Travis Kriens, KORN News Radio Sports Director
The road to the DakotaDome continues Thursday night with the Class 9AA football quarterfinals, featuring a mix of familiar contenders and upstart challengers looking to keep their championship hopes alive.
Four quarterfinal matchups highlight the slate, including two regional showdowns on the airwaves in Mitchell — No. 1 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy hosting No. 9 Kimball/White Lake on KORN Country 92.1 FM, and No. 3 Parkston welcoming No. 6 Bon Homme on Q107.3 FM. Both games kick off at 7 p.m. Thursday.
No. 1 Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy (9-0) vs. No. 9 Kimball/White Lake (6-3)
At Freeman | Broadcast on KORN Country 92.1
The unbeaten Phoenix enter the quarterfinals as the top overall seed after a dominant 59-8 first-round win over Garretson that ended at halftime by the 50-point rule. Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy showed its balance and depth, holding the Blue Dragons to just 103 yards of offense while forcing multiple turnovers.
Defensively, Tayden Kerrigan scored twice — once on an interception return and once on a fumble recovery — while Alaric Knittel notched two of the team’s six sacks. On offense, Luke Peters ran for 119 yards and three touchdowns on six carries, and quarterback Riley Tschetter was nearly perfect through the air, completing 7-of-8 passes for 101 yards and a score.
Kimball/White Lake arrives in Freeman after a gritty 14-7 road win over Britton-Hecla. Senior back Johnny Lenz scored both touchdowns for the WiLdKats, while the defense held strong late with a fourth-down stop and a game-sealing interception from Dayn Goodman.
The WiLdKats will need another strong defensive showing to slow down a Phoenix squad averaging more than 45 points per game.
No. 2 Elkton-Lake Benton (8-1) vs. No. 10 Hanson (5-4)
At Elkton
Hanson’s playoff run continues after the Beavers avenged a recent loss to Viborg-Hurley, rolling to a 52-34 win in the opening round. Stetson Riggs powered the Hanson offense with 139 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Jett Jager accounted for six total scores — three through the air and three on the ground.
The Beavers now get a rematch with Elkton-Lake Benton, the same opponent that eliminated them in last year’s quarterfinals, 46-21. Hanson, which reached the same stage last season as an 11-seed, will look to turn the tables this time around.
The Elks cruised through the first round with a 49-0 shutout of De Smet, continuing their trend as one of the most complete teams in the class behind a strong running game and a defense that has allowed single digits in six of its eight wins.
No. 3 Parkston (8-1) vs. No. 6 Bon Homme (7-2)
At Parkston | Broadcast on Q107.3 FM
A familiar Southeast South Dakota Conference rivalry renews in Parkston as the Trojans host Bon Homme with a semifinal berth on the line.
Parkston extended its winning streak to eight games with a 55-22 rout of Bennett County in the opening round, mixing its usual power rushing attack with an efficient passing performance from quarterback Brycen Bruening. The senior threw three touchdown passes and led the offense to a 37-0 halftime lead. The Trojans’ defense also set the tone early with an interception on the game’s opening drive.
Bon Homme advanced with a 48-28 win over Gregory behind a massive night from Major Aarstad, who rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns. The Cavaliers will look to avenge a 70-21 regular-season loss to Parkston on Sept. 26, a game the Trojans controlled from start to finish. Parkston has won the last six meetings between the two team.
No. 4 Hill City (8-1) vs. No. 5 Hamlin (8-1)
At Hill City
In one of the most balanced matchups of the quarterfinal round, Hill City and Hamlin square off in a clash of one-loss teams. Both rolled through the first round — Hill City blanking Great Plains Lutheran 53-0 and Hamlin shutting out Scotland/Menno 57-0.
Hamlin reached the Class 9AA championship game a year ago, defeating Elkton-Lake Benton in the semifinals before falling just short in Vermillion. The Chargers bring postseason experience against a Hill City team that has proven explosive on both sides of the ball.
Looking Ahead
Winners from Thursday’s quarterfinals advance to next week’s semifinals on Nov. 7, with the Class 9AA state championship set for Nov. 14 at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.