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Who would have imagined that Roosevelt and Yankton would be the only two remaining unbeatens in South Dakota’s biggest class. By the way they face off this Friday in Yankton. And who would have thought that Grand Forks Red River would have twice as many wins as Fargo South and West Fargo combined in North Dakota’s biggest class. It’s been a season full of surprises, now that we’ve hit the home stretch I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season has in store.
North Dakota
Class AAA
The top four teams won last week by a combined 180-13. I’d say that deserves a pat on the back for the top teams in the WDA. Grand Forks Red River continues to impress in the east, they won a tight game 19-8 over West Fargo.

1. Bismarck (5-0)
2. Mandan (5-0)
3. Century (4-1)
4. Minot (4-1)
5. Grand Forks Red River (4-1)

Class AA
Grafton has posted four lopsided wins in a row including their most recent victory, a 42-12 win over Central Cass on the road. Wahpeton tried to prove they belonged among the elite and came up with a lump of coal as they got beat by a re-surging Fargo Shanley 37-6. Bottineau beat Minot Ryan 30-8 in a battle of top five teams last week.

1. Grafton (4-0)
2. Bottineau (5-0)
3. Fargo Shanley (3-2)
4. Kindred (3-1)
5. Wahpeton (4-1)

Class A
Harvey beat Larimore 38-21 last week. Soon the Hornets defense might become a problem but MJ Stumpf is providing enough offense to stay on top of the power rankings. Hazen yielded just 6 points as they roughed up Richardton-Taylor-Hebron 52-6. Linton beat Maple Valley Enderlin to make their first appearance in my power rankings with a 26-25 win. Heart River made a good case for a mercy rule with an 83-0 shutout against Standing Rock.

1. Harvey/Wells County (5-0)
2. Hazen (5-0)
3. Stanley-Powers Lake (5-0)
4. Heart River (4-1)
5. Linton (4-1)

9-man
Divide County and North Star are still undefeated but are not yet in my rankings. Many people have asked me why I have LaMoure-L-M in the rankings and not the above mentioned teams. Divide County and North Star haven’t played the level of competition that LaMoure has so their one-loss gets some leeway. I think during the playoffs LaMoure-Litchfield-Marion could make some noise.

1. Napoleon/Gackle-Streeter (6-0) Beat Ellendale 48-12
2. Wyndmere/Lidgerwood (6-0) Beat Sargent Central 40-14
3. Cavalier (6-0)  Beat Hillsboro 46-22
4. Central McLean (6-0) Beat Center-Stanton 37-8
5. LaMoure-Litchfield-Marion (5-1) Beat Hankinson 28-13

South Dakota
Class 11AA
We’re set for a ESD vs. GDC matchup this week when Roosevelt travels to Yankton. I was there when Roosevelt brought a defending title team to Crane-Youngworth Field in Yankton and the Bucks put a dent in the Roosevelt mystique. The Bucks would like nothing better than to prove they belong in the title discussion with the rest of the 11AA contenders, with another win similar to that win in 2008.

1. Sioux Falls Roosevelt (5-0)
2. Sioux Falls O’Gorman (4-1)
3. Sioux Falls Lincoln (4-1)
4. Yankton (5-0)
5. Sioux Falls Washington (3-2)

Class 11A
Last week my top two teams both showed some vulnerability. Dell Rapids finally succumbed to defeat after being worn down by Tri-Valley’s physical play and suffering some very big injuries along the way. Harrisburg again made too many mistakes to win. West Central came out with a near perfect second half on their way to beating the Tigers 36-15 on homecoming. Dakota Valley is the only undefeated team left in the rankings of 11A (Little Wound and Todd Co. are undefeated but not yet ranked) and enters the toughest part of their schedule (Dells, T-V and Tea) after playing Vermillion this week. I still think Dell Rapids is the toughest team in 11A and Sisseton is an up and coming team that makes their first appearance in the rankings.

1. Dell Rapids (3-1)
2. West Central (4-1)
3. Dakota Valley (4-0)
4. Milbank (3-1)
5. Sisseton (2-2)

Class 11B
There are clearly two top teams in this class. Tri-Valley won’t take a back seat to anyone after beating Dell Rapids last Friday, but Winner’s big shutout over Platte-Geddes/DakChristian proves that they should remain at number one. I’m pulling an unprecedented move and putting Winner and Tri-Valley in a tie for number one. Flandreau and St. Thomas More got a week of rest while Groton beat Redfield-Doland. Wagner and Custer are both undefeated teams that haven’t shown me enough to get into the rankings yet.

1. Winner (5-0) 1.Tri-Valley (5-0)
2. Flandreau (3-1)

4. Groton Area (5-0)
5. St. Thomas More (3-1)

Class 9AA

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan and Leola/Frederick are emerging as the cream of the class but the rest of the class needs to step it up. The Seahawks could be the second best team in all of 9-man football and are head and shoulders above the rest of the class in my eyes. Leola/Frederick got their first quality win beating Eureka/Bowdle 36-28. Great Plains Lutheran got a week off and play Wilmot this week, but it’s the final three games for GPL that will show if they’re a legit 9AA contender, they line up with Clark/WL, Waverly-SoShore and Hamlin in their final three games.

1. Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan (3-1)
2. Leola/Frederick (4-0)
3. Great Plains Lutheran (4-0)
4. Deubrook (3-1)
5. Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central (3-2)

Class 9A
The Hawks flew past Mt. Vernon 50-0 while Hanson looks like the best three-loss team in 9-man football. Hanson has the honor of losing to all three number one teams in my power rankings. I can’t fault them too much for that.  Corsica/Stickney, Colman-Egan and Wall all won with relative ease.

1. Canistota (4-0)
2. Corsica/Stickney (4-0)
3. Colman-Egan (4-0)
4. Wall (4-0)
5. Hanson (2-3)

Class 9B
Viborg-Hurley really seems to be underrated at number three. They’ve won all their games in convincing fashion and made it all the way to the championship game last year. But the two teams in front of them have been as or more impressive. Avon shutout Scotland and Waverly-South Shore put up 62 points against a quality opponent. When Viborg-Hurley matches up with Canistota this week a lot more will be known about just how good these guys are.  Jones County, Harding County and Langford have had good years as well and would be ranked in 9AA but yet can’t find a spot in 9B.

1. Avon (5-0)
2. Waverly-South Shore (4-0)
3. Viborg-Hurley (4-0)
4. Castlewood (4-0)
5. Sully Buttes (4-0)