Rest of state's 11-man teams open playoffs Thursday with second-round play in other classes

WATERTOWN — Eleven years. That's how long it's been since Watertown High School's football team has hosted a playoff game and how long it's been since the Arrows won a playoff game.

The first streak will end, and maybe the second also, on Thursday with the fourth-rated and fourth-seeded Arrows (6-3) host fifth-rated and fifth-seeded Aberdeen Central (4-5) in a Class 11AA first-round game at 6 p.m. at Watertown Stadium.

The two Eastern South Dakota Conference foes met Sept. 29 at Aberdeen in a game that wasn't decided until the closing seconds. Watertown, with the help of Tommy Foley's 20-yard field goal in the final minute of the third quarter, won 16-14 in a game that wasn't officially over until the Golden Eagles' misfired on a 29-yard field goal with 26 seconds left.

"We have an opportunity at home against a team we've already beaten," Watertown coach John Hodorff said. "They're still a very good football team, but one feel we can beat if we play well."

How will weather affect the rematch?

Some combination of rain, wind and or even perhaps a tiny possibility of snow could make things interesting on Thursday, but it was the Watertown-Aberdeen Central matchup seems likely to be decided by the running games.

"That's one of the things you certainly have to deal with when you get into the playoffs in South Dakota. You just better plan for bad weather," Hodorff said.

Watertown's offense revolves around senior running back Juven Hudson, who has rushed for around 1,100 yards and 15 touchdowns this fall. Aberdeen Central also features an offense that centers around the running game.

Aberdeen Central played the previous matchup with freshman Brenner Waldrop at quarterback, but the team's regular signal-caller (senior Parker Lemer) has returned in recent weeks. Avery Ligon, another senior, is a big threat in the rushing game and did run for 136 yards in the previous matchup.

"Aberdeen certainly tries to do everything they can to run the the ball," Hodorff said. "They hurt us with some long pass plays in the first game and also ran the ball very well in the first half. We played better against the run in the second half and we'll need to take care of the short passing game."

More: Monarchs, Arrows pick up big wins during Week 7 of South Dakota high school football

A chance to advance

Watertown hasn't hosted a state playoff game since they defeated Douglas and Yankton in home games while advancing to the state Class 11AA championship game in 2013. The Arrows lost in the state championship game to Pierre 34-7.

Hodorff took over the Arrows' head coach in 2014 and the program spent six years in Class 11AAA before moving back down to Class 11AA in 2021.

During that span, Watertown has suffered first-round playoff losses on the road eight times. The Arrows didn't make the playoffs in 2016.

The Arrows' only losses this fall have to come to the top three-rated 11AA teams (No. 1 Pierre, No. 2 Yankton and No. 3 Tea Area). Aberdeen Central has lost to the top four 11AA teams (including Watertown) as well as No. 1 Class 11AAA Sioux Falls Lincoln.

The Golden Eagles, guided by head coach Justin Briese, also have to feel good about their chances in what could be another closely-contested battle.

"We feel like there's a possibility we can make a run in the playoffs. The road's not easy, there are three really good football teams ahead of us," Hodorff said. "Our focus is just on Aberdeen Central this week. If we don't take care of things Thursday, the rest of it won't matter."

Area Class 11B Games

No. 9 Aberdeen Roncalli (7-2) at No. 1 Winner (9-0), 6 p.m. — The Cavaliers opened the playoffs with a 17-6 upset win over No. 8 Wagner, but will face tougher task Thursday against perennial power Winner. The Warriors blanked Parker 36-0 in the first round of the playoffs and have outscored their opponents 340-45 so far this season.

No. 10 Rapid City Christian (7-2) at No. 2 Deuel (9-0), 6 p.m. — The host Cardinals had to rally to beat fellow Northeast Conference foe Webster Area 20-14 in the first round and will have to battle to beat a Rapid City Christian team that got its first-ever 11-man football playoff win last week by upsetting No. 7 Woonsocket-Wessington Springs-Sanborn Central 36-7.

No. 6 Hot Springs (8-1) at No. 3 Sioux Valley (9-0), 6 p.m. — The Cossacks are seeking their first trip to the DakotaDome since 1988 by blasting Mount Vernon-Plankinton 59-6 in the first round of the playoff last week. Advancing won't be easy against a Hot Springs team that handled Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan 55-6.

Both teams have handled BEE and Hill City this season. Hot Springs' only loss was a 20-14 setback to No. 1 Class 11A Dell Rapids. It was by far the closest game for Dell Rapids.

Area Class 9AA Games

No. 5 Wall (8-1) at No. 4 Hamlin (8-1), 6:30 p.m. — Here's a rematch that should be very interesting. Wall topped Hamlin 26-13 in the state semifinals last year and went on to win the state title. The Chargers get to host the rematch and are as healthy as they've been all season.

Wall beat Kimball-White Lake 22-6 and Hamlin thrashed Bon Homme 52-8 in first-round games last week.

No. 6 Elkton-Lake Benton (8-1) at No. 3 Howard (8-1), 6 p.m. — Another interesting quarterfinal matchup against two-one loss teams who suffered 12-point defeats to Class 9A quarterfinal team Canistota. Both teams cruised in the first round. Howard handled Ipswich 60-14 and Elkton-Lake Benton rolled past Britton-Hecla 52-0.

