Semi-Finals- What To Watch!!!
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 9:54 amIt's time for the Final Four! As is in all divisions of football, when you get to this level of the playoffs, everyone remaining is a true contender! 11B like 11AA saw the #1 seed and defending champion go down in the quarterfinals. This opens the door for a new champion and there are a number of teams looking to take full advantage of this situation.
(8-2) R1#3 Central Cass @ R4#1 Beulah (9-2)
This is a very intriguing game. Central Cass came in as the #3 seed out of their region, albeit arguably the toughest region in the state. They avenged one of their two losses last week by taking out #1 Kindred in what was a very physical game. I think the key to Central Cass advancing to the Dakota Bowl would be to play another very physical team against a Beulah Miners team that historically has been a physical squad. Beulah's offense can be very problematic because of the uniqueness of it. Central Cass and Beulah did play a playoff game in 2020, but that is their only meeting since 2016. It is impossible to replicate the Miners' offense with a scout team so I could see it posing some issues for Central Cass. Pair that with a 4-hour bus ride and I can't help but think the home team may have a leg up in this contest. I also look at big game experience. The Miners are playing in their 3rd semi-final in 4 years (And are 2-0 in the previous two) while Casselton hasn't played in a Semi-final since 2018 when this year's seniors were just 8th graders. I'll take the Miners in this one 18-14
(10-1) R2#1 (3) Hillsboro-Central Valley @ R3#1 (2) Velva-Garrison-Drake-Anamoose (11-0)
Going into the playoffs I had H/CV pegged as the team to come out of this half of the bracket to play against Kindred for a Dakota Bowl Championship. Obviously that is not happening with Kindred losing last week. HCV has been dominant on defense in the first two rounds allowing just 8 points in two contests. Their offense has struggled to put up a lot of points, however, and that has me starting to second guess my pre-playoff prediction. Velva has perhaps been he team that has just gone about business all year and flown under the radar a bit. The Eastern regions have garnered most of the attention all year long, but Velva to this point is undefeated and has played the best of the best from the west. They ran the table in their own region and have wins over Beulah, Dickinson Trinity, and Bowman County from the other west region. The Beulah game was an 11-point margin and aside from that the Rivalry with Bishop Ryan was the only game where they were not dominant. They put up points and play good defense. Add a 3 1/2 hour bus trip for the Burros and I thin Velva has to be considered a favorite in this one, but I expect this to be a very physical, good game. Aggies win 26-20.
(8-2) R1#3 Central Cass @ R4#1 Beulah (9-2)
This is a very intriguing game. Central Cass came in as the #3 seed out of their region, albeit arguably the toughest region in the state. They avenged one of their two losses last week by taking out #1 Kindred in what was a very physical game. I think the key to Central Cass advancing to the Dakota Bowl would be to play another very physical team against a Beulah Miners team that historically has been a physical squad. Beulah's offense can be very problematic because of the uniqueness of it. Central Cass and Beulah did play a playoff game in 2020, but that is their only meeting since 2016. It is impossible to replicate the Miners' offense with a scout team so I could see it posing some issues for Central Cass. Pair that with a 4-hour bus ride and I can't help but think the home team may have a leg up in this contest. I also look at big game experience. The Miners are playing in their 3rd semi-final in 4 years (And are 2-0 in the previous two) while Casselton hasn't played in a Semi-final since 2018 when this year's seniors were just 8th graders. I'll take the Miners in this one 18-14
(10-1) R2#1 (3) Hillsboro-Central Valley @ R3#1 (2) Velva-Garrison-Drake-Anamoose (11-0)
Going into the playoffs I had H/CV pegged as the team to come out of this half of the bracket to play against Kindred for a Dakota Bowl Championship. Obviously that is not happening with Kindred losing last week. HCV has been dominant on defense in the first two rounds allowing just 8 points in two contests. Their offense has struggled to put up a lot of points, however, and that has me starting to second guess my pre-playoff prediction. Velva has perhaps been he team that has just gone about business all year and flown under the radar a bit. The Eastern regions have garnered most of the attention all year long, but Velva to this point is undefeated and has played the best of the best from the west. They ran the table in their own region and have wins over Beulah, Dickinson Trinity, and Bowman County from the other west region. The Beulah game was an 11-point margin and aside from that the Rivalry with Bishop Ryan was the only game where they were not dominant. They put up points and play good defense. Add a 3 1/2 hour bus trip for the Burros and I thin Velva has to be considered a favorite in this one, but I expect this to be a very physical, good game. Aggies win 26-20.