Prep football: Once again, Blackjacks and Vikings meet in pivotal game

The Dawson-Boyd Blackjacks face their biggest test of the regular season when Minneota comes to Dawson on Friday.
The teams are both 4-0, tied with Adrian, atop the Little Sioux Conference standings.
The Blackjacks are averaging almost 46 points per game while giving up fewer than 10. But the Vikings have been even more impressive offensively and defensively, averaging almost 65 points and allowing just 6.3.
Last year, the teams’ seasons played out similarly. The Vikings defeated the Blackjacks 27-6 in the fifth week of the season in Minneota. Dawson-Boyd then won eight straight games before losing to Mahnomen in the Class A state championship game, finishing 12-2.
The Vikings were 13-0 before also earning a spot in a state championship game. They fell to Chatfield 17-7 in the Class AA title game.
The Blackjacks have some solid offensive weapons to bring against the Vikings. Dalton Palmer leads area rushers with 806 yards - he’s averaging almost 14 yards per carry - and he’s scored 11 touchdowns.
D-B quarterback Jess Hansen leads area passers in quarterback rating. He’s completed 68 percent of his throws for 527 yards and 10 TDs. His main target, wide receiver Michael Lee, is fourth among area receivers with 17 catches for 311 yards and nine touchdowns.
But Minneota has scored 25 rushing touchdowns and 11 through the air so far. Garrett Hennen leads the Vikings with 453 yards and nine touchdowns, and quarterback Alex Pohlen is Hansen’s equal at quarterback. Pohlen is completing 62 percent of his passes for 555 yards and eight TDs. The Vikings are averaging 494 yards of total offense.
Edgerton/Ellsworth at Renville County West
It’s been awhile that RCW has played for solo lead of a conference, but the Jaguars have a good shot at it on Friday when they play host to the Flying Dutchmen on Friday.
RCW and E-E are both 3-1, tied for the Southern Confederacy Conference East Division lead.
RCW lost 28-26 to Madelia, the 4-0 West Division leader, in Week 2. E-E’s only loss also was 28-26 against 3-1 Nicollet.
The Jaguars are averaging 34 points per game and surrendering 12 while the Dutchmen are scoring 42 points per game but allowing 17 per game.
Minnewaska at Montevideo
Minnewaska is rolling along after a 42-6 loss to BOLD in Week 2. The Lakers rebounded by thumping ACGC 44-8 and Melrose 30-12 last week, with both games played before the hometown fans in Glenwood.
Traveling to play the Thunder Hawks will be difficult.
Montevideo won three straight to open the season but couldn’t get its offense going last week at BOLD and fell to the Warriors 35-8. The 3-1 teams will have different paths to the postseason. After the Minnewaska game, the Thunder Hawks play at Melrose, against Yellow Medicine East at home, the finish at ACGC. Those teams are a combined 4-8.
After their battle with the T-Hawks, the Lakers get to take on 4-0 Paynesville on the road, cap their home schedule against Morris/Chokio-Alberta, and then play YME in Granite Falls. Minnewaska’s last three opponents are a combined 6-6.