State football Playoffs: Class 11AA Quarterfinal Preview

11AA

#8 Brookings (5-5) at #1 Washington (9-0), 5 p.m. CST, Howard Wood Field

ADVANCED: Brookings beat Rapid City Central at home Thursday in the first-round 22-6. Quarterback Kaleb Vig was 15-19 passing for 194 yards and a TD. He scored the other two touchdowns for the Bobcats running the ball and had 114 yards on 10 carries. Washington is the number one seed and earned a first round bye.

HEADLINE: The Warriors have won 55-of-60 games since the 2008 season and two state titles. If they make Vermillion, it would be an unprecedented sixth straight 11AA title game.

LAST MEETING: These two teams last played in 2010 when Washington clobbered the Cats 48-20.

THIS SEASON: Brookings lost to two other Sioux Falls schools, O'Gorman 35-19 and Lincoln 40-21. The Warriors downed three ESD schools in consecutive weeks by a combined score of 137-35, surviving a scare in Pierre.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Bobcats will need to run succesfully. But no one runs against Washington. Running back Mikey Daniel gained 855 yards for BHS. But offensively it will rest on quarterback Kaleb Vig who has 1,400 yards passing and running the ball and combined 16 TDs. The Warriors, since the weather will be decent, would like to work on their passing game early. QB Jon Hander has thrown for 1,356 yards and 17 TDs.

KEY MATCHUP: Brookings offense vs Washington defense. WHS safety Nate Gerry has four interceptions all for touchdowns. The Warriors are limiting teams to 6.4 points per game.

#5 Yankton (7-3) at #4 Sioux Falls O'Gorman (6-3), 6:30 p.m. CST, McEeaney Field

ADVANCED: Yankton beat Aberdeen Central 44-20. O'Gorman, after starting the season 0-3, gained the fourth and final top seed to earn a first round bye.

HEADLINE: The Bucks have won six AA titles the last one 2002. The Knights have eight AA crowns, the last in 2005 as the Knights look to defeat Yankton for the second straight season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Yankton's QB Michael Rucker 14 TDs this season leads the team. He has thrown for 965 yards on 75 completions. O'G will run and run led by Nic Steffl, who has in his last two games against Aberdeen and Lincoln, 83 carries 352 yards and four touchdowns. Tanner Schulte played limited snaps against Lincoln and came away very sore. He broke his leg early in the season and will look for more snaps Monday night.

KEY MATCHUP: This will be the first game this season between these schools. Turnovers. Can the Bucks keep a clean slate?

#7 Pierre (7-3) at #2 Brandon Valley (9-0), 7 p.m. CST, Brandon

ADVANCED: Pierre Riggs toppled Watertown 28-6. RB  Austin Wagner rolled up 154 rushing yards and three scores. Brandon Valley earned a first round bye as the second seed.

LAST MEETING: Oct. 12 in Pierre, the Lynx outscored Pierre 42-27.

HEADLINE: The Govs need an upset or this will be coach Joe Kramer's final game at the helm of Pierre Riggs High School. A year ago in the quarters, Brandon Valley lost a 38-37 decision at Howard Wood Field to eventual state champ Roosevelt. 2010, the Lynx fell to Yankton 12-9 in another last second playoff setback.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Pierre runs the ball with Wagner rushing for 1,151 yards and 12 TDs as they average 256.4 yards per game on the ground. QB Alex Gray has 1,000 yards passing and 15 TDs. Brandon Valley players to watch, will be the offense and defensive lines. They are underrated. Quarterback Chase Marso has stellar career passing numbers at BVHS. This year 2,130 yards through the air(23 TDs-3 INT). Matthew Vandeberg has caught 52 balls on offense and six on defense.

KEY MATCHUP: Point of attack. Can the Governors keep the ball away from the Lynx. When they do give it up, can they hold down the number of big plays from high powered Lynx offense?

#6 Lincoln (7-3) at #3 Roosevelt (7-2), 8 p.m. CST, Howard Wood Field

ADVANCED: Lincoln downed Douglas 56-0 as Adam Belhaj had 174 yards and two TDs on 13 carries. Roosevelt is the three seed and earned a first round bye for the second season in a row.

HEADLINE: Both teams have had big injuries this season. Are the Riders healthier now? How much will RB Caden Quintanillia(shoulder) play for the Pats? The Riders wish Jeremiah Clark could keep healthy as their big play weapon but has been hampered with a high ankle sprain.

LAST MEETING: The Patriots defeated the Rough Riders 36-35 at President's Bowl in week number two. Quintanillia rushed for 174 yards three TDs and threw a TD.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: LHS QB Connor Burchill will have to stay cool under the pressure of the Rider front seven. Roosevelt QB Taryn Christion was the school's freshman quarterback last year and head coach Kim Nelson says Christion has done a great job in stepping in to lead the team. He's thrown for ten TDs and ran for another 8. Lincoln will need to keep him in check.

KEY MATCHUP: Patriots head coach Aaron Beavers defense will fly around and continue to be very aggressive lead by LB Luke Meyers. They must contain the spread offense and capitalize. Riders will come with lots of pressure and make it tough for Burchill and try to force him into bad throws, while keeping in mind the Patriots rush for 210 yards a game.