How they got here

• Brandon Valley throttled Harrisburg 38–14 in the semifinal. Senior RB Levi Veskrna scored four touchdowns (160 rush yards) while QB Briggs Knutson returned from injury to go 12-of-16 for 161 yards and 2 TDs. The Lynx led 21–0 at half and allowed just 35 rushing yards. Sioux Falls Live

• Lincoln outpaced Jefferson 42–28 behind a monster night from QB Brody Schafer — 300 rushing yards & 4 TDs plus 169 passing yards — to book a third straight Dome trip. Sioux Falls Live

(Quarterfinals: BV 41–14 over Roosevelt; Lincoln 60–21 over Rapid City Central.) High School Football America

Season snapshot & seed line

Both arrive 10–1 with the seeds to match: Brandon Valley #1, Lincoln #2. Mitchell Republic

Head-to-head (the freshest data point)

These two already traded shots on Oct. 3 — Brandon Valley 35, Lincoln 30 — a five-point Lynx win in Brandon that set the tone for the top seed’s run. MaxPreps.com+1

Storylines and context

• Revenge vs. three-peat: A year ago, Lincoln beat BV 31–21 for back-to-back 11AAA titles. The Patriots now chase a third straight crown; BV is angling to flip last November’s script. SDPB+2High School Football America+2

• Who controls tempo? BV’s semifinal looked like a blueprint: possess, punish, and squeeze possessions. Lincoln’s path leaned on explosiveness with Schafer’s designed runs and RPO keepers. Sioux Falls Live+1

Matchups that swing it

• BV front five vs. Lincoln second-level fits: Veskrna’s vision behind a physical line produced chunk runs and red-zone efficiency; Lincoln must win early downs and force 3rd-and-longs instead of goal-to-go. (Veskrna: 4 TD in semi; BV 199 rush yds.) Sioux Falls Live

• Schafer in space vs. BV contain: Jefferson couldn’t bottle him; BV’s edge discipline and alley tackling are the exam now. (Schafer: 300 rush, 4 TD in semi.) Sioux Falls Live

• QB health & distribution: Knutson’s return diversified BV — vertical shots to Mason Veld, steady chain-moving to Jack Blomgren — which keeps defenses honest against Veskrna. Sioux Falls Live

• Hidden yards & fourth downs: BV went 4-for-4 on fourth in the semi and tilted field position; one special-teams swing in the Dome often equals points. Sioux Falls Live

Players to watch

• Brandon Valley: RB Levi Veskrna (31st rushing TD this season set a program mark), QB Briggs Knutson (back from a six-game absence), TE/FB Mason Veld, WR Jack Blomgren, OG Hudson Parliament spearheading the run game. Sioux Falls Live

• Lincoln: QB Brody Schafer (state-best dual-threat heater), RB Devonte Wilson, WR Mikey Roche, plus the Patriots’ improved situational defense that found key stops vs. Jefferson. Sioux Falls Live

What decides it

1. First punch. BV’s ability to “be the sledgehammer” early — their coach’s words echoed by players — set the semifinal script. A Lynx lead compresses possessions and leans on Veskrna. Sioux Falls Live

2. Explosive plays vs. drive efficiency. Lincoln wins when Schafer turns zone-reads into explosives; BV’s win in October looked like methodical, multi-score control. Sioux Falls Live+1

3. Third-/Fourth-down chess. Dome titles swing on one possession: BV’s fourth-down confidence vs. Lincoln’s red-zone answers. Sioux Falls Live

Reporter’s read

This feels like 2024’s heavyweight sequel with the roles reversed: BV owns the October result and the top seed, while Lincoln carries the championship muscle memory — and the singular trump card that is Schafer. Call it a one-score game again; if BV keeps the Patriots under three chunk plays of 25+ yards, the Lynx grind out the margin. If not, Lincoln’s three-peat bid stays very live. Slight lean: Brandon Valley — by a field goal. MaxPreps.com+1

 

When/where: Saturday, Nov. 15 • 5:00 p.m. CT • DakotaDome (Vermillion) — 11AAA championship window per statewide listings.