The preseason South Dakota Prep Media Football Poll has been released with the first high school games of the season later this week for 11B and 9-man football.
The Mitchell Kernels received seven votes in the initial poll. coming off a 3-7 season. Pierre received 13 of the 16 first place votes in Class AA. #5 Watertown and Aberdeen Central (RV) join AA, moving down from AAA, while #4 Tea Area moves up from Class A.
Class 11A 2020 runner-up Canton received nine of the 16 first places votes in 11A, while the top two teams in 11AAA, #1 Harrisburg and #2 Brandon Valley, are last season’s state championship participants. Sioux Falls Jefferson starts its first year of athletic competition during the 2021-22 season coming in fifth in 11AAA
Winner and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan take the top two spots in 11B and both made the state title game last season with Winner getting an 18-14 victory.
The three-time defending 9A champ, #2 Canistota/Freeman, makes the move up to 9AA where they will open up the season vs. the defending champs and preseason #1 Platte-Geddes. You can hear that game on Q-107.3 this Friday night at 7 pm.
2020 Class 9B champion Wolsey-Wessington moves up to 9A where they are the preseason #1 with 12 of the 16 first place votes.
The 9B runner-up last season, Dell Rapids St. Mary, narrowly edges Harding Country for the top spot in 9B.
The preseason South Dakota Prep Media Football Poll is listed below, ranking the top-five teams, the team’s record, points received and ranking in the previous poll. First-place votes are listed in parentheses.
Class 11AAA
- Harrisburg (8) 72
- Brandon Valley (7) 69
- Roosevelt (1) 45
- O’Gorman 30
- Jefferson 10
Receiving votes: Washington 8, Lincoln 6.
Class 11AA
- Pierre (13) 76
- Brookings (2) 48
- Yankton 39
- Tea Area (1) 37
- Watertown 14
Receiving votes: Aberdeen Central 12, Mitchell 7, Sturgis 4, Huron 3.
Class 11A
- Canton (9) 71
- Dell Rapids (6) 61
- Madison (1) 48
- West Central 31
- Dakota Valley 15
Receiving votes: Sioux Falls Christian 9, Milbank 4, Custer 1.
Class 11B
- Winner (16) 80
- Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan 58
- Sioux Valley 52
- St. Thomas More 21
- Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central 20
Receiving votes: Elk Point-Jefferson 5, Mobridge-Pollock 3, McCook Central/Montrose 1.
Class 9AA
- Platte-Geddes (11) 75
- Canistota/Freeman (5) 60
- Hanson 37
- Hamlin 31
- Viborg-Hurley 26
Receiving votes: Timber Lake 3, Lemmon-McIntosh 3, Florence-Henry 2, Chester Area 2, Parkston 1.
Class 9A
- Wolsey-Wessington (12) 66
- De Smet (1) 45
- Howard 43
- Herreid/Selby Area 29
- Warner (2) 23
Receiving votes: Wall 19, Colman-Egan (1) 5, Gregory 5, Britton-Hecla 2, Castlewood 1, Irene-Wakonda 1, Kadoka Area 1.
Class 9B
- Dell Rapids St. Mary (7) 66
- Harding County (6) 60
- Faulkton Area (2) 45
- Alcester-Hudson 27
- Corsica-Stickney 17
Receiving votes: Sully Buttes 7, Langford Area 6, Faith 5, Colome (1) 5, Potter County 2.