11B, 9-man games to watch in South Dakota high school football playoffs' first week
It’s the first week of the South Dakota high school football playoffs, with 11B and 9-man classes playing their first-round games as the bigger classes in the state finish off their last week of the regular season.
While the regular-season finales are worth keeping an eye on, here are a few playoff games to add to your viewing schedule this Thursday.
11B: No. 7 Hot Springs vs. No. 10 Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan
When: 7 p.m. CT
Where: Woodward Field (Hot Springs)
Hot Springs is an interesting team heading into the 11B postseason. Their only real marquee win came against St. Thomas More, in which the Bison dominated the Cavaliers on homecoming 49-14. But a “weak” strength of schedule is something that can undervalue teams that end up making a playoff run. Hot Springs got through its six wins fairly easily and put up way more of a fight against McCook Central/Montrose than Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan did. This could be a game where the Bison look more like their playoff ranking than their media poll ranking.
11B: No. 8 Deuel vs. No. 9 St. Thomas More
When: 6 p.m. CT
Where: Cardinal Field (Deuel)
St. Thomas More’s last game of the season against Dell Rapids didn’t go well for them, but there was one major positive: Cavaliers quarterback Lee Neugebauer made his return since suffering an injury in the first week of the season and looked good. STM is a different team with Neugebauer running the offense. Its first test, though, comes against a Deuel team that lost by just a touchdown to 8-0 Aberdeen Roncalli.
9AA: No. 3 Howard vs. No. 14 Britton-Hecla
When: 6 p.m. CT
Where: Howard High School
Perhaps it’s because Howard played some 9A games that lands the undefeated Tigers at No. 3, but those games weren’t easy either. Canistota, particularly, is a quality win for Howard. The No. 1 team in the media poll is still likely the best team in the class entering the playoffs, but they’ll have a slightly-more-difficult run to the final from the third spot. Britton-Hecla’s explosive senior quarterback BoDell Davidson is the first player the Tigers will have to slow before they get there.
9A: No. 8 Alcester-Hudson vs. No. 9 Canistota
When: 7 p.m. CT
Where: Alcester-Hudson School District
Canistota is underrated at No. 9. Playing a majority Class 9AA schedule, the Hawks have more than enough positive game experience to put together a strong run in the 9A playoffs. But they get a tough matchup in the first week. Somehow, a one-loss Alcester-Hudson winds up as the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. Contrary to Canistota, they played quite a few 9B teams following their promotion from the class last year. A 12-6 win over Corsica-Stickney is quality, but they’re a 9B team. Hard to say where either of these teams are at, but it could be the start of a wakeup call to all teams in 9A about Canistota.
9B: No. 7 Faith vs. No. 10 Dell Rapids St. Mary
When: 6:30 p.m. CT
Where: Faith School District
Dell Rapids St. Mary played a tough schedule. Around this time of year, it’s not wise to downplay DRSM’s ability to make a run. The Cardinals have one of the best running backs in 9-man football in junior Nic Gaspar and have put themselves in a lot of positions to grow throughout the season. That being said, the games they challenged themselves with schedule-wise weren’t quite the closest losses, and DRSM didn’t beat a team above .500 all season. Faith has put together a nice season and has a real shot to remove the defending 9B state champions from the bracket.
South Dakota high school football playoff pairings
Class 11B
All games Thursday; Times CT
No. 16 Lead-Deadwood (4-4) at No. 1 Winner (8-0), 6 p.m.
No. 9 St. Thomas More (5-3) at No. 8 Deuel (7-1), 6 p.m.
No. 13 Tri-Valley (4-4) at No. 4 Mount Vernon/Plankinton (7-1), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Sioux Valley (5-3) at No. 5 McCook Central/Montrose (7-1), 7 p.m.
No. 15 Mobridge/Pollock (4-4) at No 2. Aberdeen Roncalli (8-0), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (5-3) at Hot Springs (6-2), 7 p.m.
No. 14 Rapid City Christian (4-4) at No. 3 Elk Point-Jefferson (8-0), 6 p.m.
No. 11 Redfield (5-3) at No. 6 Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central (6-2), 7 p.m.
Class 9AA
All games Thursday; Times CT
No. 16 Stanley County (3-5) at No. 1 Wall (8-0), 7:30 p.m.
No. 9 Ipswich (6-2) at No. 8 Bon Homme (6-2), 7 p.m.
No. 13 Viborg-Hurley (4-4) at No. 4 Hamlin (7-1), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Platte-Geddes (4-4) at No. 5 Hanson (7-1), 7 p.m.
No. 15 Kimball/White Lake (2-6) at No. 2 Elkton-Lake Benton (8-0), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Florence/Henry (4-4) at No. 7 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (6-2), 7 p.m.
No. 14 Britton-Hecla (4-4) at No. 3 Howard (8-0), 6 p.m.
No. 11 Leola/Frederick Area (5-3) at No. 6 Parkston (7-1), 7 p.m.
Class 9A
All games Thursday; Times CT
No. 16 Burke (1-7) at No. 1 Warner (8-0), 7 p.m.
No. 9 Canistota (4-4) at No. 8 Alcester-Hudson (7-1), 7 p.m.
No. 13 Chester Area (3-5) at No. 4 Harding County/Bison (6-2), 6:30 p.m.
No. 12 Estelline/Hendricks (4-4) at No. 5 Philip (7-1), 6:30 p.m.
No. 15 Oldham-Ramona/Rutland (2-6) at No. 2 Lyman (7-1), 6 p.m.
No. 10 Timber Lake (5-3) at No. 7 Castlewood (6-2), 6 p.m.
No. 14 Iroquois/Lake Preston (2-6) at No. 3 Gregory (7-1), 7 p.m.
No. 11 Deubrook Area (4-4) at No. 6 Wolsey-Wessington (5-3), 7 p.m.
Class 9B
All games Thursday; Times CT
No. 16 Lemmon/McIntosh (2-6) at No. 1 Herreid/Selby Area (8-0), 7 p.m.
No. 9 Faulkton Area (4-4) at No. 8 Avon (4-4), 6 p.m.
No. 13 Potter County (3-5) at No. 4 Sully Buttes (6-2), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Irene-Wakonda (3-5) at No. 5 Corsica-Stickney (6-2), 7 p.m.
No. 15 Jones County (3-5) at No. 2 Hitchcock-Tulare (8-0), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Dell Rapids St. Mary (4-4) at No. 7 Faith (6-2), 6:30 p.m.
No. 14 New Underwood (2-6) at No. 3 Kadoka Area (5-3), 7 p.m.
No. 11 Colome (4-4) at No. 6 De Smet (5-3), 7 p.m.
Follow Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter Michael McCleary on Twitter @mikejmccleary.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota high school football: Five playoff games to watch
