Travis Kriens, KORN News Radio Sports Director
The South Dakota Class 11B high school football playoffs continue Thursday, Oct. 30, with several rematches and storylines connecting some of the state’s most successful programs. Eight teams remain in the hunt for a trip to the DakotaDome, including defending champion Winner and unbeaten top seed Elk Point-Jefferson.
No. 1 Elk Point-Jefferson (8-0) vs. No. 8 Sioux Valley (5-4)
The defending Class 11B runner-up Elk Point-Jefferson looked every bit the part of a No. 1 seed, rolling past Flandreau 42-14 in the opening round. Beau Schmitz and Luke Schmitz combined for 182 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the win, while quarterback Levi Hanson threw a pair of touchdown passes.
Now EPJ faces a familiar opponent in Sioux Valley, a program it has battled often in recent years. Sioux Valley edged Parker 24-16 last week behind a late touchdown run from Wyatt Hardt, who finished with 105 yards on the ground and another 170 through the air.
This will be the second meeting between the two teams in less than two weeks — Elk Point-Jefferson beat Sioux Valley 41-26 on Oct. 17 — and a rematch of last year’s semifinal, when Sioux Valley knocked EPJ out 28-14. Before this fall, the Cossacks had won 12 of the previous 13 matchups between the two teams.
No. 4 Deuel (8-1) vs. No. 5 Wagner (7-2)
Few teams were more impressive in the first round than Wagner, which blanked Chamberlain 33-0 behind a five-touchdown performance from standout quarterback Gannon Knebel. Knebel accounted for over 300 total yards — 190 passing and 120 rushing — while the Red Raiders’ defense held Chamberlain scoreless.
Deuel advanced with a 36-20 win over McCook Central/Montrose and will now host Wagner in one of the most evenly matched quarterfinals of the bracket. Both teams are seeking their first semifinal appearance in more than a decade.
No. 2 St. Thomas More (9-0) vs. No. 7 Mt. Vernon/Plankinton (5-4)
The unbeaten Cavaliers continued their undefeated season with a 38-7 win over Hot Springs and now turn their attention to another rematch. STM picked up a 29-8 victory over Mt. Vernon/Plankinton back on Aug. 29 and also ended the Titans’ playoff run last fall with a 38-34 quarterfinal win.
Mt. Vernon/Plankinton, coming off a 40-12 victory over Mobridge-Pollock, has the chance to flip that script. The Titans have won four games in a row, but STM’s balanced offense and stingy defense — allowing just over seven points per game — will make this one of their toughest challenges yet.
No. 3 Clark/Willow Lake (8-1) vs. No. 11 Winner (6-4)
Winner’s championship pedigree was on full display again last week as the 11th-seeded Warriors defeated No. 6 Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central 20-12. Despite a four-loss regular season — the program’s most since 2005 — the defending state champions showed why they remain dangerous in October.
Quarterback Quincy Phillips led the way with a touchdown pass and a rushing score, while Zac Olson and Seth Heath powered the ground game. Winner avenged a regular-season loss to the Blackhawks and now draws another challenging road matchup against Clark/Willow Lake.
The Cyclones cruised past Groton Area 35-0 in their opener, with a balanced rushing attack and a defensive touchdown from Lincoln Reidburn. CWL and Winner last met in the 2021 playoffs, when the Warriors rolled 60-0 in the quarterfinals en route to a title.
If both Winner and St. Thomas More advance, it would set up a rematch of last year’s semifinal, when Winner shut out STM 36-0 on its way to a 20-14 championship win over Sioux Valley.
Class 11B Quarterfinal Schedule – Thursday, Oct. 30
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No. 1 Elk Point-Jefferson (8-0) vs. No. 8 Sioux Valley (5-4)
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No. 4 Deuel (8-1) vs. No. 5 Wagner (7-2)
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No. 2 St. Thomas More (9-0) vs. No. 7 Mt. Vernon/Plankinton (5-4)
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No. 3 Clark/Willow Lake (8-1) vs. No. 11 Winner (6-4)