Travis Kriens, KORN News Radio Sports Director
The Class 11AA playoff field in South Dakota is wide open and unpredictable this year, with no clear frontrunner emerging as the teams head into Thursday’s quarterfinal matchups on October 30. The championship game will take place on Friday, November 14, at 7 p.m. at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.
Here’s a look at the key matchups in the quarterfinals:
No. 1 Yankton (7-2) vs. No. 8 Spearfish (5-4)
Yankton, the No. 1 seed after a strong regular season, will host the Spearfish Spartans. They took care of business in their regular-season finale, rolling to a 40–7 win over Mitchell. That victory, combined with Huron’s loss at Brookings, pushed the Bucks into the No. 1 overall seed. Quarterback Tate Beste, receiver Owen Eidsness and running back Jace Sedlacek lead a Yankton offense that has been among the most explosive in Class 11AA, averaging 33 points per game. Spearfish (5–4) has shown flashes this season, but will need its best performance of the year to hang with the top seed. The Spartans will have to make the long 400 mile trek from the Black Hills in the first meeting between the two teams this season.
No. 4 Sturgis (5-4) vs. No. 5 Watertown (5-4)
Sturgis hosts Watertown in a game that promises to be a battle of two evenly matched teams. Watertown, the defending state champions, has come alive after an 0–3 start to win five of their past six games. They are fresh off a thrilling four overtime victory against Aberdeen Central (33-27) in their final regular season game. Sturgis, on the other hand, earned the No. 4 seed on a three-way tiebreaker with Watertown and Tea Area. The Scoopers have one of the most surprising wins of the season when they upset Yankton 27-21 on October 3. However, Sturgis lost to Aberdeen Central 21-13 the week prior, as the Golden Eagles did not qualify for the postseason.
No. 2 Huron (7-2) vs. No. 7 Brookings (5-4)
After a heartbreaking loss to Brookings (22-14) in the final game of the regular season, Huron will look to bounce back as the No. 2 seed. Huron’s season has been a solid one, with impressive wins and a near-perfect record until that final game. However, Brookings, coming off a statement win over Huron, will bring momentum into this matchup. The Bobcats’ upset victory to close out the regular season secured them the No. 7 seed and another shot at ending Huron’s season. Huron has beaten Brookings only three times since 2004, but the Tigers’ seven wins this season are their most in more than 20 years. Expect a physical, low-scoring battle between two teams familiar with each other and a hungry Huron squad looking to prove its top ranking earlier in the year was no fluke.
No. 3 Pierre (6-3) vs. No. 6 Tea Area (5-4)
Pierre, the perennial powerhouse in Class 11AA, will host Tea Area. While the Governors didn’t face Tea during the regular season, they are the defending runner-up after a heart-wrenching loss to Watertown in last year’s state final. The Governors ended their regular season with a 49–0 victory over Douglas, led by sophomore quarterback Jerren Deal. In the past two weeks, Deal has accounted for more than 700 total yards and eight touchdowns, giving head coach Steve Steele a dynamic dual-threat weapon heading into the postseason. Tea Area is a program familiar with deep playoff runs. The Governors are 5–0 all-time against the Titans, including victories in the 2021 and 2022 state championship games. However, Tea Area has struggled in the second half of the season losing three straight heading into the playoffs and averaging only seven points per game during their losing streak.
The Path to the DakotaDome:
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Quarterfinals: Thursday, October 30
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Semifinals: Friday, November 7
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State Championship: Friday, November 14, 7 p.m. at the DakotaDome, Vermillion