SD 11AA Playoff Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I do not think anybody would disagree, that 11AA is the most intriguing class looking at the start of their playoffs tonight. Everybody has had a chance to beat almost everybody during the regular season and then you have teams like #2 ranked Huron who have rose their stock big time from last season. We take a look at the players to watch from each team, our game predictions for tonight, and our team by team analysis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>#1 Yankton vs. #8 Spearfish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Bucks Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1575885' first='Cale' last='Haselhorst'], WR/DB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1983237' first='Drace' last='Gaskins'], OL/DL 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1235835' first='Edly' last='Amaro'], DL/TE, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1264230' first='Austin' last='Conway'], OL 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madden McQuade, LB 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Spartans Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='929801' first='Asher' last='Peil'], OL/DL 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1289261' first='Kade' last='Vavruska'], WR/DB 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1236465' first='Laythan' last='Lucas'] LB/RB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1300026' first='Karsen' last='Seyer'], DB/WR 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1300031' first='Thomas' last='Hughes'], QB 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>Game Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one of the more interesting #1 versus #8 playoff games in the state. Spearfish lost to #2 seed Huron by two points earlier in the year and beat #5 seed Watertown by a convincing margin that next week. They have plenty of weapons in their 2027 class that have some firepower. As for Yankton, they bring a well-versed offensive line and one of the best defensive backs in 11AA in [player_tooltip player_id='1575885' first='Cale' last='Haselhorst'] and have beat everybody in 11AA besides #4 seed Sturgis Brown, but only by 6 points. I think Spearfish is a year away from being top-tier in 11AA, so give me <strong>Yankton</strong> in this quarterfinal game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>#4 Sturgis Brown vs. #5 Watertown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Scoopers Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1940711' first='Gage' last='West'], TE/LB 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1617834' first='Tayden' last='Larson'], OT/DE 2027 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='848982' first='Sully' last='Jost'], RB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaxon Cano, QB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Arrows Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1610311' first='Cole' last='Hansen'], DB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1575917' first='Hunter' last='Peterson'], TE/DL 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1568243' first='Kaden' last='Decker'], LB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1293075' first='Lincoln' last='Schutt'], RB 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Game Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sturgis is a #4 seed that seen their highs and lows during the season against the top-tier teams. They were the only ones in 11AA to beat #1 seed Yankton at home and then the next week, got shutout on the road at Pierre T.F. Riggs when they were the 2 seed and it was by a huge margin, 44-0 Govs. I like their rushing attack and I have seen good growth in their passing attack especially from 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1940711' first='Gage' last='West'] who is surely one I need to get on my 2027 board. As for the defending 2024 champs from Watertown, they have been a rally team peaking at the right time at the end of the season with three straight wins and two teams that are in these playoffs. They return more than some might think from that state championship squad in some of the players I mentioned above and more. With the late season peaking, give me the <strong>Watertown Arrows</strong> in this quarterfinal battle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>#2 Huron vs. #7 Brookings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Tigers Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1568287' first='Anderson' last='Porisch'], QB 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1575934' first='Landon' last='Hulst'], RB/LB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='848977' first='Oakley' last='Anderson'], LB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mason Jurgens, WR 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Bobcats Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1236489' first='Jones' last='Huntimer'], QB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Otto Eidsness LB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1236460' first='Bergan' last='Tetzlaff'] LB/TE 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1241392' first='Gavin' last='Anderson'], QB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Game Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huron is certainly the talk of 11AA during the regular season coming out of nowhere as the Tigers had not had a winnning season for a handful of years. They took their only losses to Yankton in Week 1 (by 17) and now get back to back games against Brookings, this time at Tiger Stadium in Huron unlike last week at SDSU. [player_tooltip player_id='1575934' first='Landon' last='Hulst'] has nearly 1000 rushing yards on the season and [player_tooltip player_id='1568287' first='Anderson' last='Porisch'] sits second on the team in rushing, as the 6'6 215 quarterback has to be a pain to tackle yet has over 1600 total yards on the season. As for Brookings, they run a two quarterback system that both scheme in different directions and both I have felt can play on Saturdays. South Dakota State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1236460' first='Bergan' last='Tetzlaff'] is a two-way weapon that the Tigers will have to keep in check to win this one. I think last weeks loss on the road, whipped <strong>Huron</strong> into playoff shape as they get my lean in this quarterfinal matchup, but I think it's close like last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>#3 Pierre T.F. Riggs vs. #6 Tea Area </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Governors Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1027999' first='Cooper' last='Terwilliger'], TE 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Porter Hunsley, DB/RB 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1320802' first='Carter' last='Schiefelbein'], WR 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1591444' first='Carter' last='Merrill'], RB 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Titans Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1601731' first='Mitch' last='Grant'], QB 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='848974' first='Brenner' last='Konrad'], LB/ATH 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cameron Hillestad, WR 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='848976' first='Cody' last='Petersen'], OL 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"20px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:20px"><strong>Game Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This #3 versus #6 quarterfinals matchup is another good one in 11AA. The Governors are a team that is always battle-tested and to say the least, playoff games are their bread and butter. They lost their three games this season by 17 points total and that came against the two teams ahead of them in the 11AA seeding,Yankton and Huron and 11AAA #4 seed O'Gorman. That also came at midseason as the Govs are hitting on all cylinders heading into playoffs with a three game winning streak with two wins against the 11AA playoff field. As for Tea Area their end of the season has been the opposite with a three game losing streak. They only beaten two teams out of this playoff field and that was when they won 5 of their first 6 games. They have 2028 QB1 [player_tooltip player_id='1601731' first='Mitch' last='Grant'], 2026 athlete [player_tooltip player_id='848974' first='Brenner' last='Konrad'] and plenty of others, but my prediction to win this one when a wise former PRZ scout once told me "you never pick against the <strong>Pierre T.F. Riggs Govs</strong> in the playoffs," which still stands true.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->