Canton opens the season at #1 in 11A Football Poll

The first South Dakota Media Prep Football poll of the season we released on Monday, just ahead of the start of the 2024 season. 9-man and 11B teams will play their first games this week, with 11 A, AA, and AAA starting next week. 

Class 11A football figures to be a bit more open this year, after Dell Rapids won their 2nd title in a row in 2023. The Canton C-Hawks will open the year ranked #1, after picking up 6 of the 16 first place votes. Sioux Falls Christian grabbed 5 first place votes, and finished in a tie with Dell Rapids for 2nd place in the preseason poll. West Central, with 2 first place votes of their own, finished 4th, followed by Lennox. 

Madison Bulldogs head coach Joe Bundy agrees with the notion that 11A is up for grabs this season. 

The Howard Tigers will open the season as the #1 ranked team in Class 9A. The Tigers dropped a class this year, after finishing runner up in the 9AA Championship game last season. 

Other #1 ranked teams include:  Harrisburg in 11AAA, Pierre, who have won seven straight titles in 11AA, Winner in 11B, Parkston in 9AA, and Avon in 9B.