While the state high school football championships don’t start for another two weeks, there are some quarterfinals games this evening that will feature state-final type matchups.
Sully Buttes (8-1) travels to Faulkton (6-3) in a rematch of last year’s Class 9B state championship game, while in Class 9A Howard (7-2) heads to Warner (9-0) in a rematch of last year’s semifinal contest.
Both of those contests could have potentially taken place a couple of weeks from now in the finals and the teams involved have had some memorable recent encounters.
“It’s going to be a good football game between two good teams,” said Faulkton coach Shayne Geditz of tonight’s quarterfinal. “That’s the way it goes. If we win a couple more football games throughout the year, win one more, they win one more, it doesn’t take place in the quarterfinals.”
This evening will mark the fourth meeting in the last two years between Sully Buttes and Faulkton, however conditions will be much different than that 90-degree afternoon of the prior contest.
“It was 3 in the afternoon. It was so hot and miserable that day. I my opinion, that’s not football,” Geditz said. “It’s always fun to play them. It’s nice to play different teams, but it’s also fun to play the teams that are close to you, that you know are going to have a great fan base.”
Sully Buttes won that earlier meeting on a touchdown in the final minute of play.
Geditz expects another nail-biter that will likely come down to the wire.
“You get two good teams together and that’s what the fans want,” Geditz said. “They’re hoping for a good close game.”
Faulkton gets to host tonight’s contest despite losing to the Chargers this season because it has more power points.
“I’m a wrestling guy. In wrestling, head-to-head is everything. If I beat you in wrestling, I get the advantage in a tournament, whatever, that’s head-to-head,” Geditz said. “In other sports, it does not matter. It all comes down to your power points.”
Geditz said the key to tonight’s game will come down to the basics: blocking and tackling.
And like past matchups against the Chargers the contest will likely provide a memorable outcome one way or the other.
“I think it brings out the best in both of us,” Geditz said of facing each other. “I think we’re both excited for the opportunity.”
Meanwhile, that noise you’ll hear coming from Warner tonight will be the sound of smash-mouth football at its finest.
Each time Howard takes the field, the Tigers are prepared to hit somebody and Warner is always up for a challenge.
“A couple of historical programs here in recent memory,” said Warner coach Derek Hoellein of the matchup. “It’s probably going to go down just like some of the other ones as an instant classic.”
The two have hooked up in some memorable contests through the years and know each other very well.
“Two programs that really have built themselves something,” Hoellein said. “I would say that they’re a little more historical than us. Lately, we’ve had some epic battles on the gridiron.”
Hoellein knows that the Tigers will get off the bus ready to make their presence felt.
“These guys are as physical as anybody in the state,” Hoellein said. “That’s kind of something that they hang their hat on.”
The Monarchs will try to use their variety of playmakers to keep the Howard defense off-balance.
“Offensively, we have to try to keep them guessing,” Hoellein said. “They’re physical. When they know where they’re going and they get good reads, they get downhill in a hurry.”
Between Howard and Warner, the two have been a part of every Class 9A state championship game except one since 2018. While both possess standout pedigrees, there are still two more rounds of football remaining after tonight, and the next major task lies in front of each this evening.
“We’re just trying to take care of what’s in front of us,” Hoellein said. “I think we’re prepared as we’re going to be. It’s just about making plays now.”
Here is a capsule look at each of the other quarterfinal games involving area teams:
Class 11AA
7 Milbank (6-3) at 2 Dell Rapids (6-3)
This is a rematch of a contest on the same field as during the regular season, a contest that Dell Rapids won 36-7.
Milbank went on to win four straight games following that setback, before falling in its regular-season finale last week.
Dell Rapids is heading into the playoffs coming off back-to-back losses and will try to turn things around this evening.
Class 11B
5 Wagner (7-2) at 4 Deuel (8-1)
Deuel started out the season with five straight wins before suffering its only setback to Clark-Willow Lake, which is also in the 11B quarterfinals. The Cardinals have now won three in a row heading into tonight.
Wagner also won five games in a row to start the campaign before losing back-to-back contests, one to top-seeded Elk Point-Jefferson. The Raiders have defeated their last two foes by a combined margin of 85-0.
Keep your eye on this one.
11 Winner (6-4) at 3 Clark-Willow Lake (8-1)
This appears to be an interesting matchup on paper.
Clark-Willow Lake is the higher seed, has the better record, and has won six games in a row. The Cyclones have defeated their last two foes by a combined margin of 85-0.
Few teams, regardless of class, can boast the history and tradition of football than Winner. The defending state champion Warriors, who overcame a 2-3 start to their season, have won six state titles and own another two runner-up finishes since 2009.
Both teams defeated Groton during the regular season.
Class 9AA
5 Hamlin (8-1) at 4 Hill City (8-1)
This could very well be an offensive shootout in the Hills tonight.
Hamlin has scored at least 44 points in seven of its nine games this season, while Hill City has put up at least 43 points in eight of its nine contests this campaign.
It should be noted that both squads possess quality defenses as well. The defending state champion Chargers have six shutouts to their credit, while Hill City has blanked a pair of foes.
Both teams have a commanding win over Great Plains Lutheran this season.
Class 9A
8 Castlewood (8-1) at 1 Wall (9-0)
A pair of streaks will be on the line in this one.
Castlewood has won eight consecutive games following a season-opening loss to unbeaten Warner. The Warrriors’ closest game in that stretch was a 24-point win in the opening round of the playoffs last week.
Wall, which has been rated number one all season, has crushed every foe on its schedule. The Eagles have scored at least 50 points in every game and have defeated every opponent by at least 48 points this season.
5 Ipswich (8-1) at 4 Philip (7-1)
While these teams do not share a common opponent, they do share some similarities. Both lost a game to an undefeated foe early in the year and are coming into the contest on winning streaks.
Ipswich, which lost to unbeaten Warner, has won six straight games. Philip, which lost to undefeated Wall, has also won six consecutive games.
Ipswich has scored at least 52 points on five different occasions, and the Scotties have produced at least 44 points in four games.
Class 9B
6 Herreid-Selby Area (7-2) at 3 Colman-Egan (6-3)
While these teams are not close to being in the same geographic region, they did face a common opponent. Herreid-Selby Area defeated Canistota in the opening round of last week’s playoffs, a team that Colman-Egan lost to early in the season.
Colman-Egan lost its first three games to start the year and has been putting up lofty numbers lately. The Hawks have outscored their last four opponents by a combined margin of 212-14.
Of the Wolverines’ nine games this season, only one was decided by 18 points or less, a two-point win over Sully Buttes.
