High school football playoffs kick off today

Everything up to this point was merely preparation.

Today is the first day of the South Dakota high school football playoffs, meaning any losses from this point on mark the end of a hard-fought season.

One of the biggest surprises this year’s first-round matchups has is last season’s Class 9AA champions Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan on the road. The Seahawks travel to face Gregory at 7 p.m. in Gregory.

Despite being the road team, the South Dakota Sportswriters Association has Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan as the No. 3 team in the state, while the Gorillas are ranked No. 5. The two squads from Region 3 did not square off in the regular season.

Last season’s Class 9AA runner-up Kimball/White Lake was the top team in Region 3, finishing the regular season at 8-0 and holding the top spot in the rankings. The WiLdKats host Parker in the first round in White Lake.

After starting the year 0-2, the Parkston Trojans turned their season around and look to avenge one of the team’s losses. Parkston finished as the No. 3 team in Class 11B’s Region 3 and faces the region’s No. 2 team Wagner in Wagner. The Red Raiders defeated Parkston 15-10 in Wagner Aug. 31.

Other area teams looking to advance one step closer to a state championship include: Marion, Colome, Avon, Hanson, Canistota, South Central, Corsica/Stickney, Howard, Bon Homme, Winner and Chamberlain. For a complete list of first-round matchups, see Page B2.

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