Castlewood vs. Elkton-Lake Benton tops this week's football matchups
We're starting to see the temperatures cool off a bit, but that just means things are starting to really heat up in South Dakota high school football.
The state's nine-man and Class 11B teams conclude the regular season this weekend. The playoffs in those classes will open on Thursday, Oct. 14. The battle for playoff spots and positioning continues the next week for rest of the state's 11-man teams.
There are so good area matchups again this week, highlighted by third-rated Class 9A Castlewood's visit to fifth-rated Class 9AA Elkton-Lake Benton at 7 p.m. Friday with the Dakota Valley Conference football title on the line.
Both teams have talented quarterbacks. Ryan Krog led 7-0 Elkton-Lake Benton. He has rushed for 827 yards and 13 touchdowns and passed for 1,214 yards and 21 TDs so far this season. Castlewood's offense is guided by Lane Tvedt, who has rushed for 352 yards and 10 scores and passed for 794 yards and 15 TDs.
Here other northeastern South Dakota games on the agenda this week:
Thursday's Games
Clark-Willow Lake at Aberdeen Roncalli, 7 p.m.: Here's a game with some playoff implications. Clark-Willow Lake (4-3) is currently the 16th seed in Class 11B. The top 16 teams make the playoffs. It's possible that a loss to unbeaten and fourth-rated Roncalli (7-0) won't keep them out, but a win definitely would be beneficial. Roncalli is currently tied for the No. 2 seed and wouldn't mind getting home field throughout the playoffs.
Friday's Games
Potter County at Sunshine Bible Academy, 2:30 p.m.: Potter County (2-5) is No. 15 and Sunshine Bible (0-7) No. 18 in the Class 9B standings. The top 16 qualify for the playoffs.
Britton-Hecla vs. Herreid-Selby Area, 6 p.m. at Aberdeen's Dacotah Bank Field: The unbeaten Wolverines (7-0) are top-rated in Class 9AA and the No. 1 seed at the moment. Britton-Hecla (4-3) currently is the No. 14 seed in Class 9AA.
Spearfish at Watertown, 7 p.m.: It seems like every game is big for the Arrows (2-5), but this one could be the biggest to date. Spearfish (3-4) is currently the No. 6 seed and Watertown (2-5) No. 9. Only the top eight teams in Class 11AA qualify for the playoffs. The Arrows snapped a four-game losing skid with a win at Mitchell last week and need to make it two in a row.
Aberdeen Central at Yankton, 7 p.m.: Third-rated Class 11AA Yankton (4-3) and fourth-rated Aberdeen Central (4-3) are currently tied for the No. 3 seed in the standings. Can the Golden Eagles make it five wins in a row?
Sisseton at Baltic, 7 p.m.: The Class 11B playoff chances don't look good for either team. Sisseton (1-6) wants to end a six-game losing skid. Baltic (0-7) just wants its first win.
North Central at Ipswich, 7 p.m.: Ipswich (5-2) is No. 9 and North Central (1-6) No. 19 in the state Class 9AA standings.
Milbank at Chamberlain, 7 p.m.: Any playoff hopes for Milbank (1-6) and Chamberlain (2-5) likely depends on winning this game. Chamberlain is currently No. 10 and Milbank No. 12 in the Class 11A standings with the top eight advancing to the playoffs.
Faulkton Area at Leola-Frederick Area, 7 p.m. in Leola: The matchup features two expected playoff teams. Faulkton Area (4-3) is No. 9 in Class 9B and LFA No. 12 in Class 9AA.
Sioux Valley at Flandreau, 7 p.m.: The Cossacks (4-3) are No. 12 and Flandreau (3-4) No. 14 in the Class 11B standings, so a win would be good for either team.
Warner at Northwestern, 7 p.m. in Mellette: The top-rated Monarchs (7-0) have already clinched a playoff spot, holding down the No. 1 spot in Class 9A. Northwestern (1-6) is currently No. 18 and needs to make a move.
Florence-Henry at Freeman-Marion/Freeman Academy, 7 p.m. in Freeman: Two likely Class 9AA playoff teams meet. FMFA is 5-2 and No. 8 in the standings and Florence-Henry 4-3 and No. 10.
Groton Area at Mobridge-Pollock, 7 p.m. in Mobridge: Each team is 3-4 and tied for 18th in the Class 11B standings. Any playoff hopes likely depend on a win.
Deuel at Redfield, 7 p.m.: This Northeast Conference battle matches 6-1 Deuel against 5-2 Redfield. The two teams are currently eighth (Deuel) and 11th (Redfield) in the Class 11B standings.
Hitchcock-Tulare vs. Great Plains Lutheran, 7 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings: Hitchcock-Tulare (7-0) is second-rated and the No. 2 seed in Class 9B. Great Plains Lutheran (3-4) is No. 17 in Class 9AA. A win should clinch a playoff berth for GPL.
Langford Area at Waverly-South Shore, 7 p.m. in Waverly: Playoffs may not be the concern here, since Langford Area is No. 19 in Class 9B and Waverly-South Shore No. 20 in Class 9A. The real good news is that one of the two 0-7 teams is going to get a win.
Dell Rapids St. Mary at Estelline-Hendricks, 7 p.m. in Estelline: Estelline-Hendricks is 4-3 and No. 12 in Class 9A. Dell Rapids St. Mary is 3-4 and No. 14 in Class B. The top 16 teams in each class make the playoffs.
Oldham-Ramona-Rutland at Iroquois-Lake Preston, 7 p.m. in Lake Preston: ORR is 2-5 and No. 14 in Class 9A and ILP 1-6 and No. 15 in Class 9A. The top 16 teams make the playoffs.
De Smet at Deubrook Area, 7 p.m. in White: The Bulldogs (4-3) are rated fifth and seeded eighth in Class 9B. The Dolphins (4-3) are the No. 11 seed in Class 9A. Both teams should be in the playoffs.
Arlington at Colman-Egan, 7 p.m. in Colman: Arlington is 0-7 and No. 20 in Class 9B. Colman-Egan is 0-7 at No. 19 in Class 9A. Again, somebody is getting their first win.
Saturday's Game
McLaughlin at Tiospa Zina, 2 p.m. at Agency Village: The two All-Nations Conference teams close out their regular seasons. McLaughlin is 3-4 and Tiospa Zina 4-3.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: The Class 11B and nine-man teams to conclude their regular seasons.
