For the first time since 2003, the championship game for the top class of high school football in South Dakota will take place without a Sioux Falls school participating in it.
Many 11AAA projections for 2020 had No. 2 Brandon Valley versus No. 1 ranked Sioux Falls Roosevelt in the title game. The Rough Riders were one of the most consistent teams all year, who showcased an undefeated record through the regular season. This came to a screeching halt in the semifinals when Harrisburg upset the Rough Riders. For sixteen straight seasons, the top class of high school football has had at least one Sioux Falls school in its championship game – but that streak has now come to an end.
In 2003, Spearfish defeated Aberdeen Central 21-7 for the 11AA title, which was the top class at the time. After the 2012 season, the 11AAA class was established.
Championship Games List
11AA
2003 – Spearfish defeated Aberdeen Central 21-7
2004 – SF O’Gorman defeated SF Roosevelt 14-7
2005 – SF O’Gorman defeated Yankton 42-7
2006 – SF Roosevelt defeated SF O’Gorman 28-21
2007 – SF Roosevelt defeated SF Washington 28-24
2008 – SF Lincoln defeated SF Washington 27-20
2009 – SF Washington defeated Aberdeen Central 27-10
2010 – SF Washington defeated SF O’Gorman 33-7
2011 – SF Roosevelt defeated SF Washington 31-17
2012 – SF Washington defeated Brandon Valley 35-20
11AAA
2013 – SF Lincoln defeated SF Roosevelt 47-24
2014 – SF Lincoln defeated SF Roosevelt 28-14
2015 – SF Washington defeated SF O’Gorman 27-24
2016 – SF Washington defeated Brandon Valley 41-31
2017 – SF Washington defeated SF Roosevelt 20-19
2018 – Brandon Valley defeated SF Washington 28-22
2019 – SF O’Gorman defeated Brandon Valley 21-16
Now for the 2020 11AAA game between Harrisburg vs Brandon Valley. Harrisburg isn’t technically a Sioux Falls public school, but because of the rapid growth in the southern part of the Sioux Empire, the two communities have intertwined in areas.
During the final week of the regular season, the Tigers and Lynx met up in Brandon. The Lynx dominated the Tigers throughout the contest to win 63-27, but since then, Harrisburg has been riding a momentum train.
In the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, the Tigers took down the defending champion O’Gorman Knights 35-15 and then upset No. 1 ranked Roosevelt 21-19.
The 11AAA championship game is scheduled for a 7 pm CT kickoff on Saturday November 14th. It’ll air live on SDPB1-TV and online at sdpb.org/football.
