South Dakota 11B and all nine-man first-round football playoff schedules
The South Dakota High School Athletic Association state playoffs begin this week, putting state championship hopes on the line over the next four weeks.
Class 11B and nine-man divisions start this week. All quarterfinals are scheduled for Oct. 26, with the state finals set for Nov. 9-11 at the DakotaDome.
Here's a look at playoff games in the northeastern part of the state, as well as some final regular-season games for 11-man and All-Nations Conference teams.
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Class 11B First Round
No. 9 Aberdeen Roncalli (6-2) at No. 8 Wagner (6-2), 6 p.m. — The Cavaliers lost to fellow playoff teams Deuel and St. Thomas More, and Wagner fell to playoff teams Winner and Tri-Valley. Both squads beat Mobridge-Pollock during the season (Roncalli 40-22 and Wagner 40-15). This could be a close battle.
No. 13 Groton Area (5-3) at No. 4 Elk Point-Jefferson (7-1), 6 p.m. in Elk Point — The defending state champion Huskies have won five-straight games since a 20-11 loss at Sioux Valley. Groton Area's three losses came to playoff teams Roncalli, Deuel and Webster Area.
No. 15 Webster Area (4-4) at No. 2 Deuel (8-0), 7 p.m. — Deuel compiled its first unbeaten regular season since 1989 that included a 27-15 home win over Webster Area on Sept. 8. The Bearcats have won three of four since the loss and enjoyed a nice bounceback season under first-year head coach and former Webster Area standout Tyler Wagner.
No. 14 Mount Vernon-Plankinton (3-5) at No. 3 Sioux Valley (8-0), 7 p.m. in Volga — The unbeaten Cossacks have outscored their foes by a 342-53 margin and are facing a MVP team that enters the playoffs with a four-game losing skid.
Other Games
No. 16 Parker (5-3) at No. 1 Winner (8-0), 6 p.m.
No. 12 St. Thomas More (4-4) at No. 5 Tri-Valley (5-3), 5:30 p.m.
No. 10 Rapid City Christian (6-2) at Woonsocket-Wessington Springs-Sanborn Central (7-1), 5 p.m.
No. 11 Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (5-3) at Hot Springs (7-1), 6:30 p.m.
Class 9AA
No. 13 Bon Homme (3-5) at No. 4 Hamlin (7-1) , 7 p.m. — The Chargers' only loss came two weeks ago to undefeated Warner, and they're seeking a trip to at least the semifinals, like they made a season ago. The Cavaliers' record might be deceiving. They've won three of their last five, including a win over No. 7 seed Stanley County, and one of the losses was only by three points to No. 2-ranked Platte-Geddes.
No. 9 Hanson (6-2) at No. 8 Leola-Frederick Area (5-3), 7 p.m. — Hanson is unranked but suffered its only losses to No. 1 Parkston and No. 2 Howard. The Titans also lost to three good teams: No. 1 9A Warner, No. 1 9B Faulkton Area and No. 3 9AA Hamlin.
No. 15 Great Plains Lutheran (4-4) at No. 2 Platte-Geddes (7-1), 6 p.m. — The host Black Panthers haven't lost since the opening week of the season vs. Parkston. The Panthers, making their first playoff appearance since 2011, have lost to four playoff teams.
No. 14 Ipswich (4-4) at No. 3 Howard (7-1), 6 p.m. — Formerly Waverly-South Shore coach Pat Ruml has the host Tigers back in a solid position. The host Tigers have won six straight after a Week 2 loss to Canistota. Ipswich lost to four playoff teams.
No. 11 Britton-Hecla (5-3) at No. 6 Elkton-Lake Benton (7-1), 6 p.m. — The host Elks advanced to the state semifinals last fall, and they've won three straight since losing 24-12 to Canistota. The Braves' losses came to playoff teams Hamlin, Wolsey-Wessington and Herreid-Selby Area. Both teams have big wins over Florence-Henry.
Other Games
No. 16 Viborg-Hurley (3-5) at No. 1 Parkston (8-0), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Kimball-White Lake (4-5) at No. 5 Wall (7-1), 6:30 p.m.
No. 10 Freeman-Marion/Freeman Academy (6-2) at No. 7 Stanley County (7-1), 7 p.m.
