Can two REZ-schools Make the 11A DANCE
Sep 28, 2017
By Rich Winter
If someone had told me there would be two Native Schools in the running to make the 11A football playoffs prior to the start of the season, I would have BOOED them off the platform. The 11A playoffs having been whittled down to just eight teams that qualify is always a bugger just to make the field. Prior to the start of the season I asked Falcon coach Bob Kornely about playoffs and he wouldn't get caught up in the conversation, BUT, he did say making the 11A playoffs is like making the state basketbal tournament.
Well, ready or not, here come the Pine Ridge Thorpes and the Todd County Falcons.
Current 11A power-points
| Dakota Valley |
47.600 |
5-0 |
| Madison |
44.000 |
5-0 |
| Pine Ridge |
43.600 |
4-1 |
| Tea Area |
42.200 |
5-0 |
| Dell Rapids |
41.800 |
4-1 |
| Todd County |
41.800 |
4-1 |
| Milbank |
41.400 |
3-2 |
| Tri-Valley |
40.800 |
3-2 |
| West Central |
40.600 |
1-4 |
| St. Thomas More |
39.000 |
3-2 |
| Vermillion |
38.800 |
1-4 |
| Hot Springs |
38.600 |
2-3 |
| Little Wound |
37.600 |
1-4 |
| Belle Fourche |
37.000 |
1-4 |
| Cheyenne-Eagle Butte |
37.000 |
1-4 |
| Lennox |
36.000 |
0-5 |
| St. Francis Indian |
34.800 |
0-5 |
Sam Bravo's Pine Ridge Thorpes are currently sitting in the No. 3 slot in the qualification process. Todd County is currently No. 6
Let's see what the Media poll thinks of the boys from PR and TC
Class 11A POLL
- Madison (34) 5-0 174 1
- Tea Area (1) 5-0 141 2
- Dakota Valley 5-0 102 3
- Dell Rapids 4-1 68 RV
- Tri-Valley 3-2 17 4
Receiving votes: Milbank 10, Pine Ridge 6, St. Thomas More 6, Todd County 1.
Ridge has been getting votes for a couple weeks now and Todd County slipped into the No. 9 slot in the rankings.
Let's see what these two teams have been up to and who is left on the schedule...
Pine Ridge 4-1:
| 1 |
Aug 25 |
2:00 p.m. MT |
Red Cloud |
Red Cloud |
41-18 |
W |
47 |
3-2 |
| 2 |
Sep 01 |
6:00 p.m. MT |
Lead-Deadwood |
Pine Ridge |
20-14 |
W |
47 |
3-3 |
| 3 |
Sep 08 |
6:30 p.m. MT |
Bennett County |
Martin |
6-8 |
L |
36 |
3-3 |
| 4 |
Sep 15 |
6:00 p.m. MT |
McLaughlin |
Pine Ridge |
36-0 |
W |
47 |
3-2 |
| 5 |
Sep 22 |
7:00 p.m. CT |
Crow Creek |
Stephan |
46-6 |
W |
41 |
1-4 |
| 6 |
Sep 29 |
6:00 p.m. MT |
Custer |
Pine Ridge |
|
|
|
|
| 7 |
Oct 06 |
6:00 p.m. MT |
Belle Fourche |
Belle Fourche |
|
|
|
|
| 8 |
Oct 13 |
6:00 p.m. MT |
Sturgis Brown |
Sturgis |
|
|
|
|
| 9 |
Oct 19 |
6:00 p.m. MT |
Little Wound |
Pine Ridge |
|
The only loss was an 8-6 setback to a so-so Bennett County squad who played well that night. Ridge was playing without a few guys that night. The schedule definately heats up for the next three weeks.
Thorpes should get past Custer and will likely need to beat either Belle Fourche or Sturgis to make the 11A dance. Maybe not, they have a lot of power points, but it will be interesting to see what Bravo's crew does down the stretch. I think the last time we saw Pine Ridge on the big stage was that Class A sweet-16 game with MVP over in Winner. Lot of good, TUFF, athletic kids on that roster.
Todd County: 4-1
| Wk |
Date |
Time |
Opponent |
Location |
Score |
W/L |
*Seed Pts. |
Opp. W-L |
| 1 |
Aug 25 |
7:00 p.m. CT |
Crow Creek |
Stephan |
54-0 |
W |
41 |
1-4 |
| 2 |
Sep 01 |
7:00 p.m. CT |
Dakota Valley |
Mission |
22-65 |
L |
39 |
5-0 |
| 3 |
Sep 08 |
7:00 p.m. CT |
Cheyenne-Eagle Butte |
Mission |
46-8 |
W |
41 |
1-4 |
| 4 |
Sep 16 |
4:00 p.m. CT |
Little Wound |
Deadwood |
46-14 |
W |
41 |
1-4 |
| 5 |
Sep 22 |
2:00 p.m. MT |
Red Cloud |
Red Cloud |
58-28 |
W |
47 |
3-2 |
| 6 |
Sep 29 |
6:00 p.m. CT |
Standing Rock, ND |
Mission |
|
|
|
|
| 7 |
Oct 06 |
7:00 p.m. CT |
McLaughlin |
Mission |
|
|
|
|
| 8 |
Oct 13 |
7:00 p.m. CT |
St. Francis Indian |
St. Francis |
|
|
|
|
| 9 |
Oct 19 |
5:00 p.m. MT |
St. Thomas More |
Rapid City-STM |
|
|
Would totally be lying to people if I said anything other than I've just fallen in love with this team. The only blemish on the year has been a 65-22 loss to No. 3 Dakota Valley. Listen, DV put it to Todd County, but the Falcons had some answers and DV could not stop Josh Rowland and Mark Rogers.
There are a lot of good players on this roster that dont' get the credit they deserve. I keep seeing names like David Espinoza and Diamon Young popping up on the defensive side of the ball. Will Marshall, playing TUFf.
Rogers just going bonkers every week...It's feeling good.
TC should run the table and get to 7-1 with a good litmus test against STM in Rapid City to end the regular season.
Two pretty good teams out west, both trying to crack the top-8 and break up the good old boys club. Keep an eye on these teams CUZ THEY WORTH WATCHING!!
