First things first: This newsletter is brought to you by Hook & Ladder Kitchen and Bar.
- Hook & Ladder is bringing bold flavors, refreshing drinks, and a firehouse-inspired atmosphere come together to create a dining experience like no other. Stop in their location off West 12th Street near Tea/Ellis Road, and check out their menu online.
Simplified: The War Eagle Trophy is up for grabs as Brandon Valley and Harrisburg face off in the Great American Rivalry Series for the eighth time. Meanwhile, SF Christian is undefeated – can they maintain it?
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No. 1 Sioux Falls Jefferson continues the Sioux Falls metro vs. Omaha metro series when they host Omaha Westview on Friday at Howard Wood Field.
But it's the game down the road that'll have significant playoff implications in Class 11AAA.
No. 2 Brandon Valley hosts No. 3 Harrisburg on Friday, and although the game will solidify a solid No. 2 in the state with just three regular-season games to go, it also has national notoriety.
- When Harrisburg joined the Class 11AAA ranks in 2019, the instant rivalry between the two Metro Conference schools bordering Sioux Falls was recognized and became part of the Great American Rivalry Series, sponsored by the Army National Guard.
One rivalry game in each state is recognized, and this year marks the eighth for Harrisburg and Brandon Valley in South Dakota.
- The Lynx lead the series 4-3 and have won two straight including last year’s 24-0 win at Harrisburg. That record doesn’t include the playoffs where the Tigers and Brandon Valley have met twice in the championship game. Harrisburg won in 2021. The Lynx won in 2020.
Up for grabs in the Great American Rivalry Series is the War Eagle Trophy, presented to the winning team on the field following the game. The trophy currently sits in Brandon Valley head coach Matt Christensen’s high school English classroom in Brandon.
“It’s extremely cool,” Christensen said. “We always have tough games, tight games, well-attended games. We go back-and-forth meeting in important games for playoff seedings. There’s a lot of talent on both rosters with communities that really care about their teams.”
The National Guard may have stumbled upon Brandon Valley and Harrisburg, but they’ve got a beauty this weekend when it comes to rivalries.
What Harrisburg is bringing to the rivalry
Harrisburg, 4-1, enters the game winners of four straight after dropping their opener to No. 1 Sioux Falls Jefferson on Aug. 29. Since that game, the Tigers have flexed their offensive capabilities by averaging 41.3 points per game over their four-game winning streak.
The Tigers feature a massive offensive line averaging 282 pounds with all five up front returning as starters from last year. They’ve done a good job of protecting quarterback Jonah Young who’s thrown for 1,139 yards and 14 touchdowns.
“He’s very accurate and smart with the football,” Christensen said of Young. “He makes good decisions. We need to put pressure on him and change the picture for him and make sure he’s less sure about where the ball should be and has less time to do it.”
What Brandon Valley is bringing to the rivalry
Brandon Valley counters with a running attack fueled by junior Ryder Mueller. Mueller has rushed for 809 yards already with 10 touchdowns. Even more impressive, with such large leads in a pair of their games this season, the Lynx played backups in the second half, and Mueller didn’t sniff the field.
Add it up, and the Great American Rivalry Series has a good one lined up for Friday in Brandon. The Class 11AAA playoff picture will get a lot clearer when the final horn sounds.
“They know it’s a big game,” Christensen said of his 4-1 Lynx. “It’s a major game for seeding, major game or momentum, major game for just general confidence. We know the outcome is certainly in the balance, but we hope to tip that in our favor in our determination and preparation.”
Shoutout to the folks in uniform
The game in Brandon is also Military Night.
- All active military personnel or veterans will receive free admission along with a free hat.
- The VFW will also be present with a massive 75-foot x 150-foot American Flag that will be displayed during the National Anthem with the active duty military personnel and veterans holding the flag on the field.
Other games we're watching this week:
Knights and Warriors face-off
O'Gorman has also strung together a pair of wins after a 1-2 start. They’ll be looking to make it three straight when they host Washington at McEneaney Field on O’Gorman’s campus on Friday night.
O’Gorman features quarterback Chace Hermanson, who’s thrown for 1,267 yards and 14 touchdowns through five games. Brady Majeres has rushed for 455 yards and seven touchdowns for the Knights.
Washington, 1-4, has lost four straight after opening the season with a win over Rapid City Central.
Lincoln looks to show west river who's actually best
The Patriots will most likely improve to 4-2 on the season when they head west to face Rapid City Stevens. Through five games, the Raiders, 0-5, are averaging just 7.0 points per game.
Lincoln is coming off of an impressive 49-14 win over Omaha Central last week and have now won two straight. Over that mini-winning streak, Lincoln quarterback Brody Schafer has been impressive. The Patriots signal-caller has thrown for 253 yards on 14-of-17 passing with five touchdown passes. He’s also rushed 10 times in those two games for 264 yards and four touchdowns.
Can SF Christian keep its undefeated season?
Top-ranked Sioux Falls Christian looks to continue its undefeated season when they travel to play No. 4 Madison, 4-1, at the Beacom Premier Complex Brian Kern Family Stadium, home of the Dakota State Trojans.
It’s been a tough road for the Chargers, who in their first five games, have played ranked opponents in three of them. Make it a fourth this Friday.
SFC quarterback Cooper Strande continues his efficient season with 391 yards passing on a 38-of-64 effort with six touchdown tosses.
Special thanks to Hook & Ladder!
Hook & Ladder's menu features a wide range of flavorful, house-made dishes, thoughtfully prepared to satisfy every craving. Find them near Family Park and Fire Station 10 at 323 S Whitewood Cir., or call ahead at (605) 271-0643. Check out their full menu here.
