Week 1 Games to Watch
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Now that I’m getting my South Dakota lingo and scheduling down, we can have an actual Week 1 Games to Watch article! A lot of impressive games in the opening week, a couple of upsets and a lot of good…
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Continue ReadingNow that I’m getting my South Dakota lingo and scheduling down, we can have an actual Week 1 Games to Watch article! A lot of impressive games in the opening week, a couple of upsets and a lot of good games across the State! This week Classes 11AAA, 11AA, and 11A open their seasons so Friday night will be twice as busy. A lot of intriguing games across the State to mention so here are my picks for Week 1.
Our Game:
Deuel (1-0) @ Aberdeen Roncalli (1-0)
Both these teams had a physical brawl last season that was decided by one score. Run-first offenses for both and well-disciplined defenses vote for a good game for these two squads again. With both teams graduating a lot of their rosters from a season ago, this game will be very even split again this season.
Players to Watch
Deuel Cardinals:
’25 OL/LB Reed VanWormer
’26 OL/DL Ethan Prins Ethan Prins 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL Deuel | 2026 State SD
’26 WR/DB Oliver Fieber Oliver Fieber 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Deuel | 2026 State SD
’26 RB/LB Owen Haas Owen Haas ATH Deuel | 2026 State SD
’26 RB/LB Carson Marko Carson Marko ATH Deuel | 2026 State SD
Aberdeen Roncalli Cavaliers:
’24 OL/LB Josh Shaunaman
’24 OL/DL Joey Johnson
’24 OL/DL Landon Zikmund
’25 QB/LB Zane Backous Zane Backous 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Aberdeen Roncalli | 2025 State SD
’25 RB/LB Brody Weinmeister
Sioux Falls Christian @ Canton
These two teams always finish near the top in Class 11A every year. Traditional good teams that are always finishing close to trips to the Dome every season. Both have explosive playmakers and good defenses to have a good game. Offensively, two different styles of play, but still produce good results. May be a slugfest in Week 1.
Players to Watch:
Sioux Falls Christian Chargers:
’24 LB Kade VanEgdom
’24 RB/DB Johnny Skyberg Johnny Skyberg DB Sioux Falls Christian | 2024 State SD
’24 LB Kaden VanOtterloo
’25 OL Lincoln Semchenko Lincoln Semchenko 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Sioux Falls Christian | 2025 State SD
Canton C-Hawks:
’24 WR/DB Matthew Anderson Matthew Anderson 6'5" | 190 lbs | ATH Canton | 2024 State SD
’25 WR/DB Cain Wallner
’25 DL Rylan Larson Rylan Larson 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL Canton | 2025 State SD
’24 RB Canaan McCracken
Canistota (1-0) @ Howard (1-0)
Another game featuring Howard after a convincing26-0 win last week against a tough team. Canistota also had a good week hitting a 55-0 victory in Week 0. Similar styles of offense that produce big plays and good scores. Not slouching on the defensive side either, both pitching shutouts a week ago.
Players to Watch:
Canistota Hawks:
’24 QB Tage Ortman Tage Ortman 5'11" | 160 lbs | QB Canistota-Freeman | 2024 State SD
’24 OL/DL Brandon Kjetland Brandon Kjetland 6'5" | 275 lbs | OL Canistota | 2024 State SD
’24 WR/LB Ty Nathan Doblar
’25 WR/DB Brady Scott
Howard Tigers:
’24 QB Taiden Hoyer
’25 WR/DB Luke Koepsell Luke Koepsell 6'3" | 195 lbs | ATH Howard | 2025 SD
’25 WR/DB Will Maier
’25 OL/DL Carson Hinker
Flandreau (1-0) @ Bridgewater-Emery-Ethan (1-0)
This game will answer a lot of questions from Week 0. Flandreau hitting the first big upset of the season against a tough 11B team a week ago. An always tough Bridgewater-Emery-Ethan team opened up the season last week hot. Flandreau made the most of key opportunities on offense for their victory. BEE dominated from start to finish. Both teams’ defenses pitched shutouts as well.
Players to Watch:
Flandreau Fliers:
’24 WR/DB Brendan Peterson
’25 WR/DB Ben Ballard Ben Ballard 5'9" | 175 lbs | LB Flandreau | 2025 State SD
’25 RB/DL Karter Headrick
’26 QB Paul Parsley
Bridgewater-Emery-Ethan Seahawks
’24 QB/DB Taite Klumb
’24 WR/DB Drake Gustafson
’25 WR/DB Macklan Weber
’24 OL/DL Sage Mendoza
Madison @ Dell Rapids
This is going to be an exciting game to watch! Both teams love to spread out and chuck the football around. With the amount of athleticism between the two teams, it could be a shootout, or a tightly wound brawl until the end. Big lines, athletic skill players and good QB’s will stand for a game to keep a close eye on.
Players to Watch
Madison Bulldogs:
’25 OL/DL Israel Ouverson Israel Ouverson 6'2" | 285 lbs | OL Madison | 2025 State SD
’25 QB Ben Brooks
’26 WR/DB Shane Veenhof Shane Veenhof 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Madison | 2026 State SD
’24 OL/DL Parker Johnson Parker Johnson 5'11" | 275 lbs | DL Madison | 2024 State SD
Dell Rapids Quarriers:
’24 QB Jack Henry Jack Henry QB Dell Rapids | 2024 State SD
’24 RB/LB Mason Stubbe Mason Stubbe 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Dell Rapids | 2024 State SD
’24 LB Aiden Geraets Aiden Geraets 6'0" | 180 lbs | LB Dell Rapids | 2024 State SD
’25 OL/DL Brandon Schmidt