Fourth-rated Class 9A Castlewood at No. 2 Class 9B De Smet highlights the opening week slate
Ready or not, here comes the 2023 South Dakota high school football season.
Many of the state's Class 11B and nine-man teams open their seasons this week with others set to open next week.
There's 18 games involving Watertown and Aberdeen area schools this week, including:
Thursday's Games
Sisseton at Dakota Hills: The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Wilmot.
Elkton-Lake Benton at Colman-Egan: The two Dakota Valley Conference teams square off at 7 p.m. in Colman.
Sioux Valley at Scotland-Menno: The third-rated Class 11B Cossacks open their season at 7 p.m. in Menno.
Friday's Games
Newell at Potter County: The matchup is set for 7 p.m. in Gettysburg.
Deuel at Clark-Willow Lake: The Cardinals and Cyclones are set to square off at 7 p.m. in Clark.
Britton-Hecla at Great Plains Lutheran: The Braves and Panthers meet at 7 p.m. at Watertown Stadium.
Ipswich at Faulkton Area: It's another 7 p.m. matchup between the Tigers and the Trojans.
Aberdeen Roncalli at Groton Area: The two Northeast Conference rivals meet at 7 p.m. in Groton.
Hamlin at Florence-Henry: The fourth-rated Class 9AA Chargers are expecting another big season. They'll make their debut against the Falcons at 7 p.m. in Henry.
Wolsey-Wessington at Iroquois-Lake Preston: The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Lake Preston.
Hitchcock-Tulare at Northwestern: Top-rated and defending state Class 9B champion Hitchcock-Tulare opens its title defense with a 7 p.m. game in Mellette.
Sunshine Bible Academy at Viborg-Hurley: The Crusaders head to Viborg for the 7 p.m. matchup.
Dell Rapids St. Mary at Waverly-South Shore: The Coyotes welcome the fourth-rated Class 9B Cardinals to Waverly in another game set for 7 p.m.
Mobridge-Pollock at Webster Area: Tyler Wagner, a former Bearcat standout, makes his head coaching debut for Webster at 7 p.m.
Estelline-Hendricks at Deubrook Area: The two 2022 playoff teams face off at 7 p.m. in White.
Castlewood at De Smet: On paper, this could be the matchup of the week. The fourth-rated 9A Warriors visiting the second-rated Class 9B Bulldogs at 7 p.m.
Saturday's Games
Redfield at Hot Springs: The Pheasants head west to take on the Bison in a 6 p.m. game.
Oldham-Ramona-Rutland at Arlington: The two Dakota Valley Conference foes meet at 7 p.m.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on Twitter @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: The area schedule for the first week of S.D. high school football
