SDHSAA: Finalizing Football Classifications, KIND OF

We are closer to seeing the exact lineup of South Dakota high schools in 11AAA and 11AA football. Based on enrollment, Brandon Valley chose to stay up in the highest class and Sioux Falls O’Gorman, classified as an 11AA school, sent its proposal to play in 11AAA.

So we still wait on Watertown — which, based on its enrollment, is classified as an 11AAA team — is hoping to petition down to Class 11AA. It is being reported around the circles that Watertown’s school board will discuss the measure Monday.

It just feels like it taking forever for the inevitable to happen waiting officially on Watertown's vote.

This fall will be the first of a two-year experimental period in which there will be four classes of 11-man high school football.

According to a discussion by the South Dakota High School Activities Association Board of Directors Wednesday in Pierre, the schools that will play in Class 11AA are Watertown(?); Yankton; Brookings; Pierre; Mitchell; Douglas; Huron; Sturgis; Harrisburg; and Spearfish.

Class 11AAA will feature Sioux Falls Washington, Sioux Falls Roosevelt, Rapid City Central, Sioux Falls Lincoln, Rapid City Stevens, Aberdeen Central, Sioux Falls O'Gorman and Brandon Valley.

At a Feb. 27 board meeting, all football classifications and alignments for the next two years will be finalized.