This week’s high school football action will all take place on Friday. O’Gorman will try to build on its strong Dakota Bowl win as it takes on Washington, Roosevelt will look to best the top team in Class 11AA, and Dell Rapids will aim to break (or not) a bizarre streak.
Friday
O’Gorman (2-1) vs. Washington (3-0), 5 p.m.
O’Gorman’s Canyon Bauer (12) catches a pass in front of a Roosevelt defender during a Presidents Bowl game at Howard Wood Field Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Sioux Falls.
The first rematch of last season’s Class 11AAA state title game features few familiar names from that showdown, and neither the Knights nor Warriors shy away from the label being young, relatively inexperienced squads. Not that much has changed, though: Both teams are again considered to be among the best in the state. The Knights took a bit longer to rise to that level, as they opened with a somewhat unconvincing win on the road against Rapid City Central and a sound loss to Roosevelt. Last week’s win against Brandon Valley in the Dakota Bowl, however, and the exciting playmaking ability shown by quarterback Hunter Thompson and wide receiver Canyon Bauer have upped the excitement around the Knights.
The Warriors also beat Brandon Valley, in a thrilling 27-22 win to open the season, and they appear to have improved through the year. Tupak Kpeayeh and Logan Uttecht have kept producing at running back and wide receiver, and Seth Benson, Jack Bren and Zac Bolden — to name just a few — have done well on defense. Sophomore quarterback Jayden Johannsen has also played very well in recent contests, going without an interception in the past two games after throwing three in his debut as a starter. I talked with him about Friday’s contest and the season so far in the above video.
IAN’S PICK: Washington
Roosevelt (3-0) vs. Harrisburg (3-0), 6 p.m.
Harrisburg’s Justis Clayton (3) catches a pass over Huron’s Isaac Carr (89) during a game at Harrisburg High School Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Harrisburg, S.D.
Nobody has significantly broken the Rough Riders’ defense in their three games this season, but the Tigers, the easy choice for the top team in Class 11AA, probably have the best chance of anyone so far. Harrisburg running back Jack Anderson had three touchdowns against Pierre T.F. Riggs after scoring three against Huron, and if quarterback Hunter Headlee can find a stronger connection with dangerous receiver Justis Clayton, Roosevelt could be seriously challenged. The Tigers’ defense will have to have the game of its life, though, as the Rough Riders boast an excellent group of receivers and an experienced, versatile running back in Tyson Jahn.
IAN’S PICK: Roosevelt
Lincoln (1-2) at Brookings (1-2), 7 p.m.
Roosevelt vs. Lincoln at Howard Wood Field on Friday. Rough Riders dominated the Patriots 49 to 7.
The Patriots could definitely use a confidence boost this week. A week two loss to Washington that included a squandered third-quarter lead and three straight second-half Warrior touchdowns, as well as a one-sided 49-7 loss to Roosevelt in week three, has sapped any momentum the team has from its season-opening win over Rapid City Stevens. The Bobcats could be just the team to lift Lincoln’s spirits: They’re 0-3 on the year, with losses to Yankton, Pierre T.F. Riggs and Douglas, none of which appear to be serious contenders in Class 11AA.
IAN’S PICK: Lincoln
Brandon Valley (1-2) vs. Rapid City Stevens (2-1), 7 p.m.
Brandon Valley has been on the short end of two of the most entertaining, dramatic games in Class 11AAA this year, but also smoked Watertown 40-0 on the road, so the Lynx are probably still in the upper echelon of the class. They clearly have the offensive weapons to compete with anybody — running back Braiden Petersen was especially impressive in the Dakota Bowl, rushing for 98 yards on eight carries — and while Stevens looks decent, boasting a win over Aberdeen Central, the Raiders shouldn’t be a significant issue for the Lynx.
IAN’S PICK: Brandon Valley
West Central vs. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan, 7 p.m.
Madison’s Mason Leighton (4) carries the ball during a game against West Central Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at West Central High School in Hartford, S.D.
One thing is for near-certain about this matchup between the Trojans, a perennial Class 11A contender on something of a down year and the Seahawks, a relative newcomer to Class 11B: There won’t be much passing. West Central ran the ball 52 times last week in a loss to Madison, and B-E/E has one of the premier workhorses in the state in Cole Gassman, who ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns in week one and 123 yards and two more scores last week.
IAN’S PICK: West Central
Sioux Falls Christian (3-0) at Sioux Valley (2-0), 7 p.m.
The Chargers hit a low point last week in a 40-7 win against Beresford — their defense gave up a touchdown. That hadn’t happened in Sioux Falls Christian’s first two games, against McCook Central/Montrose and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan, giving the Chargers’ offense, led by quarterback Sawyer Prins and tailback Riley Hogan, plenty of breathing room. The Cossacks might push Sioux Falls Christian a bit more this week, as they’re coming off a 53-40 win over Elk Point-Jefferson where they totaled 448 rushing yards.
IAN’S PICK: Sioux Falls Christian
Canton vs. Tri-Valley, 7 p.m.
The Mustangs’ encouraging start to the season met a serious bump when they fell 35-6 to Dell Rapids, totaling 160 yards in the game. Tri-Valley’s 2-0 start came against fellow Class 11B opponents, but the Mustangs have hit the 11A spot in their schedule, with last week’s game against the Quarriers, Friday’s matchup with the C-Hawks and the following week’s game against Lennox. Canton began the season with a 31-7 win over Vermillion, and after a 14-9 defeat to West Central in the second week came back with a 43-0 thrashing of Lennox.
IAN’S PICK: Canton
Lennox (0-3) at Madison (3-0), 7 p.m.
Madison’s Jadon Janke (20) dives into the end zone for a touchdown during a game against West Central Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at West Central High School in Hartford, S.D.
The Orioles have struggled mightily on both sides of the ball this year, giving up 40-plus points in all three games scoring 13 of their own. This matchup with the Bulldogs, who have gone 3-0 against some of the stronger sides in Class 11A while scoring more than 30 points each time, will probably be another slog.
IAN’S PICK: Madison
Tea Area (3-0) vs. Dell Rapids (2-1), 7 p.m.
The Titans continued their strong start to the season last week with a 28-14 road win against Dakota Valley. There will be a couple of major storylines in Tea Area’s matchup with the Quarriers, the first being the Titans’ attempted rise to the top ranks of Class 11A and the second being whether Dell Rapids’ bizarre streak of 35-6 results — the score in all three of their games this year — will continue.
IAN’S PICK: Tea Area