Class 9A
No. 16 Colman-Egan (2-6) at No. 1 Warner (7-0), 7 p.m. — The defending state runner-up Monarchs are determined to make it back to the DakotaDome and shouldn't have a big problem moving into the second round.
No. 8 Castlewood (4-4) at No. 8 Lyman (6-2), 7 p.m. — Coach Doug Ruesink's Warriors closed out the regular season with three wins. The Warriors lost to playoff teams Hamlin, Warner, De Smet and Dell Rapids St. Mary. Lyman's two losses came to playoff teams Wall and Sully Buttes.
No. 10 Estelline-Hendricks (4-4) at No. 7 Deubrook Area (5-3), 7 p.m. — Both Dakota Valley Conference squads are heading into the playoffs after back-to-back losses. This is a rematch from the regular season, when the Dolphins slipped past the Redhawks 22-14 in the season opener at White.
Other Games
No. 13 Centerville (4-4) at No. 4 Canistota (6-2), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Gregory (4-4) at No. 5 Harding County-Bison (7-1), 6:30 p.m.
No. 15 Burke (2-6) at No. 2 Alcester-Hudson (8-0), 6 p.m.
No. 14 Timber Lake (4-4) at No. 3 Philip (8-0), 7 p.m.
No. 11 Chester (4-4) at No. 6 Wolsey-Wessington (4-4), 6 p.m.
Class 9B
No. 9 Lemmon-McIntosh (3-5) at No. 8 Hitchcock-Tulare (4-4), 6 p.m. — The defending state champion Patriots open their title defense at home despite dropping three of their final four regular-season games.
No. 13 Colome (2-6) at No. 4 De Smet (6-2), 7 p.m. — The Bulldogs closed the regular season with a 12-2 loss to Elkton-Lake Benton and would like to get back on the winning track with a win over the Cowboys.
No. 12 Gayville-Volin (2-6) at No. 5 Herreid-Selby Area (7-2), 6 p.m. — The Wolverines graduated a number of key players off a team that went to the state title game last fall. HSA is one of a limited amount of teams who played nine regular-season games and they're hitting the playoffs riding a four-game win streak.
No. 15 Jones County (2-6) at No. 2 Faulkton Area (7-1), 7 p.m. — The Trojans have been No. 1 ranked in the class for most of the year and kick off their quest to reach the DakotaDome against Jones County.
No. 11 Potter County (3-5) at No. 6 Dell Rapids St. Mary (5-3), 6 p.m. — The visiting Battlers certainly would like to pull a playoff upset for head coach Vern Smith, who is battling cancer.
Other Games
No. 16 Faith (1-7) at No. 16 Avon (6-2), 5:30 p.m.
No. 10 Kadoka Area (3-5) at No. 7 Sully Buttes (3-5), 7 p.m.
No. 14 New Underwood (1-7) at No. 3 Corsica-Stickney (6-2), 6 p.m.
Regular-Season Games on Thursday
Class 11AAA, 11AA and 11A teams, as well as the All-Nations Conference, all play their final regular-season games on Thursday before opening their playoffs next week. Games on the schedule, including a few with playoff seeding ramifications.
Aberdeen Central at Sioux Falls Lincoln — The game matching No. 5 Class 11AA Aberdeen Central (4-4) and No. 1 Class 11AAA Lincoln (8-0) is set for 5 p.m. at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. The Golden Eagles are currently the No. 5 seed in 11AA but could move up with a win over Lincoln.
Watertown at Tea Area — The game matching Tea Area (5-3) and Watertown (6-2) is set for 6 p.m. The Titans are currently No. 3 in the polls and seeding and Watertown No. 4 in both. The Arrows could move up to No. 3 with a win.
Milbank at West Central — The Bulldogs (2-6) are currently 12th in the Class 11A playoff standings and only the top eight qualify. Even a win at second-rated West Central (7-1) at 7 p.m. may not even be enough for Milbank.
Tiospa Zina at Crow Creek, 4 p.m. in Stephan — Tiospa Zina (5-1) is currently the No. 1 seed in the ANC Class B Division and would like to keep that spot with a win over 3-3 Crow Creek.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 Wilmington StarNews: South Dakota football playoffs: 11B, 9-man first-round matchups
