Kernel Gameday: Mitchell football takes on Tea Area in ranked matchup
· Yahoo Sports
Oct. 8—MITCHELL — Now ranked for the first time since 2022, the Mitchell High School football team is back on the road this week, carrying the No. 5 banner into a meeting with No. 2 Tea Area.
Here's what to know ahead of the Kernels' ranked battle with the Titans:
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When: 6 p.m. Friday.
Where: Titan Stadium, Tea.
Records: Mitchell 4-2 (3-0 ESD); Tea Area 5-1 (4-1 ESD).
Last meeting: Tea Area escaped a trip to Joe Quintal Field with a 26-20 overtime win over the Kernels last season. The Titans tied the game in the final minute of regulation, then scored the lone points of the extra period.
Series history: Tea Area has won all three past meetings, all since 2021.
Last week: Mitchell shocked then-No. 3-ranked Watertown, blocking an extra point in double overtime to eke out a 23-22 victory and upset the Arrows' Homecoming. Tea Area played host to Brookings, winning 42-25.
Notes:
* In this week's Class 11AA South Dakota Prep Media poll, Mitchell slotted in at No. 5, the Kernels' first ranking since Sept. 12, 2022. Meanwhile, Tea Area is No. 2. The current Class 11AA top five, in order, is: Pierre, Tea Area, Yankton, Watertown and Mitchell.
* Other Class 11AA matchups this week include: Huron at Sturgis; Watertown at Aberdeen Central; Brookings at Yankton; Spearfish at Pierre; and Douglas at Hot Springs (11B).
About the Kernels:
* Last week's win over Watertown was the Kernels' first against a ranked opponent since beating No. 5 Spearfish in 2023.
* The Kernels are still unbeaten in Eastern South Dakota Conference play at 3-0 and are looking for the program's first 4-0 conference mark since 2017.
* Rocky Clark came away with the game-winning extra-point block last week, his second blocked kick of the season. As a team, Mitchell has blocked five kicks this season.
* Bailor Kristensen had a big game at Watertown last week, rushing for a touchdown, intercepting a pass at the goal line and recording eight total tackles. For the season, Kristensen leads the Kernels with 36 tackles, including three for loss.
* Jontay Julien hauled in a 68-yard touchdown from Brady Hoesing last week. For the year, Julien is now 4-for-4 in turning all of his receptions into six points. His four touchdown catches have covered 224 yards, an average of 56 yards per score.
* Mitchell's defense was disruptive against the Titans last season. Among the players still on the MHS roster to make an impact in that game, Kyson Herrmann had an interception, and Kaden Nurnberg had a fumble recovery. Owen Schelske added one sack.
About the Titans:
* Quick starts to each half have been key for Tea Area, which holds a 55-7 scoring margin in the first quarter and 60-27 in the third (115-34 combined). Across the second and fourth quarters, the Titans have been outscored 104-91.
* Dual-threat quarterback Mitch Grant is one of the top playmakers in the state. The 6-foot-4 junior has 789 passing yards, 485 rushing yards, 116 receiving yards and is responsible for 12 total touchdowns so far this season. Grant also leads the Titans with 37 total tackles on defense.
* Against the Kernels last season, Grant was responsible for the game-tying and game-winning touchdown runs. He ended with 86 yards passing and 90 yards rushing.
* Senior fullback/defensive end Hayden Bialas was an honorable mention Class 11AA all-state pick last season. This year, he has 24 tackles with 6.5 sacks in addition to one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. On offense, he has 300 total yards from scrimmage on 32 touches.
* Tea Area has 1,300 yards rushing as a team for the season, which equates to 216.7 yards per game, but it's a very balanced operation. Three Titans have at least 200 yards on the ground, with two more near 100 yards, yet none have recorded more than 13 carries in a single game so far this season.
* As a team, Tea Area rushed for 241 yards on 44 carries against the Kernels last season, a rate of 5.5 yards per attempt.
Next: Mitchell returns to Joe Quintal Field for its final home game of the regular season, playing host to Sturgis for Senior Night on Oct. 16. Tea Area makes the short trip to Howard Wood Field for a Class 11AAA crossover matchup against Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Oct. 16.