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Kernel Gameday: Mitchell football aims to upset No. 1 Watertown – Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — As the Mitchell High School football team tries to find its stride after back-to-back losses, the Kernels hit the road for a tough test against Watertown

In what could be the final game between the Eastern South Dakota Conference rivals at Watertown Stadium, the Arrows enter the weekend as the newly ranked No. 1 team in Class 11AA.

Here’s what you need to know before the match in week 4:

When: Friday 7:00 PM.

Where: Watertown Stadium.

Archive: Mitchell 1-2 (0-1 ESD); Watertown 2-1 (2-0 ESD).

Last meeting: The Kernels also traveled to Watertown last season, where the Arrows won 42-7. Since 2013, Mitchell has a 5-4 series lead.

Last week: Mitchell was defeated 43-0 by Spearfish in the ninth annual Kernel Bowl game. Watertown defeated then-number 1 Pierre 28-14 on a visit.

Notes:

  • Watertown took over the No. 1 spot in the Class 11AA South Dakota Prep Media poll this week after beating out Pierre. The Arrows, who received 22 of the 24 first-place votes, are the first team other than Pierre to hold the top spot since Tea Area in October 2021. Mitchell was not selected in this week’s poll.
  • Other Class 11AA games this week include Pierre at Brookings, Spearfish at Aberdeen Central, Douglas at Tea Area, Sturgis at Huron and Harrisburg (11AAA) at Yankton.
  • Watertown is expected to move football games to its home stadium, Allen Mitchell Field, in 2025, marking the final game between the Kernels and Arrows at the historic Watertown Stadium, which was built in 1940.

About the Kernels:

  • TJ Jellis went 11-of-15 for 118 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions against the Arrows last season. The senior quarterback missed last week’s game due to illness but is expected to return to the lineup this week. Through the first two games of 2024, Jellis has completed 38 of 59 (64.4%) passes.
  • Luke LeBrun, who has been one of the Kernels’ leading tacklers so far this season, recorded a sack against Watertown last season.
  • The last time Mitchell was shut out in two consecutive games was in October 2021. Coincidentally, the Kernels’ next game that season was an away match against Watertown, which resulted in a 27-13 victory for MHS.

About the arrows:

  • Watertown returns three Class 11AA all-state players from last season in fullback/tight end Spencer Wientjes, defensive lineman Micah Hach and defensive back Jeremiah Schulte. Of the three, Wientjes made the biggest impact against the Kernels last season, with a rushing touchdown, 46 receiving yards and a defensive interception.
  • Senior quarterback Treyton Himmerich is in his third year (second full season) behind center for Watertown. Last season, Himmerich went 12 of 18 for 170 yards and two touchdowns against the Kernels. The 6-foot-2 receiver Mitch Olson, now a senior, was on the receiving end of both scoring strikes.
  • Watertown’s only loss of the season so far came in Week 1 to Class 11AAA Sioux Falls Jefferson. The Cavaliers, now ranked No. 4 in the state’s largest class, defeated the Arrows 38-7, though the score was 17-7 at halftime.

Next: Mitchell remains on the road for the first Eastern South Dakota Conference meeting with Tea Area on Friday, Sept. 27. Watertown makes the trip to West River to play Douglas.

Landon Dierks

Dierks covers prep and collegiate athletics in the Mitchell Republic coverage area. His areas of focus include: Mitchell High School football and boys basketball; area football, volleyball, basketball, baseball and high school track and field; and South Dakota State football. He also spearheads Mitchell Republic’s podcasting efforts. Originally from Mitchell, Dierks graduated from South Dakota State University in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He joined the Mitchell Republic athletic staff in August 2021. He can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter at @LDierksy.