Area Class 9A Games

No. 9 Castlewood (5-4) at No. 1 Warner (9-0), 7 p.m. — Credit Castlewood for turning around its season with four-straight wins, including a 50-0 win at No. 8 Lyman last week. Keeping the streak going won't be easy against a Warner team that beat the Warriors 67-16 at Castlewood in September. Warner reached the state Class 9A championship game last fall and has some unfinished business.

No. 7 Deubrook Area (6-3) at No. 2 Alcester-Hudson (9-0), 7 p.m. — The Dolphins have enjoyed a resurgence under Watertown native Nathan Lamb and opened the playoffs with a 46-6 win over Estelline-Hendricks. Alcester-Hudson remained unbeaten by turning back Burke 50-12.

More: First-round football playoff highlights, regular-season football finales

Area Class 9B Games

No. 8 Hitchcock-Tulare (5-4) at No. 1 Avon (7-2), 7 p.m. — This is another rematch from the regular season which host Avon won 32-28 in September. Avon opened with a 54-14 playoff win over Faith and Hitchcock-Tulare downed Lemmon-McIntosh 44-24. The visiting Patriots are the defending state champions.

No. 12 Gayville-Volin (3-6) at No. 4 De Smet (7-2), 7 p.m. — The host Bulldogs have lost in the state semifinals each of the past two seasons and being their quest to rectify that by handling Colome 61-8 last week in the first round. Gayville-Volin upset fifth-seeded Herreid-Selby Area, the state runner-up last fall, 34-32.

No. 10 Kadoka Area (4-5) at No. 2 Faulkton Area (8-1), 6:30 p.m. — Faulkton Area has been No. 1-rated for most of the season and kept matching with a 50-0 win over Jones County in the opening round. Kadoka Area downed No. 7 Sully Buttes 38-22. Both teams handled Faith and Jones County.

No. 11 Potter County (4-5) at No. 3 Corsica-Stickney (7-2), 5:30 p.m. — The Battlers kept their season alive with a 38-22 win over No. 6 Dell Rapids St. Mary in the first round. Corsica-Stickney advanced with a 46-0 win over New Underwood.

All-Nations Conference B Division Game

Omaha Nation-Crazy Horse winner at No. 2 Tiospa Zina (6-1) — The playoffs open on Tuesday with the Omaha Nation and Crazy Horse winner set to face the Wambdi in the semifinals on Saturday. Tiospa Zina won the ANC B Division championship in 2021 and lost to Lower Brule in the title game last fall.

Other Playoff Games

Class 11AAA (Thursday) — No. 8 Rapid City Stevens (2-7) at No. 1 Sioux Falls Lincoln (9-0), 5 p.m.; No. 5 Sioux Falls Jefferson (6-3) at No. 4 Brandon Valley (6-3), 6 p.m.; No. 7 Sioux Falls Washington (2-7) at No. 2 Harrisburg (7-2), 6 p.m.; and No. 6 Sioux Falls Roosevelt (3-6) at No. 3 O'Gorman (7-2), 6 p.m.

Class 11AA (Thursday) — No. 8 Spearfish (4-5) at No. 1 Pierre (8-1), 7 p.m.; No. 7 Huron (4-5) at No. 2 Yankton (8-1), 6 p.m.; and No. 6 Sturgis (6-3) at No. 3 Tea Area (6-3), 6 p.m.

Class 11A (Thursday) — No. 8 Madison (3-6) at No. 1 Dell Rapids (9-0), 7 p.m.; No. 5 Dakota Valley (6-3) at No. 4 Sioux Falls Christian (7-2), 7 p.m.; No. 7 Chamberlain (4-5) at No. 2 West Central (8-1), 7 p.m.; and No. 6 Lennox (5-4) at No. 3 Canton (7-2), 7 p.m.

Class 11B (Thursday) — No. 5 Tri-Valley (6-3) at No. 4 Elk Point-Jefferson (8-1), 7 p.m.

Class 9AA (Thursday) — No. 9 Hanson (7-2) at No. 1 Parkston (9-0), 7 p.m.; and No. 10 Freeman-Marion/Freeman Academy (7-2) at No. 2 Platte-Geddes (8-1), 7 p.m.

Class 9A (Thursday) — No. 12 Gregory (5-4) at No. 4 Canistota (7-2), 6 p.m.; and No. 11 Chester (5-4) at No. 3 Philip (9-0), 6 p.m.

All-Nations Conference Class A (Tuesday) — No. 5 Standing Rock, N.D. (3-4) at No. 4 Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa (4-3), 5 p.m.; and No. 6 Little Wound (2-5) at No. 3 Winnebago, Neb. (5-2), 6 p.m. Saturday Semifinals: CEB-Tiospaye Topa/Standing Rock winner at No. 1 Todd County (7-0); Little Wound-Winnebago winner at No. 2 Pine Ridge (5-2).

All-Nations Conference Class B (Tuesday) — No. 5 Crow Creek (3-4) at No. 4 McLaughlin (4-3) and No. 6 Crazy Horse (2-5) at No. 3 Omaha Nation, Neb. (5-2). Saturday Semifinals: McLaughlin-Crow Creek winner at No. 1 Lower Brule (6-1); Omaha Nation-Crazy Horse winner at No. 2 Tiospa Zina (6-1).

Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: A look at Thursday's South Dakota high school football playoff games