Lead Scout’s Take: SD 11AA Power Scores, Week 4

We launched our own algorithm called Power Scores a couple days ago which you can read more about <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/what-are-power-scores/">here </a>on the breakdown on what goes into it. I'll say as our lead scout: I have zero input that goes into our power scores. However, I do have the ability to challenge the algorithm based on what I know about South Dakota 11AA football with all the teams and players involved by being around the Dakotas since we launched in 2020. I'll get into where each team in 11AA lies and my take on if they are too low or too high based on the algorithm. Also, note that there is crossover as the power score ranks every class without divisions.     By the Numbers   #1/#4 Yankton 97.42   #2/#12 Sturgis Brown 95.87   #3/#14 Pierre T.F. Riggs 94.16   #4/#19 Tea Area 88.66   #5/#24 Brookings 87.32   #6/#25 Spearfish 87.03   #7/#27 Huron 84.58   #8/#35 Mitchell 80.63   #9/#44 Aberdeen Central 73.36   #10/#49 Watertown 71.07   #11/#55 Douglas 68.57   Higher or Lower?   If you are like me and on occasion enjoy watching the Price is Right you know what game we are playing with those Power Score rankings. We will tell you which teams we feel are too high, too low or right where they should be. Higher meaning better, lower meaning lower.   #11 Douglas   Neutral. Right where they should be   #10 Watertown   Higher. Not much higher, but I would put them at #9   #9 Aberdeen Central   Lower. I would flip them with Watertown at #10   #8 Mitchell   Neutral. Right where they should be.   #7 Huron   Higher! The polls have the Tigers in the #2 spot in 11AA across two huge wins. Not sure how they are sitting at #7 with back to back wins that were high on the strength of schedule scale against Pierre T.F. Riggs. If it was me, I would put Huron at 2 or 3. This week will tell the tail if they are #2 or #3 as they get 3rd ranked Sturgis Brown on the road.   #6 Speafish   Netural. I like where the Spearfish Spartans stand in the Power Scores in 11AA.   #5 Brookings   This one is the hardest on the board by far. If we are talking today, I have Brookings as neutral heading into Week 4. the Bobcats get a road victory on Friday night against Pierre T.F. Riggs you can bet that stance will change to higher heading into Week 5 but they have one of the toughest strength of schedules after next week to close out the season in my eyes.   #4 Tea Area   Neutral. The Tea Titans are right where I would have them in the poll.   #3 Pierre T.F. Riggs   Neutral. This week's game against #5 Brookings will be a huge game to watch for in 11AA.   #2 Sturgis Brown   Neutral. The Scoopers are one of only two teams left in 11AA that are undefeated, but get a tough one this week in Huron who sits as my 2/3 in my poll and 2 in the SD Power 5 Poll.   #1 Yankton   Neutral. The Bucks are in the top-tier just about every year in 11AA. They might have the toughest road game of the week in 11AA, as they head to play 11AAA Harrisburg for a Saturday night tilt at Tiger Stadium.   Superlatives   Biggest Lock   #4 ranked Tea Area wins against Douglas on the road in Box Elder   Most Interesting Games   There is a lot of them I would be watching if I could what them all on one screen.   Yankton at Harrisburg   Huron at Sturgis Brown   Brookings at Pierre T.F. Riggs   Winless No More in Week 4   I think Watertown pulls off the upset against Mitchell to get in the win column as my selection out of the winless teams at the moment in 11AA.   Biggest Sleeper   Last week, my selection would have no doubt been the Huron Tigers without a doubt. But this week I have a new one. Sturgis Brown is my sleeper selection this week and as a matter of fact they get to play Huron at home. Besides Brookings, the Scoopers haven't had the meat and potatoes of their schedule yet, but their offensive firepower intrigues me averaging nearly 35 ppg versus the Tigers who are averaging half that thru three games.   Biggest Shift   If Sturgis Brown wins over #2 Huron, and Yankton loses a close one in Harrisburg, I think you have a dillema on your hands as who is the #1 ranked team. Plus, we hinted who is going to be in those 2-4 spots? With #2 Huron at #3 Sturgis Brown, RV Brookings at #4 Pierre T.F. Riggs and the Yankton/Harrisburg game I have mentioned, you have yourself some of the most interesting conversations that will get answered by the polls after Saturday night in Harrisburg and the games are all wrapped up.

We launched our own algorithm called Power Scores a couple days ago which you can read more about here on the breakdown on what goes into it. I'll say as our lead scout: I have zero input that goes into our power scores. However, I do have the ability to challenge the algorithm based on what I know about South Dakota 11AA football with all the teams and players involved by being around the Dakotas since we launched in 2020. I'll get into where each team in 11AA lies and my take on if they are too low or too high based on the algorithm. Also, note that there is crossover as the power score ranks every class without divisions.