Fourteen high school football teams in South Dakota now know exactly who stands between them and a trip to Vermillion. Following a slate of quarterfinal games on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, the state playoff bracket has been trimmed, leaving a semifinal lineup set for Friday, Nov. 6.
The Heavy Hitters in Class 11AAA and 11AA
In Class 11AAA, the semifinal matchups are set. Sioux Falls Jefferson remains the team to beat, cruising to a 52-10 victory over Rapid City Central to maintain a perfect 10-0 record. They will now face No. 4 Harrisburg, who earned their spot with a 41-24 win over Sioux Falls O’Gorman. It is a matchup that pits the only undefeated team in the class against a gritty Harrisburg squad that is 6-4 and has reached the final four.
Meanwhile, the other side of the 11AAA bracket features a clash of titans. No. 2 Sioux Falls Lincoln dominated Sioux Falls Washington 42-7, while No. 3 Brandon Valley shut out Sioux Falls Roosevelt 42-0. With both Lincoln and Brandon Valley sporting 8-2 records, this semifinal is essentially a toss-up between two of the most consistent programs in the region.
Class 11AA follows a similar pattern of dominance. No. 1 Pierre continues its flawless run, dismantling Mitchell 47-7 to stay 10-0. They are slated to face No. 5 Sturgis, who scraped by Tea Area in a tight 21-14 contest. The other semifinal in this class will see No. 2 Yankton (8-2), coming off a 42-20 win over Huron, take on No. 3 Watertown (7-3), who handled Spearfish 35-13.
Defensive Battles and Blowouts in the Mid-Tiers
Class 11A provided the most dramatic contrast in scoring. On one end, Dell Rapids fought through a defensive grind to edge out Canton 7-3. On the other, Sioux Falls Christian mirrored the dominance seen in the higher classes, blanking Milbank 44-0 to keep their 10-0 record intact. Dell Rapids now faces the undefeated Sioux Falls Christian squad in a semifinal matchup.
In Class 11B, the stakes are equally high. No. 1 Elk Point-Jefferson remains undefeated (10-0) after a 35-8 win over McCook Central/Montrose. They will be challenged by No. 4 Winner, who survived a 7-0 nail-biter against Deuel. Perhaps the most anticipated game in this class is the showdown between No. 2 St. Thomas More (10-0) and No. 3 Clark/Willow Lake (11-0).
The quarterfinal results for the remaining classes are detailed below:
| Class | Winning Team (Score) | Losing Team (Score) |
|---|---|---|
| 9AA | Parkston (44) | Bon Homme (2) |
| 9AA | Hamlin (55) | Great Plains Lutheran (12) |
| 9AA | Britton-Hecla (24) | Sioux Falls Lutheran (20) |
| 9AA | Platte-Geddes (23) | Garretson (15) |
| 9A | Castlewood (62) | Centerville (22) |
| 9A | Freeman (58) | Howard (6) |
| 9A | Bennett County (28) | Sully Buttes (22) |
| 9A | Kimball/White Lake (38) | Timber Lake (0) |
| 9B | Wall (59) | Herreid/Selby Area (8) |
| 9B | Warner (51) | Colman-Egan (6) |
| 9B | Dell Rapids St. Mary (46) | Kadoka Area (6) |
| 9B | Avon (44) | Hitchcock-Tulare (0) |
The Road to Vermillion
In Class 9A, No. 3 Castlewood (10-0) will face No. 2 Freeman (9-0). In Class 9B, No. 3 Warner (10-0) meets No. 2 Dell Rapids St. Mary (10-0).
All 14 semifinal games will take place on Friday, Nov. 6, with the winners advancing to the state championships in Vermillion.
