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Simplified: It's the usual suspects advancing to the state semifinals this week, as Harrisburg, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Brandon Valley all saw impressive wins in last week’s quarterfinal round. It's also continuing a trend of those four teams taking the title every year since 2019 when O'Gorman pulled an upset over the Lynx.

Here's how it shook out

Cobblers sufficiently clobbered: SF Jefferson 52, RC Central 10

The top-ranked and unbeaten (10-0) Cavaliers made quick work of Central, 1-9. 

Jefferson built a 45-3 lead at halftime and cruised to the win. 

Quarterback Cason Mediger was efficient again for the Cavs, going 12-for-17 in the air for 304 yards and five touchdown passes, two to Jase Unzen and one each to Tyson Tycz, Matnel Jensen, and Isiah Blackburn.

Seven different Jefferson rushers carried the ball, led by Devonte Wilson with 68 yards on three carries. He also scored a 49-yard run at the end of the first quarter to make it 17-0.

Dax Wachal led the Jefferson defensive effort with seven tackles and one forced fumble.

The futility streak continues for Central. The Cobblers remain the only team in the state’s largest division to have never advanced to the DakotaDome to play for a state title since the current playoff format was introduced in 1981.

Farewell, Warriors: SF Lincoln 42, SF Washington 7

Lincoln’s quest for a fourth straight trip to the DakotaDome took another step with a resounding win over Washington. The Patriots, 8-2, opened a 27-0 lead at halftime and built it to 35-0 in the third before the Warriors got on the board. 

Lincoln quarterback Brody Schafer has been on fire lately, and he continued it Thursday against the Warriors. The senior was 19-for-25 for 309 yards passing and five touchdowns, three to Everett Starks and two to Jace Weber. Starks finished with 121 receiving yards on five catches. 

Kellen Blaaied rushed for 116 yards on 20 carries to lead Lincoln’s ground attack. Jakobe Byrd finished with six tackles to pace the Patriots defense.

The Warriors finish the season at 2-8, its eighth straight season without a winning record. Washington was 9-3 in 2018 where they advanced to the title game before losing to Brandon Valley, 28-22.

On Thursday against Lincoln, the Warriors managed just 136 yards of total offense led by quarterback Luis Vazquez’s 53 yards passing on an 8-for-13 effort. He threw one touchdown, a six-yard strike to Kalen Kvistero in the third quarter. Godwin Zephonia finished with 48 yards rushing on 12 carries.

Rough end to a less-rough-than expected season for the Rough Riders: Brandon Valley 42, SF Roosevelt 0

For the second straight week, Brandon Valley dispatched of Roosevelt as the two teams met in the regular season finale two weeks ago. 

The defending champion Lynx put a stranglehold on Roosevelt’s offense, limiting the Rough Riders to just 167 yards of total offense, 19 of those in the air.

Brandon Valley backup quarterback Tate Carda replaced an injured Will VanLeur but filled in admirably going 6-for-10 for 105 yards with three touchdown passes, two to Jack Blomgren and another to Jake Halseth. 

Brandon Valley's Dawson Matzke runs through the introduction tunnel on Thursday, Oct. 29. Matzke finished with a quarterback sack in BV's quarterfinal win over SF Roosevelt. Brandon Valley photo credits (including lead image above): Matt Schaunaman, Icon Photography

Halseth finished with 82 yards rushing on eight carries for the Lynx, 8-2. Blomgren finished with two catches for 52 yards and also scored on a 75-yard run in the first quarter to make it 14-0.

Four Brandon Valley defenders registered quarterback sacks - Wyatt Sitzman, Anneyso Ahmed, Dawson Matzke, and Hudson Melby.

Roosevelt finishes the season at 4-6, a vast improvement over its one-win season a year ago.

Tigers trounce Knights: Harrisburg 41, O’Gorman 24

Harrisburg broke open a six-point game at halftime and rolled to improve to 6-4 on the season. 

Running back David Doe had a night for the Tigers, finishing with 201 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. His 67-yard touchdown run opened the scoring early in the first quarter.

Jonah Young was 20-for-28 passing for 196 yards with one touchdown, an 11-yard strike in the first quarter to Myles Nour to make it 14-0 before O’Gorman, 5-5, mounted a comeback. 

Harrisburg's David Doe rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers' quarterfinal win over O'Gorman. Photo credit: Bekah Hauret

The Knights tied it just before halftime at 14-14 on a Braylon Treasure to Tanner Charron 54 yard touchdown strike, but the Knights could get no closer.

O’Gorman entered the game without its starting quarterback in Chace Hermanson after he was injured in the season finale last week against Watertown. Three O’Gorman quarterbacks combined for 189 yards passing, led by Talec Schlimgen who was 6-for-14 for 60 yards. Schlimgen also led the O’Gorman rushing attack with 101 yards on 10 carries.

What happens next?

The 11AAA season has gone true-to-form this year with the Top 4 teams all advancing to the semifinals.

Howard Wood Field will be a happening place this Friday as both semifinal games will be played.

Game 1 is Jefferson vs. Harrisburg at 5 p.m., a rematch of the season-opener between the two schools on Aug. 29, a 43-20 win for the Cavs. 

At 7:30, Lincoln and Brandon Valley will battle for the final spot in the championship game. It’s a rematch of last year’s title game. Earlier this year, the Patriots won 34-25 over Brandon Valley on Oct. 16.

Quarterfinal playoff scores from around the state

Class 11AAA

  • SF Jefferson 52, RC Central 10
  • SF Lincoln 42, SF Washington 7
  • Brandon Valley 42, SF Roosevelt 0
  • Harrisburg 41, O’Gorman 24

Class 11AA

  • Pierre 47, Mitchell 7
  • Watertown 35, Spearfish 13
  • Sturgis 21, Tea Area 14
  • Yankton 42, Huron 20

Class 11A

  • SF Christian 44, Milbank 0
  • Lennox 48, Madison 20
  • Dell Rapids 7, Canton 3
  • West Central 47, Dakota Valley 12

Class 11B

  • Elk Point Jefferson 35, McCook Central-Montrose 8
  • Winner 7, Deuel 0
  • Clark/Willow Lake 22, Wagner 8
  • St. Thomas More 31, Sioux Valley 14

Class 9AA

  • Parkston 44, Bon Homme 2
  • Britton-Hecla 24, SF Lutheran 20
  • Platte-Geddes 23, Garretson 15
  • Hamlin 55, Great Plains Lutheran 12

Class 9A

  • Freeman 58, Howard 6
  • Kimball-White Lake 38, Timber Lake 0
  • Castlewood 62, Centerville 22
  • Bennett County 28, Sully Buttes 22

Class 9B

  • Dell Rapids St. Mary’s 46, Kadoka Area 6
  • Wall 59, Herreid-Selby Area 8
  • Warner 51, Colman-Egan 6
  • Avon 44, Hitchcock-Tulare 0

All Nations

  • White River 52, Tiospa Zina 0
  • Winnebago 68, Mahpiya Luta 28
  • Dupree-Takini 62, Walthill 6
  • Todd County 62, Lakota Tech 12

Special thanks to CorTrust Bank!

Since 1930, CorTrust Bank has served the financial needs of individuals and business across 37 locations. What began as a small bank supporting local farming families in Artesian, S.D., has grown into a fourth-generation, family-owned community bank offering a full array of financial products and services. Be sure to check-out their new Sioux Falls location at 1315 S Minnesota Avenue - their friendly team is ready to serve you!

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