SD 11AAA Playoff Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tonight is when it all gets started in the South Dakota 11AAA playoffs! Four games, nearly 30 players to watch, game predictions and our analysis as to why we think x team is going to win. Some of these four games will be lopsided, but the other half should be sound battles of teams peaking at the right time here at the end of the end of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>#2 Sioux Falls Lincoln vs. #7 Rapid City Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Patriots Players to Watch:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1263883' first='Brody' last='Schafer'], QB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1370672' first='Louison' last='Akossi'], WR, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='673146' first='Mikey' last='Roche'], WR, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1617629' first='Brendan' last='Whiting'], OL, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Preston Marty, DB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Cobblers Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Onzei Weaver, WR, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='848938' first='Weiland' last='Benbo'], LB/RB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='848947' first='Easton' last='Graff'], LB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1422287' first='Henry' last='Hill'] DB/ATH, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='848939' first='Brayden' last='Jackson'], WR, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Game Prediction:</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It has been the best year I have seen in Cobblers history since we started Prep Redzone Dakotas in 2020 and the amount of prospects they have that are destined to play at the next-level I have made clear. However, the firepower offense with [player_tooltip player_id='1263883' first='Brody' last='Schafer'] and company at <strong>Sioux Falls Lincoln</strong> will be too much to overcome tonight plus with the home field advantage at Howard Wood, the Patriots will advance to the 11AAA semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#1 Brandon Valley vs. #8 Sioux Falls Roosevelt </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Lynx Players to Watch</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='848854' first='Briggs' last='Knutson'], QB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1532671' first='Levi' last='Veskrna'], RB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='394729' first='Hudson' last='Parliament'], OL, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dylan Williams, LB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1544709' first='Chase' last='Leary'], DB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Roughriders Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1367471' first='Jayden' last='Hanson'], WR, 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weslee Werkmeister, QB, 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tayvin Jungen, DT, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Game Prediction</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There won't be much argument that #1 seed Brandon Valley has the full advantage in this game. I could have included probably 10+ players to watch for the Lynx because they are stacked just about everywhere on both sides of the ball. Should be a pretty lob-sided game to say the least in favor of <strong>Brandon Valley</strong>. You can expect Sioux Falls commit [player_tooltip player_id='1532671' first='Levi' last='Veskrna'] to be my selection as a stat-stuffer in this one and on their offensive line, Iowa commit and consesus #1 overall prospect [player_tooltip player_id='394729' first='Hudson' last='Parliament'] will feast on pancakes in this game tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#4 Sioux Falls O'Gorman vs. #5 Harrisburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Knights Players ot Watch:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1263884' first='Chace' last='Hermanson'], QB, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1602491' first='Braylon' last='Treasure'], WR, 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1422306' first='Jase' last='Muller'], TE, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1422289' first='Rip' last='Siemonsma'], OL/DL, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1236461' first='Gavin' last='Hammrich'], ATH 2026</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='1422293' first='Beckett' last='Paulson'], QB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='848853' first='Bradley' last='Esser'], WR/LB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1112592' first='Josiah' last='Heinz'], RB/LB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kamden Schmmel, WR/DB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will Young WR/DB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Game Prediction</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game I feel is the hardest to pick out of the four out here in 11AAA. The Knights won the first meeting 25-24 but that dates all the way back to Week 1. On the other hand, Harrisburg is on a three game losing streak however, all three of those games were against the first three seeds in the playoffs and two were losses by a touchdown or less. To be honest, this game feels like a toss up yet I give my slight edge to <strong>Harrisburg</strong> winning this one due to the depth the Tigers have in their senior class with [player_tooltip player_id='848853' first='Bradley' last='Esser'], [player_tooltip player_id='1112592' first='Josiah' last='Heinz'], [player_tooltip player_id='563997' first='Kamden' last='Schimmel'] and company.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#3 Sioux Falls Jefferson vs. #6 Sioux Falls Washington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Cavaliers Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='848928' first='Daevion' last='Simonsen'], RB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1293067' first='Jase' last='Unzen'], WR, 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eddie Whiting, TE/DL, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gabe Ralston, OL, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1597618' first='Shep' last='Wachal'], DE/LB, 2028</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Warriors Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunter Sayasavanh, QB, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1300016' first='Brayden' last='Jackson'], RB 2027</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='563996' first='Jhace' last='Woods'], WR, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='402517' first='Dveyoun' last='Bonwell-Witte'] WR, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1422284' first='Sam' last='Uhing'], WR, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyler Pankonin, DB 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Game Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team I feel is peaking at the right time here at the end of the season has been Sioux Falls Jefferson going 4-0 in thier last 4 games including a key win on the road at #1 seed Brandon Valley a couple weeks ago. What intrigues me about the Cavaliers, is they have been victorious without a true QB1 as they have had 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1646309' first='Boston' last='Bryant'] and most recently 2027 Cason Mediger. On the opposite side, they will face a Sioux Falls Washington team who has the best receiving core in the state in 11AAA in [player_tooltip player_id='402517' first='Dveyoun' last='Bonwell-Witte'], [player_tooltip player_id='563996' first='Jhace' last='Woods'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1422284' first='Sam' last='Uhing'] and 2026 uncommitted quarterback Hunter Sayasvanh has surely found his mark in his senior season. Washington is another one that is 4-0 in their last four games and I've called a "sleeper" at the time when they started firing in the second half of the season when they won at O'Gorman a few weeks back. If I can recall, Washington gave Jefferson there money's early in their last meeting, but my edge in this game tonight lies with <strong>Sioux Falls Jefferson</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->