Final 2023 South Dakota high school football power rankings: Sioux Falls Lincoln takes the top spot
There were plenty of impressive performances from teams in and around the Argus Leader’s coverage area throughout the 2023 South Dakota high school football season.
But now that the season has ended, which 11-player team, regardless of class, stood out the most?
Based on multiple factors like strength of schedule, trends, team statistics and overall end of season results, here is how all the local high school teams stacked up against one another:
1. Lincoln (12-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Record since last power ranking: 4-0
Season end result: 11AAA state champions
The Patriots finished their run to the 11AAA state championship with an unblemished record. Not only did they win, but they looked untouchable throughout the season. After winning the championship, the Lincoln football Twitter account tweeted out some of their offensive and defensive stats and where they ranked in Class 11AAA history. They were first in class history in points scored, points allowed and takeaways. With those stats in mind, it’s difficult not to consider them one of the best teams in South Dakota high school football history.
More: Tate Schafer overcomes first half struggles to lead Lincoln football to the pinnacle
2. O’Gorman (9-3)
Previous ranking: 2
Record since last power ranking: 2-2
Season end result: 11AAA runners up
The Knights had an impressive run to the 11AAA state championship game. They easily dispatched Roosevelt in the quarterfinals and then made late-game stops in the semifinals against Harrisburg to make it to the Dome. O’Gorman played valiantly in the championship game too, throwing different looks at the Patriots to confuse them in the first half. In the end, it wasn’t enough, but it was still a great season for the Knights.
More: Lincoln completes perfect season, wins 11AAA state football championship over O'Gorman 31-7
3. West Central (10-2)
Previous ranking: 5
Record since last power ranking: 3-1
Season end result: 11A runners up
The Trojans are another team that had a great season that ended in disappointment. They defeated Chamberlain and Lennox pretty easily to get to the Dome and then ran into a buzzsaw of a Dell Rapids team.
More: Dell Rapids dominates West Central en route to second consecutive 11A state championship
4. Brandon Valley (7-4)
Previous ranking: 4
Record since last power ranking: 2-1
Season end result: 11AAA semifinalist
Of all the teams in 11AAA, the Lynx came the closest to knocking off the Patriots. They came within a touchdown of upsetting the No. 1 seed in the semifinals and had the chance to score on the final drive of the game. Before that, they knocked off the Cavaliers in a tough quarterfinals matchup.
5. Harrisburg (8-3)
Previous ranking: 3
Record since last power ranking: 2-1
Season end result: 11AAA semifinalist
After making it to the Dome in back-to-back seasons and winning the state championship in 2021, the Tigers bowed out early, in the semifinals, this year. They made quick work of Washington in the quarterfinals but faced an O’Gorman team that could ratchet up the defensive pressure when it mattered most.
6. Sioux Falls Christian (8-3)
Previous ranking: 8
Record since last power ranking: 2-1
Season end result: 11A semifinalist
The Chargers jumped a couple of spots on the list because of their performance in the playoffs. They took care of business against the No. 5 seeded Dakota Valley Panthers and then gave the eventual champions Dell Rapids a run for their money. They were only eight points away from upsetting the No. 1 seed and playing in the Dome.
7. Lennox (6-5)
Previous ranking: 10
Record since last power ranking: 1-2
Season end result: 11A semifinalist
The Orioles made it all the way to the seven spot on the list because of a last-ditch touchdown in the quarterfinals against Canton. Lennox had been struggling, losing three of their last four regular season games, but they won when it mattered most. Freshman Drake Mikkelsen lost his receiver in the end zone with under 30 seconds to play in the quarterfinals against Canton and caught the game-winning touchdown to upset C-Hawks and thrust Lennox to the semifinals.
8. Jefferson (6-4)
Previous ranking: 6
Record since last power ranking: 1-1
Season end result: 11AAA quarterfinalist
The 2022 state champions saw their title defense end in the quarterfinals against Brandon Valley 41-21. The Cavaliers had injuries late in the season that may have hampered their record a bit late in the season, but they still competed until the end.
More: Dell Rapids dominates West Central en route to second consecutive 11A state championship
9. Canton (7-3)
Previous ranking: 7
Record since last power ranking: 1-1
Season end result: 11A quarterfinalist
The C-Hawks dropped in the rankings primarily due to how their season ended. Canton only lost twice in the regular season and both times it was against teams ranked higher than them in the media poll, but their season ended prematurely on a last-second touchdown against a lower-seeded team.
10. Roosevelt (3-7)
Previous ranking: 9
Record since last power ranking: 0-2
Season end result: 11AAA quarterfinalist
The Rough Riders ended the season with a strong performance against O’Gorman but fell short 46-27. They won two of the last five games to close out the year.
11. Washington (2-8)
Previous ranking: 11
Record since last power ranking: 0-2
Season end result: 11AAA quarterfinalist
The Warriors lost in the quarterfinals to a strong Harrisburg side 42-7. Washington had played them close only a few weeks earlier, only losing by a field goal in Week 7.
Jonathan Fernandez covers high school and college sports for the Argus Leader. Contact him at jfernandez1@argusleader.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFERN31
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Lincoln atop final South Dakota high school football power rankings
