion. Shane Veenhof racked up 114 receiving yards, hauling in three touchdowns as well.

Pierre at Yankton

YANKTON — The jumbled mess of Class 11AA football continues Friday night in Yankton.

Class 11AA No. 1 Yankton (3-1) looks to bounce back following last week’s loss to Class 11AAA No. 4 Harrisburg, 49-3, and will have a tall task in front of them at Crane-Youngworth Field. The Bucks have picked wins over Class 11A No. 2 Huron (41-24), defending state champion Watertown (52-26) and Douglas (63-6). Yankton is also home to the best scoring offense in Class 11AA football scoring over 40 points per game.

Pierre makes the long trip Southeast after a narrow win over Brookings (20-17) last Friday. The Governors took the lead in the fourth quarter after a blocked punt gave the Governors a short field. The Govs only loss this season came at the hands of No. 2 Huron (13-7) on Sept. 5. Pierre has three returning all-staters from last season, including Carter Merrill, Carter Schiefelbein, and four-star tight end prospect Cooper Terwilliger.

Sioux Falls O’Gorman vs. Sioux Falls Jefferson

SIOUX FALLS — Two of the top-5 teams in Class 11AAA battle it out Friday.

No. 3 Sioux Falls Jefferson takes on No. 5 O’Gorman at Howard Wood Field with huge playoff implications on the line. Jefferson (3-1) will look to get back on track after falling short to No. 1 Sioux Falls Lincoln last week. The Cavs have picked up wins over Watertown (51-7), Sioux Falls Roosevelt (47-0) and Sioux Falls Washington (41-14) this season before falling to Lincoln (57-36) behind a fourth quarter surge on Sept. 19. Daevion Simonsen has led the rushing attack for the Cavs while quarterback Boston Bryant is among the best in the state. Future Michigan State tight end Eddie Whiting continues to have a dominant senior season, catching two touchdown passes against Washington two weeks ago.

O’Gorman has slipped in the standings the past three weeks after falling to No. 1 Lincoln (50-31) and Brandon Valley (43-15). The Knights still set as the No. 5 team in the prep media poll and could still find their way into a home playoff game with a win Friday.