High school football: Guide to the top Northeastern South Dakota games on Oct. 21

Playoffs are here, and it's going to be a busy night with all nine-man and 11B teams set for a Thursday kick off.

Eight area teams were able to finish in the top margin of their respective classes and will hold home field advantage, including Groton, Aberdeen Roncalli, Ipswich, Herreid/Selby Area, Warner, Faulkton Area, Potter County, and Hitchcock-Tulare. Herreid/Selby Area (9-0) is the only top-seeded team in the group and will host No. 16 Northwestern.

While playoffs are getting underway for most, Aberdeen Central is the only area team in the regular season as they host Class 11AAA Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Thursday at 5 p.m. Roosevelt, 4-4, had a rough start to the season with three-straight losses, but is currently on a three-game win streak. Central hung tight last week against No. 2 Pierre, but fell 52-35. 

Here are the pairings for the upcoming first round playoff games for Oct. 21.

CLASS 11B

No. 13 Wagner at No. 4 Groton Area, 7 p.m.

Wagner: 5-3

Groton: 7-1

After a week off following a seven-game win streak, Groton Area clinched their home field advantage and will face Wagner for the first time this season. Two of Wagner's three losses in the regular came against ranked opponents, including No. 1 Winner and No. 5 Mount Vernon/Plankinton. 

Groton's offense, led by senior quarterback Kaden Kurtz, has put up big numbers on the season, but has also gotten out of tight spots in games, especially in their wins against Deuel and Mobridge-Pollock. The offense currently averages 27.4 points per game

Winner of this game faces the winner of No. 5 Elk Point-Jefferson and No. 12 St. Thomas More.

No. 11 Redfield at No. 6 Aberdeen Roncalli, Swisher Field, 8 p.m.

Redfield: 5-3

Roncalli: 6-2

Aberdeen Roncalli closed out the final part of their season 2-2 after two scattered losses to Groton and Clark/Willow Lake. The Cavaliers played one of the better games in the regular season finale win against Mobridge-Pollock as their special teams played a pivotal role. Wide receiver Ben Rohl also scored three touchdowns.

Both Redfield and Roncalli faced each other previously in the season in Week 4 when Roncalli won 30-6. Redfield has been upping their ante, going 3-1 since. Even in last week's loss against Milbank, quarterback Eason Millar was solid for the Pheasants as he went 19-for-33 passes for 226 yards and two scores.

Winner faces the winner of No. 3 Mount Vernon/Plankinton and No. 14 Beresford.

CLASS 9AA

No. 14 Lemmon-McIntosh at No. 3 Ipswich, 7 p.m.

Lemmon-McIntosh: 4-4

Ipswich: 7-1

Ipswich had a smooth transition into their first regular season in 9AA and will now head into the postseason against new faces. However, they've built up a resume with big wins and a senior heavy class. Quarterback Ian Beyers hasn't had any trouble finding his targets, posting nine passing touchdowns on the season, including six to Ty Kadlec. Carson Gohl is also dangerous in the back field with 15 rushing touchdowns on the season.

Winner faces winner of No. 6 Florence/Henry and No. 11 Canistota/Freeman.

No. 12 Leola/Frederick Area at No. 5 Timber Lake, 6 p.m.

Leola/Frederick: 4-4

Timber Lake: 7-1

Timber Lake's only loss came in a 38-28 game to Herreid/Selby Area during Week 3.

Leola/Frederick came off hot in the first game with a 20-8 win against Warner. They slipped in a three-game losing streak soon after and finished off with a .500 record.

Winner faces winner of No. 4 Lyman and No. 13 Stanley County.

CLASS 9A

No. 16 Northwestern at No. 1 Herreid/Selby Area, 7 p.m.

Northwestern: 2-6

Herreid-Selby Area: 9-0

Herreid/Selby Area begins their quest to erase last year's loss in the semifinals and they've proved all season what their high-powered offense is capable of. They've put more than 50 points on the scoreboard six out of nine games this season. 

Junior running back Brenden Begeman has eclipsed 1,200 yards with 1,243 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Tray Hettick has thrown for 1,360 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.

Northwestern is led by dual threat quarterback Fatahehi Faonelua, who has 466 passing yards and five touchdowns. He’s adding 417 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Winner faces winner of No. 8 Kadoka Area and No. 9 Castlewood.

No. 13 Britton-Hecla at No. 4 De Smet, 7 p.m.

Britton-Hecla: 3-5

De Smet: 8-0

De Smet has shut out opponents five times in their eight wins. In that stretch, quarterback Colt Wilkinson has recorded 1,033 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.

Britton-Hecla quarterback Aiden Fredrickson has 16 touchdowns on 868 rushing yards, while passing for 667 yards and five touchdowns.

No. 12 Philip at No. 5 Warner, 7 p.m.

Philip: 3-5

Warner: 5-3

Warner made a turnaround at the right time in the season, closing out with three straight wins. Last week against Hamlin, starting quarterback Hunter Cramer rushed for 122 yards and four touchdowns. 

Winner faces winner of No. 4 De Smet and No. 13 Britton-Hecla.

CLASS 9B

No. 9 Sully Buttes at No. 8 Alcester-Hudson, 6 p.m.

Sully Buttes: 4-4

Alcester-Hudson: 4-3

Sully Buttes has had an up-and-down season that had them ranked at the top in 9B for a week, until they slowly fell out of the rankings. However, Sully Buttes owns wins over three other Class 9B playoff teams. 

Winner faces winner of No. 1 Avon and No. 16 Estelline/Hendricks.

No. 13 Langford Area at No. 4 Gayville-Volin, 6 p.m.

Langford Area: 1-7

Gayville-Volin: 5-2

Langford Area hasn't won since their 61-31 victory over Waverly-South Shore on Sept. 17.

Winner faces winner of No. 5 Dell Rapids St. Mary and No. 12 Corsica-Stickney.

No. 15 Colome (1-7) at No. 2 Faulkton Area, 7 p.m.

Colome: 1-7

Faulkton Area: 6-2

Faulkton Area only had two losses on the season, but lost to respected opponents, Ipswich and Warner. What separates them from other 9B opponents is their key wins over No. 3 Potter County and No. 6 Hitchcock-Tulare on the season. Quarterback Parker Geditz is having a big season, after throwing for 1,005 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Winner will face winner of No. 7 Harding County and No. 10 New Underwood.

No. 14 Jones County at No. 3 Potter County, 7 p.m.

Jones County: 1-7

Potter County: 7-2

Potter County has emerged as one of the top teams in 9B after recovering quickly from a Week 1 loss to Faulkton Area. The Battlers are led by quarterback Grant Luikens, who has proven himself as the leader on the offense. Luikens had a monster game when recorded 229 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns against No. 6 Hitchcock-Tulare.

Winner will face winner of No. 11 Faith and No. 6 Hitchcock-Tulare.

No. 11 Faith at No. 6 Hitchcock-Tulare, 7 p.m.

Faith: 3-5

Hitchcock-Tulare: 6-4

Hitchcock-Tulare has gone toe-to-toe with several of the top playoff teams, including a recent 30-28 loss at No. 1 Avon. Big things are coming together for the squad led by Jack Boosma, Erik Salmen, and Landon Puffer. Salmen has 1,004 all purpose yards and 13 rushing touchdowns to lead the offense. Boomsma has 18 touchdowns on the season. On defense, Puffer leads with six interceptions.