Very little changed in the South Dakota Sportswriters Association high school football polls this week.
The only movement of any kind occurred in the Class 9AA and Class 9A ranks. Last week's No. 4-ranked team, Philip, dropped to fifth in this week's poll after losing to top-ranked Lyman. Last week's No. 2-ranked team in Class 9A - Mt. Vernon - dropped to fifth place after a 16-12 loss to Gregory.
Sioux Falls Washington (Class 11AA), West Central (Class 11A), Tri-Valley (Class 11B), Avon (Class 9A) and Hitchcock-Tulare (Class 9B) have all been ranked at the top of their respective classes in every poll this season. The only other team to be ranked in a top spot this season is No. 2 Howard, which fell from its Class 9AA perch after a loss to Lyman.
Winner and Viborg (Class 9B) are the only other teams outside of the No. 1s that received a first-place vote. Both the Warriors and Vikings each received one first-place vote in their respective polls.
Two top-ranked teams will be in the area when Sioux Falls Washington travels to the Black Hills this weekend to take on Rapid City Stevens at O'Harra Stadium and Lyman will be in New Underwood for a game against the Tigers, both on Friday.
West River is best represented in Class 11A, where St. Thomas More and Todd County are ranked fourth and fifth, respectively and Belle Fourche is also receiving votes. Other West River teams in the polls are Winner, No. 2 in Class 11B, and Harding County, No. 3 in Class 9A.
