Blackhawks one one away from playing Sioux Falls Christian again
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WESSINGTON SPRINGS — With a 9-1 record, second-seeded Sioux Falls Christian is eyeing a chance to avenge its only loss of the season. That opportunity would present itself if the Chargers and top-seeded Sioux Valley would meet in the Class 11B title game in Vermillion.
Both teams sit just one win away from that happening. Sioux Valley will host No. 5 Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan, while Sioux Falls Christian hosts No. 3 Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central in the semifinals on Friday.
Sioux Falls Christian coach Jake Pettengill knows his team can’t afford to be looking past the Blackhawks, who are also 9-1, when the two teams meet at 7 p.m., at the University of Sioux Falls’ Bob Young Field.
“That’s all good and exciting, but I don’t want to look there yet,” Pettingill said of a possible rematch with Sioux Valley. “I can look there all week and then get beat by Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central and then all it was was a great thought.
“We tried that the week against Canton, thinking we can get by these guys because we beat them 36-12 before,” he said his team’s opening-round matchup where it escaped with a 28-22 win. “It was fun, but we should’ve been upset. We were blessed to get through that game.”
Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central coach Jason Kolousek says the semi-final matchup will be a challenge for his team, which is coming off a 60-6 victory against Red Cloud in the quarterfinals.
“Sioux Falls Christian is a traditional power in 11-man football,” Kolousek said. “In years prior to this year they have been one of the better teams in Class 11A. This year they made the transition to 11B.
“They are a very good team with their only loss coming to undefeated Sioux Valley,” he said. “It will be a big challenge for us, but at this point in the playoffs, all the teams are very good teams.
Photo:
Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central quarterback Trent Kingsbury rips off a large gain in last week’s Class 11B quarterfinal win over Red Cloud. Kingsbury will lead W/WS/SC against second-seeded S.F. Christian on Friday, with the winner punching their ticket to the 11B finals at the DakotaDome.
Photo by Mike Carroll/plainsman