Tea Area’s Payton Conrad weaves through West Central defends during the 11A quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 in Tea.
Class 11A should provide some high-quality entertainment Friday night with a Week 4 rematch in one semifinal and a first-ever meeting in the other.
Here’s a quick look at the two games.
No. 1 Tea vs. No. 5 Dell Rapids, 7 p.m.
In the weeks since Tea shutout Dell Rapids 19-0, the two teams have followed along identical trajectories. Both have won out, with the Titans’ run being highlighted by an improbable win over Madison, and Dell Rapids’ continuing last Thursday with a 35-18 dismantling of Sioux Falls Christian.
Both squads are trending in a positive direction, though the Quarriers appear to have some serious momentum as they challenge the top-seeded Titans.
“Dell Rapids is playing well right now,” Tea coach Craig Clayberg said. “They have guys who can run the ball, and offensive line that blocks well, and Hansen can throw it pretty well.”
Though it works to get a variety of players involved in its offensive attack, quarterback Hunter Hansen is the centerpiece of Dell Rapids’ offense.
Against the Chargers, the senior signal caller carried the ball 10 times for 121 yards and a touchdown. He also passed for a touchdown, hitting Jeffrey Schuch on a 1-yard pass to open the scoring in the second quarter.
It should be noted that Tanner Heim (15 carries, 128 yards) and Seth Spielmann (16 carries, 100 yards) also had big games against Sioux Falls Christian, but it’s the quarterback that has Clayberg’s attention.
Hunter Hansen of Dell Rapids returns an interception in the first quarter Friday, Oct. 7, against Milbank Area at Dell Rapids.
A key player in containing the dual-threat QB is senior linebacker Jeremiah Maka, who drew high praise from Dell Rapids coach Steven Hansen.
“They are surrounded by good athletes and one of the best linebackers in the state with Maka,” he said. “They cause a lot of problems with their athleticism.”
Offensively, the Titans’ fortunes will go with quarterback Payton Conrad. He is averaging 91 rush yards and 177 pass yards per game.
“He has done a great job of managing the game and making plays when we need him,” Clayberg said of his QB. “He is our offensive leader.”
“Offensively, Conrad can do a lot of things for them,” Hansen added. “He throws the ball very well and has some really good receivers, then he can pull it and run as well as any running back.”
11AAA: OG, BV look to challenge Warriors, Riders
No. 2 St. Thomas More vs. No. 3 Madison, 7 p.m.
Whereas the Tea-Dell Rapids semifinal features the top dog taking on a team on the rise, the opposing semifinal features a pair of 11A heavyweights battling it out.
Second-seeded St. Thomas More’s 9-0 finish to the regular season proved to be just enough to get it ahead of No. 3 Madison, which finished 0.556 points shy of claiming homefield advantage.
It’s the first ever meeting between the two squads.
“It is hard judge overall speed and the physicality of the line play from film,” Madison coach Max Hodgen said. “Couple that with the fact that we don’t share a common opponent and there are a lot of unknowns.”
Madison’s Mason Leighton struggles to gain control of a pass in the end zone during a game against Sioux Falls Christian Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls.
Friday’s showdown will feature a pair of high-scoring offenses.
The Bulldogs arrive averaging 40.6 points and 354.1 total yards per game. Not unlike their opponent, theirs is a balanced offense, led by tailback Riley Janke and quarterback Josh Giles.
As for St. Thomas More, it uses four-receiver sets to spread the defense before gashing it with its rapid-strike offense.
“They have the ability to score quick,” Hodgen said. “We need to pressure their quarterback and make him feel uncomfortable, which is easier said than done.”
“They just get to places fast,” Hot Springs coach Ben Kramer told the Rapid City Journal following his team’s 33-7 quarterfinal loss to STM. “They’re a great football team. They’re well coached, they’re disciplined.”
11AA: Cross-state foes set to battle
Though Madison brings some experience having won the 2015 state title, it will have to contend with the cross-state drive to Rapid City.
“Preparation and the practice week has remained exactly same as any other week,” Hodgen said. “However, game day will change significantly with 5.5 hours of travel, eating, and the walk through, which is new for us.”
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen .
Tea Area’s Payton Conrad escapes from West Central’s Wyatt Powers during the 11A quarterfinal game on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 in Tea.